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Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 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.
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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 LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 84 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 82 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 89 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 88 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 42 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 88 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM25 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 85 | 86 |
| Dry | 85 | 89 |
| Wet | 85 | 81 |
| Snow | 90 | 87 |
| Comfort | 84 | 88 |
| Noise | – | 42 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 88 |
| Handling | 84 | 87 |
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
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 is widely regarded as a reliable, performance-oriented winter tire that excels in dry and wet cold-weather conditions while maintaining commendable snow traction. Users consistently praise its longevity and sporty handling characteristics, making it a popular choice for high-powered rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
Pros
- Exceptional longevity and tread life
- Strong performance in deep snow and slush
- Sporty handling and road-holding capabilities
- Reliable traction in cold, dry, and wet conditions
Cons
- Limited braking performance on pure ice
- Potential for increased road noise
- Susceptibility to saw-tooth wear patterns if not managed properly
Observations
- Highly effective on high-powered RWD sports cars and sedans, providing stability despite significant horsepower.
- Users reported consistent performance across both standard and run-flat configurations in 17 and 18-inch sizes.
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.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance 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 |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Continental
Too close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 is stronger on wet and snow. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on dry, comfort and treadwear.
Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 scores 85 vs 81 on wet.
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 89 vs 85 on dry.
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 84 on comfort.
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 84 on treadwear.
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.