75
/ 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 Winter Snow Control Series 3 — 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
87
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
18 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 — better noise, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 82 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 86 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 67 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 71 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 35
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 63 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 74 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 87 |
| Dry | 84 | 90 |
| Wet | 88 | 91 |
| Snow | 77 | 82 |
| Comfort | 80 | 84 |
| Noise | 63 | 98 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 85 |
| Handling | 73 | 78 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
87
/ 100
Tire B
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 Winter Sottozero 3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in dry and wet handling while maintaining strong traction in snow. While most users praise its sporty feedback and stability, some report concerns regarding sidewall durability and noise levels at highway speeds.
Pros
- Excellent handling and feedback on dry and wet pavement
- Strong traction and braking performance in snow
- High-speed stability and hydroplaning resistance
- Sporty driving characteristics suitable for performance vehicles
Cons
- Vulnerable sidewalls prone to damage from curb impacts
- Noticeable road noise at higher speeds
- Mixed reports regarding tread longevity
- Some users find them less effective in deep ice compared to dedicated studless tires
Observations
- Performance-oriented vehicles, such as the Mustang GT and modified Volvo S60, benefit from the tire's ability to maintain summer-like handling in cold conditions.
- Users operating smaller vehicles like the Mini in rural, ungritted environments report high levels of stability and security.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring 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?
75
/ 100
Bridgestone
87
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 — better noise, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 98 vs 63 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 85 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 90 vs 84 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 82 vs 77 on snow.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
More comparisons
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Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 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.