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 Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 — 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
84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
79/100
28 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 — better noise, wet and handling. 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 i*cept evo2 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 84 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 91% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 99% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 83 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 84 |
| Dry | 68 | 80 |
| Wet | 67 | 84 |
| Snow | 76 | 82 |
| Comfort | 84 | 82 |
| Noise | 77 | 100 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 83 |
| Handling | 65 | 81 |
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
84
/ 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 | 91% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 20% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +30 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -13.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -16.9 | 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 Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is widely regarded as a high-value, comfort-oriented winter tire that performs reliably in mild to moderate winter conditions. While it excels in noise reduction and ride quality, user consensus is mixed regarding its performance in deep snow and its longevity, with some users noting a significant drop-off in grip as the tread wears down over several seasons.
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and low noise levels
- Strong value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
- Predictable and progressive handling in wet and dry conditions
- Good traction in light to moderate snow and slush
Cons
- Noticeable decline in performance and grip as the tire ages/tread wears
- Struggles in deep snow or extreme winter conditions
- Soft sidewalls can lead to vague steering feedback during spirited driving
- Increased fuel consumption reported by some users
Observations
- BMW owners frequently use these as a comfortable alternative to factory run-flat tires, noting improved ride quality.
- Performance on RWD vehicles in deep snow is reported as inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant traction loss.
- Users with high-torque vehicles noted that the tire can struggle to put power down effectively on dry pavement.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Ultra High Performance Winter tire |
| 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
84
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 — better noise, wet and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 scores 100 vs 77 on noise.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 scores 84 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 scores 81 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 scores 80 vs 68 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 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.