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 Continental VikingContact 7 — 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and Continental VikingContact 7 are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is stronger on treadwear and dry. Continental VikingContact 7 is stronger on snow, wet and noise.
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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 9
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 58 | 48 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 68 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | 91 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 90% | 96% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | 89 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 79% | 86% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 85 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | 87 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 100% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 85% | 91% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | 94 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 77 | 91 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS90 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 61 |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS90 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 71 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 75 |
| Dry | 68 | 59 |
| Wet | 67 | 76 |
| Snow | 76 | 86 |
| Comfort | 84 | 88 |
| Noise | 77 | 84 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 68 |
| Handling | 65 | 71 |
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
75
/ 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% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -5.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 88% #9/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +12.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 80% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 80% #9/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 13% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 50% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -37.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -2.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 91% #1/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -5.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 94% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 91% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | -9.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 86% #6/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -6.4 | 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 Continental VikingContact 7 is widely regarded as a premium, well-rounded studless winter tire that excels in comfort, noise suppression, and slush performance. While it receives high praise for its predictable handling and stability on cold, dry, or wet pavement, user consensus suggests it may slightly trail dedicated ice-focused competitors like the Bridgestone Blizzak in extreme stopping grip on pure ice.
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
- Excellent dry and wet road manners for a winter tire
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
- Potential for reduced traction if driven in warmer, non-winter conditions
Observations
- Users noted that the tire maintains excellent fuel economy and low noise levels even on electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Mazda MX-30.
- Drivers of rear-wheel-drive sports cars (e.g., Mazda Miata) reported that the tire's soft compound can feel overwhelmed during aggressive acceleration on dry pavement.
- Downsizing to a smaller wheel diameter (e.g., -2 from OE) was successfully used to improve the tire's profile and winter performance on hybrid SUVs.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 45 | 18 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 15″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Bridgestone
75
/ 100
Continental
Too close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and Continental VikingContact 7 are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is stronger on treadwear and dry. Continental VikingContact 7 is stronger on snow, wet and noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 79 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 86 vs 76 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 68 vs 59 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 76 vs 67 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Continental VikingContact 7
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 also compared with
Continental VikingContact 7 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.