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 Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 — 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
87
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
18 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 — better wet, dry and noise. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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 Snow Control Series 3 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 86 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 67 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 71 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 74 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Snow Control Series 3 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 87 |
| Dry | 68 | 90 |
| Wet | 67 | 91 |
| Snow | 76 | 82 |
| Comfort | 84 | 84 |
| Noise | 77 | 98 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 85 |
| Handling | 65 | 78 |
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
87
/ 100
Tire B
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 Winter Sottozero 3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in dry and wet handling while maintaining strong traction in snow. While most users praise its sporty feedback and stability, some report concerns regarding sidewall durability and noise levels at highway speeds.
Pros
- Excellent handling and feedback on dry and wet pavement
- Strong traction and braking performance in snow
- High-speed stability and hydroplaning resistance
- Sporty driving characteristics suitable for performance vehicles
Cons
- Vulnerable sidewalls prone to damage from curb impacts
- Noticeable road noise at higher speeds
- Mixed reports regarding tread longevity
- Some users find them less effective in deep ice compared to dedicated studless tires
Observations
- Performance-oriented vehicles, such as the Mustang GT and modified Volvo S60, benefit from the tire's ability to maintain summer-like handling in cold conditions.
- Users operating smaller vehicles like the Mini in rural, ungritted environments report high levels of stability and security.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 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?
74
/ 100
Bridgestone
87
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 — better wet, dry and noise. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 91 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 90 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 98 vs 77 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 scores 78 vs 65 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
More comparisons
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Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 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.