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 Michelin X-Ice North 4 — 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
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
68/100
8 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if comfort matters 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)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 96% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 75 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 93% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 92 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 43
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 12 |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Michelin X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 80 |
| Dry | 68 | 82 |
| Wet | 67 | 81 |
| Snow | 76 | 89 |
| Comfort | 84 | 41 |
| Noise | 77 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 89 |
| 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
80
/ 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 | 96% #11/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -5.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 94% #3/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +6.2 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 80% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 69% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +11.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -50 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 99% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 92% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 94% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 60% #4/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | +33.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 91% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 70% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +20.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -13.8 | 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 X-Ice North 4 is widely regarded as a top-tier studded winter tire, offering class-leading traction on ice and packed snow. While users consistently praise its superior noise suppression and handling compared to competitors, long-term stud retention remains a point of contention for some owners.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence on icy and snow-covered surfaces
- Significantly lower road noise compared to traditional studded winter tires
- High tread longevity and durability over multiple winter seasons
- Predictable handling and improved vehicle feedback in adverse conditions
Cons
- Inconsistent long-term stud retention reported by some users
- Slightly wallowy or vague handling feel on dry pavement
- Tendency to collect snow in the tread pattern at low speeds
- Reduced performance in deep, loose snow over hard-packed surfaces
Observations
- Users noted that narrower tire dimensions can contribute to a wallowy feel on dry roads.
- Performance is highly regarded across diverse vehicle types, ranging from AWD sedans like the Kia Stinger to older, analog sports cars.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Michelin X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
80
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 84 vs 41 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 81 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 82 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 81 vs 67 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice North 4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Michelin X-Ice North 4 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.