76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
96/100
35 professional tests
User signal (40%)
71/100
110 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
80/100
31 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — better treadwear, handling and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if snow matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 86 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 67 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 86 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 63 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 81 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Pirelli Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 81 |
| Dry | 84 | 84 |
| Wet | 88 | 86 |
| Snow | 77 | 67 |
| Comfort | 80 | 86 |
| Noise | 63 | – |
| Treadwear | 59 | 81 |
| Handling | 73 | 81 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 is widely regarded as a class-leading winter tire for wet and slushy conditions, offering exceptional grip and braking performance that rivals summer tires. While it performs reliably in fresh snow, user consensus indicates a significant decline in performance and tread life after the first two seasons, with many owners reporting premature wear and increased noise levels as the tire ages.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance.
- Predictable and stable handling on dry roads.
- Strong performance in slush and fresh snow when new.
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise levels during the initial phase of ownership.
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, often failing to last beyond 15,000–20,000 km.
- Significant performance degradation in snow and ice after the first or second season.
- Development of loud humming or buzzing noises as the tire ages.
- Reports of tread deformation, wobbly blocks, or uneven wear patterns.
Observations
- Heavy vehicles, including EVs and large SUVs, appear to accelerate the rapid tread wear observed by many users.
- Users with RWD vehicles noted that while the tire is predictable, it can struggle with traction on steep inclines once the tread depth drops below 5mm.
- Drivers of performance-oriented or heavier cars reported noticeable understeer during spirited driving in dry conditions.
The Pirelli Sottozero Serie II is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and slushy conditions, often surprising users with its stability and comfort. While it is frequently praised for its dry-road handling and longevity, opinions on its deep snow and ice performance are polarized, with some users finding it transformative for rear-wheel-drive vehicles and others noting limited traction in heavy snow.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning
- Strong dry-road handling and braking characteristics for a winter tire
- High level of comfort and low road noise
- Impressive tread life and durability even when used in warmer temperatures
- Predictable and stable handling in cold, sub-zero climates
Cons
- Inconsistent performance in deep snow or on steep, icy inclines
- High price point compared to competitors
- Performance degradation in temperatures consistently above 7°C (45°F)
- Some reports of limited traction from a standstill in heavy snow
Observations
- Users with high-torque rear-wheel-drive vehicles (e.g., BMW 740d, Mercedes E-Class) report that the tire significantly improves winter drivability and safety.
- Owners of performance vehicles (Porsche, Maserati) frequently note that the tire maintains a sporty, responsive feel on dry pavement, leading some to use them as year-round tires in temperate climates.
- Drivers using low-profile, 20-inch fitments report high satisfaction with ride comfort and noise levels compared to summer performance tires.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 11 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | — |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Bridgestone
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — better treadwear, handling and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 81 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 77 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 81 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 86 vs 80 on comfort.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Tire B · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
More comparisons
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Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 also compared with
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.