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Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 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 LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 96% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 85 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 89% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 99% |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 74 |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 77 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 95% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 96% |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 79 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 33 | 61 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 82 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 80 |
| Dry | 83 | 85 |
| Wet | 82 | 87 |
| Snow | 77 | 75 |
| Comfort | 70 | 78 |
| Noise | 36 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 78 | 82 |
| Handling | 76 | 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
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 | 96% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -0.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 85% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 89% #10/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -3.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 95% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #8/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -2.9 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 84% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #12/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -16.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 13% #8/12 · 2018 ACE All Season and Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | -12.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -3.1 | Same test |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 93% #8/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 89% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in deep snow and icy conditions, offering drivers significant confidence in adverse weather. While it receives high praise for its traction and handling, user experiences are polarized regarding its longevity, noise levels, and performance on wet or dry pavement.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Precise handling and stability on cold, winter-affected roads
- Reliable braking performance in severe weather
- Satisfactory comfort levels for a dedicated winter tire
Cons
- Rapid tread wear reported by some users
- High noise levels on dry asphalt
- Increased fuel consumption compared to other winter tires
- Inconsistent wet-weather performance on certain vehicle types
Observations
- High-torque or high-performance vehicles (e.g., DB11, tuned GTI) may experience increased traction control intervention or accelerated wear.
- Compatibility issues noted with specific AWD platforms like the Subaru Forester, where premature wear was reported.
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 LM001 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 10 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 18″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P — better noise, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 61 vs 36 on noise.
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 78 vs 70 on comfort.
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 84 vs 76 on handling.
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 87 vs 82 on wet.
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.