72
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
64/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — 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
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
14 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better treadwear, snow and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO if noise matters most to you.
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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)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 97% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 100% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 73 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 91% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 95% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 88 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM001 EVO leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 64 | 42 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 81 |
| Dry | 83 | 89 |
| Wet | 80 | 81 |
| Snow | 66 | 87 |
| Comfort | 71 | 88 |
| Noise | 54 | 42 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 88 |
| Handling | 83 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 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 | 97% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 87% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -13.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #2/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +4.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 68% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -29.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 91% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -4.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.9 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +8.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | 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 LM001 EVO is a polarizing winter tire that excels in wet and cold conditions but faces significant criticism regarding tread longevity and deep snow performance. While some users praise its handling and braking capabilities, others report rapid wear and diminished effectiveness as the tire ages.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance in wet and cold conditions
- Sharp steering response and handling characteristics
- Low noise levels when new
- Reliable traction in slushy environments
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short service life
- Below-average performance in deep snow compared to dedicated winter tires
- Increased road noise as the tire ages
- Diminished aquaplaning resistance over time
Observations
- Users reported premature wear issues on specific vehicles like the Subaru Forester, with some dealers advising against the fitment.
- The tire's soft compound, while beneficial for grip, leads to accelerated degradation when used in milder, dry winter conditions.
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is widely regarded as a premium performance winter tire that excels in cold, dry, and wet conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While the majority of users praise its sporty feedback and snow traction, some owners report specific issues with lateral grip in wet conditions and potential compatibility challenges with staggered wheel setups.
Pros
- Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
- Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
- Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability
- High durability and slow tread wear over multiple seasons
Cons
- Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
- Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
- Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
- High price point relative to other winter tire options
Observations
- Users with staggered RWD setups reported significant issues with traction control systems when using non-OEM specific tire variants.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW M2) noted that the stiffer sidewalls provide a more precise, less 'squishy' feel during spirited driving.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 4 |
| Rim diameters | — | 18″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Bridgestone
81
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better treadwear, snow and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 65 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 66 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 71 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO scores 54 vs 42 on noise.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S 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.