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*pike RS2 — 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
77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
58/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
83/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — better wet, handling and snow. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if dry 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)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 39
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 1 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 88% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 82 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 92% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 56 |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 76 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 77 |
| Dry | 68 | 29 |
| Wet | 67 | 82 |
| Snow | 76 | 88 |
| Comfort | 84 | 64 |
| Noise | 77 | 89 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 90 |
| Handling | 65 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Tire A
77
/ 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 | 88% #16/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 91% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +9.2 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 80% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 74% #4/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | +6.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 8% #13/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +42.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -1.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -10 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 94% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 80% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | +13.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 91% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 60% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +30.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 92% #8/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -12.6 | 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*pike RS2 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented winter tire that excels in severe ice and snow conditions. Users consistently praise its robust stud retention and predictable handling, positioning it as a competitive alternative to premium European brands.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking performance on ice and packed snow
- High-quality stud retention and long-term durability
- Predictable side grip and cornering stability
- Excellent value-to-performance ratio
Cons
- Vague steering feedback on dry tarmac
- Noticeable understeer when driving on dry road surfaces
- Performance on dry pavement does not match the precision of premium summer-oriented winter tires
Observations
- Long-term users report that the rubber compound remains malleable and effective even after multiple seasons of harsh Nordic winters.
- The tire maintains consistent performance characteristics across various vehicle types, including those with higher horsepower outputs.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
77
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — better wet, handling and snow. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if dry and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 68 vs 29 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 84 vs 64 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 82 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 80 vs 65 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
More comparisons
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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.