73
/ 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 Michelin Alpin A4 — 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
92
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
92/100
53 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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)
Alpin A4 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 92 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 93 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 94 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 88 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 92 |
| Dry | 68 | 88 |
| Wet | 67 | 95 |
| Snow | 76 | 92 |
| Comfort | 84 | 93 |
| Noise | 77 | – |
| Treadwear | 79 | 94 |
| Handling | 65 | 88 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Tire A
92
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 17% #6/16 · 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test | +33.3 | 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 Michelin Alpin A4 is widely regarded as a benchmark winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and confidence-inspiring performance in snow, ice, and cold wet conditions. While some users note a slight numbness in steering feedback and reduced performance in warmer, dry weather, the consensus highlights its durability, quiet ride, and ability to transform the handling of both front-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles in treacherous winter climates.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking performance on snow and ice
- High level of confidence and stability in wet, cold conditions
- Impressive tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality compared to competitors
- Reliable handling that significantly improves safety for RWD vehicles
Cons
- Reduced steering feedback and 'numb' handling feel
- Performance decline in dry conditions when temperatures exceed 10°C
- Occasional reports of increased rolling resistance
- Potential for performance drop-off as tread depth wears down
Observations
- Users with high-power rear-wheel drive vehicles (e.g., BMW 3-series, Mercedes E-Class) report that the tires effectively mitigate common winter handling issues.
- Drivers opting for narrower tire widths on smaller rims noted improved traction and ride comfort in deep snow.
- Heavy-duty use, such as in taxi applications, confirms the tire's longevity and ability to handle high-mileage, stop-start driving cycles.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Michelin Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter High Performance 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?
73
/ 100
Bridgestone
92
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 95 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 88 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 88 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 92 vs 76 on snow.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Michelin Alpin A4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Michelin Alpin A4 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.