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 General Altimax Winter 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
73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
69/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and General Altimax Winter 3 are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is stronger on noise and comfort. General Altimax Winter 3 is stronger on handling, dry and snow.
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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)
Altimax Winter 3 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 75 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 83 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 92% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Altimax Winter 3 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 61 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 86% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Altimax Winter 3 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 74 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 52
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 25 |
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Winter 3 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Winter 3 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | General Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 73 |
| Dry | 68 | 78 |
| Wet | 67 | 69 |
| Snow | 76 | 84 |
| Comfort | 84 | 80 |
| Noise | 77 | 25 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 85 |
| Handling | 65 | 80 |
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
74
/ 100
Tire A
73
/ 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 90% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 92% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 13% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 3% #35/56 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | +9.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 97% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -11.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 86% #36/56 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | -7 | 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 General Altimax Winter 3 is viewed as a capable, budget-friendly winter tire that provides reliable traction in snow and slush. While users appreciate its value and resistance to aquaplaning, some find the handling feedback and noise levels at higher speeds to be less refined compared to premium competitors.
Pros
- Strong performance in snow and slush conditions
- Effective resistance to aquaplaning
- Competitive price-to-quality ratio
Cons
- Increased road noise at highway speeds
- Soft sidewalls resulting in vague handling and road feedback
- Mediocre emergency wet braking performance
Observations
- Users noted that the rubber compound feels firmer than premium alternatives like Michelin, impacting overall ride comfort.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · General Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Bridgestone
73
/ 100
General
Too close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and General Altimax Winter 3 are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is stronger on noise and comfort. General Altimax Winter 3 is stronger on handling, dry and snow.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 77 vs 25 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Winter 3 scores 80 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
General Altimax Winter 3 scores 78 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
General Altimax Winter 3 scores 84 vs 76 on snow.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · General Altimax Winter 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
General Altimax Winter 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.