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 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: Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — better handling, snow and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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 iZ2 W616 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 93% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 64 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 74 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 84% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 96 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 92 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 78 |
| Dry | 68 | 71 |
| Wet | 67 | 68 |
| Snow | 76 | 88 |
| Comfort | 84 | 92 |
| Noise | 77 | 77 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 78 |
| Handling | 65 | 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
74
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 | 93% #9/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -3.1 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 70% #15/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +29.6 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 80% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 86% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -5.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 20% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +30 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 92% #10/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -6.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 91% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 90% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 84% #9/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -4.9 | 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 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 WS90 | B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring 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
78
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — better handling, snow and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 82 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 88 vs 76 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 92 vs 84 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 71 vs 68 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 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.