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 Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — 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
70
/ 100
Objective (60%)
75/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
64/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. Pick the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 if wet, snow and dry matter most to you.
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)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 73 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 90 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 100% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 92 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 27
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 57 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 57 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 60 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 70 |
| Dry | 68 | 75 |
| Wet | 67 | 83 |
| Snow | 76 | 87 |
| Comfort | 84 | 57 |
| Noise | 77 | – |
| Treadwear | 79 | 57 |
| Handling | 65 | 60 |
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
70
/ 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 90% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -7.2 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 87% #7/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +12.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 80% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 74% #6/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +6.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | 20% #5/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +80 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -9.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 91% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 60% #4/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +30.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -20.9 | 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 Pirelli Ice Zero 2 presents a polarized user experience, with performance feedback ranging from high satisfaction in snow and slush to significant disappointment regarding ice traction and noise levels. While some users find it to be a competent and reasonably quiet studded option, others report alarming instability on ice and intrusive acoustic resonance at highway speeds.
Pros
- Reliable performance on snow and slush-covered surfaces
- Acceptable noise levels for a studded tire
- Stable handling characteristics on wet and salted road conditions
Cons
- Significant, high-pitched humming noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor traction and stability on ice compared to premium competitors
- Inconsistent grip during low-speed cornering
Observations
- Users operating all-wheel-drive vehicles, such as the VW Passat Alltrack, reported unexpected slippage in cornering scenarios despite the vehicle's drivetrain advantages.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring 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
70
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. Pick the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 if wet, snow and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 84 vs 57 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 79 vs 57 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 83 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 87 vs 76 on snow.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 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.