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Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 vs Continental WinterContact TS 850 P — 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 84 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 92 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 93 | – |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 74 |
| Tire Rack owners | 94 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 98 | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 99 | – |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 61 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak DM-V2 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 88 | 80 |
| Dry | 90 | 85 |
| Wet | 90 | 87 |
| Snow | 99 | 75 |
| Comfort | 90 | 78 |
| Noise | 88 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 82 |
| Handling | 80 | 84 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is widely regarded as a premier dedicated winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and braking performance on snow and ice. While users acknowledge that the soft rubber compound leads to faster tread wear if used in warmer temperatures, the consensus is that the safety and handling benefits in harsh winter conditions far outweigh these longevity concerns.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on snow and ice
- High level of driver confidence in severe winter weather
- Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Significant improvement over all-season tires for winter handling
Cons
- Faster tread wear compared to all-season tires
- Performance degrades if left on the vehicle during warmer spring/summer months
- Potential for reduced wet-weather grip as the tire wears down
Observations
- Users report excellent performance across a variety of vehicle types, including heavy SUVs like the BMW X5 and VW Touareg, as well as light trucks like the Ford F-150.
- Owners of hybrid vehicles noted that the tire's soft compound may wear more quickly under the specific torque characteristics of their vehicles.
- Some users successfully utilize oversized tire diameters for increased ground clearance in deep snow without sacrificing ride quality.
The Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. While most users praise its predictability and grip on snow and ice, a minority of drivers report inconsistent performance in extreme cold or icy conditions and concerns regarding tread longevity.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling in wet and dry conditions
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise output
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring performance on snow
- Strong braking performance on mixed surfaces
Cons
- Reports of rapid tread wear for some users
- Inconsistent lateral grip on ice and deep snow for some drivers
- High price point compared to competitors
- Stiff sidewall construction noted by some as harsh
Observations
- Performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW, Golf GTI) report excellent dry/wet handling, though some note a loss of steering feedback compared to summer tires.
- Heavy vehicles like the Mercedes E350 and Volvo XC70 report stable, comfortable, and balanced performance, particularly with larger wheel setups.
- Users with front-wheel-drive vehicles noted the tire provides surprising capability in challenging winter conditions, often keeping pace with 4x4 vehicles.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 48 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 18″ |
| Tread depth | 13/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Continental
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 — better noise, snow and comfort. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P if handling matters most to you.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 88 vs 61 on noise.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 99 vs 75 on snow.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 90 vs 78 on comfort.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 90 vs 85 on dry.
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.