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Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 58 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 88 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 55 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 86 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 65 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 96 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 64 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | – | 77 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 82 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 65 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 73 |
| Dry | 74 | 68 |
| Wet | 76 | 67 |
| Snow | 96 | 76 |
| Comfort | 83 | 84 |
| Noise | – | 77 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 79 |
| Handling | 70 | 65 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and confidence-inspiring performance on ice, deep snow, and slush. While users occasionally note increased road noise or less precise handling on dry pavement compared to all-season alternatives, the consensus remains that it is a premier choice for severe winter climates.
Pros
- Outstanding grip and acceleration on ice and hard-packed snow
- Excellent braking performance in hazardous winter conditions
- Strong capability in slush and deep snow
- High level of driver confidence in extreme weather
Cons
- Increased road noise during highway driving
- Less responsive or 'softer' handling feel on dry pavement
- Potential for minor rubbing depending on vehicle fitment
- Perceived as less refined in dry conditions compared to the previous WS80 generation
Observations
- Users operating rear-wheel-drive vehicles without modern traction control reported high satisfaction with the tire's ability to maintain mobility.
- Drivers of front-wheel-drive sedans noted significant improvements in winter handling and the ability to avoid using four-wheel-drive modes in moderate conditions.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | B · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 45 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | — | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Bridgestone
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better snow, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 96 vs 76 on snow.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 76 vs 67 on wet.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 74 vs 68 on dry.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 70 vs 65 on handling.
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.