73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
70/100
10 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 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 comfort, handling and snow. 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)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 93 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM001 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | 80 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 82 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 85 |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 88 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 33 | 42 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 81 |
| Dry | 83 | 89 |
| Wet | 82 | 81 |
| Snow | 77 | 87 |
| Comfort | 70 | 88 |
| Noise | 36 | 42 |
| Treadwear | 78 | 88 |
| Handling | 76 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 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 | 96% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 85% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -14.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 95% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 84% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -13.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | +9.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +10.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0 | 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 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 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 | 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 | 10 | 4 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 18″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Bridgestone
81
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better comfort, handling and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 76 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 77 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 78 on treadwear.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 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.