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 — 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
79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli SOTTOZERO — better treadwear and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if snow, dry and wet matter 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)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 78 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 83 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 67 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
SOTTOZERO leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 63 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SOTTOZERO leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 79 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SOTTOZERO leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Pirelli SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 79 |
| Dry | 84 | 78 |
| Wet | 88 | 83 |
| Snow | 77 | 67 |
| Comfort | 80 | 81 |
| Noise | 63 | – |
| Treadwear | 59 | 79 |
| 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
79
/ 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 is a polarizing winter tire that excels in comfort, dry road handling, and longevity for many drivers, though it receives mixed feedback regarding its performance in deep snow and wet conditions. While some users praise its progressive feedback and year-round durability, others report significant traction issues on ice and wet surfaces, suggesting performance may be highly dependent on vehicle weight and driving style.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels compared to standard winter tires.
- Strong dry road handling with a progressive, communicative feel.
- Impressive tread longevity, with some users reporting high mileage even in warmer conditions.
- Reliable performance in light snow and cold, wet conditions for many vehicle types.
Cons
- Inconsistent traction on ice and deep snow reported by some users.
- Potential for rear-end instability or loss of grip in wet conditions on certain vehicles.
- Accelerated tread wear noted by users who purchased used tires or drove aggressively.
- Increased road noise reported by some owners.
Observations
- Heavy vehicles may experience significant traction loss and rear-end instability in wet conditions.
- Performance in deep snow appears to diminish as tread depth decreases, particularly on rear-wheel-drive platforms.
- The tire demonstrates surprising durability in warmer climates, with some users successfully running them through summer months.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Pirelli SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| 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
79
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli SOTTOZERO — better treadwear and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if snow, dry and wet matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli SOTTOZERO scores 79 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 scores 81 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 84 vs 78 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Tire B · Pirelli SOTTOZERO
More comparisons
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Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 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.