74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
66/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
84/100
20 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 vs Firestone Winterforce 2 — 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%)
83/100
27 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Firestone Winterforce 2 — better wet, snow and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if handling and comfort 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)
Winterforce 2 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 58 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 48 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | 97 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | 97 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 58 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | 85 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 63 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 50 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Firestone Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 81 |
| Dry | 68 | 83 |
| Wet | 67 | 89 |
| Snow | 76 | 96 |
| Comfort | 84 | 81 |
| Noise | 77 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 82 |
| Handling | 65 | 50 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 6% #17/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | +44.1 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Firestone WinterForce 2 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly winter tire that excels in deep snow and challenging winter conditions. While it earns high praise for its aggressive traction and affordability, users note compromises in dry-road handling, road noise, and ice performance compared to premium alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and capability in deep snow
- Highly competitive price point
- Reliable performance for daily winter commuting
- Effective water displacement in wet conditions
Cons
- Increased road noise compared to all-season tires
- Noticeable 'mushy' or soft handling feedback on dry pavement
- Limited performance on ice without studs
- Faster tread wear when used year-round
Observations
- Users with RWD vehicles report significant improvements in winter drivability, though some note a lack of dry-handling precision.
- Owners of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Mazda Miata, Ford Focus) report high satisfaction with snow-clearing capabilities.
- Some users report a harsh ride quality on older SUVs, suggesting the tire's construction may be less forgiving on certain chassis types.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Firestone Winterforce 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 45 | 31 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 14″ – 18″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 44 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Bridgestone
81
/ 100
Firestone
Winner: Firestone Winterforce 2 — better wet, snow and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if handling and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 89 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 96 vs 76 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 65 vs 50 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 83 vs 68 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Firestone Winterforce 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Firestone Winterforce 2 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.