80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 vs Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — 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
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
68/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better wet, snow and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 if handling and comfort matter most to you.
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)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 59 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 88 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 64 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 74 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 96 | 96 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 92 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 78 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 78 |
| Dry | 74 | 71 |
| Wet | 76 | 68 |
| Snow | 96 | 88 |
| Comfort | 83 | 92 |
| Noise | – | 77 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 78 |
| Handling | 70 | 82 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 WS80 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, praised for its exceptional traction in deep snow and on icy inclines. While some users note a 'squishy' feel on wet pavement, the consensus highlights its reliability and longevity in harsh, rural winter conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and climbing ability on deep snow and ice
- Impressive tread longevity when properly rotated
- High confidence and stability in severe winter weather conditions
- Quiet road noise levels
Cons
- Noticeable 'squishy' or soft handling characteristics on wet roads
- Potential for reduced performance in slush compared to newer compounds
- Handling feedback can feel vague to the average driver
Observations
- Subaru Forester owners report excellent capability in deep snow, even when conditions exceed subframe depth.
- Small vehicle owners, such as those driving Scion XDs, noted significant performance advantages on steep, snow-covered hills compared to other vehicles.
The Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in deep snow and provides a comfortable, communicative driving experience. While it offers impressive traction in wintry conditions, users note that its performance is less refined on ice and that the compound is prone to accelerated wear when used in dry, warmer conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and plowing capability in deep snow
- High level of ride comfort and stability during long-distance driving
- Excellent steering feedback and surface communication
- Strong value proposition relative to price
Cons
- Rapid tread wear when driven on dry pavement
- Limited grip and confidence on icy surfaces
- Reduced performance and stability during aggressive driving maneuvers
- Not optimized for regions with infrequent snowfall
Observations
- Users report the tire is well-suited for city driving and daily commuting rather than high-performance or aggressive driving styles.
- The tire's soft compound provides a comfortable ride but necessitates careful driving in dry, non-winter conditions to preserve tread life.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Bridgestone
78
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better wet, snow and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 if handling and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 82 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 92 vs 83 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 76 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 96 vs 88 on snow.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Tire B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 also compared with
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 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.