79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
78/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 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
79
/ 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.
VerdictToo close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO is stronger on noise and snow. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on wet, comfort and handling.
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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)
Blizzak LM80 EVO leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 93% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 82 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 86% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 95% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM80 EVO leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 100% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 96% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 88 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM80 EVO leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 62 | 42 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 79 |
| Dry | 90 | 89 |
| Wet | 73 | 81 |
| Snow | 91 | 87 |
| Comfort | 80 | 88 |
| Noise | 62 | 42 |
| Treadwear | – | 88 |
| Handling | 80 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
79
/ 100
Tire A
79
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 93% #9/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #4/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 87% #5/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -13.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 92% #6/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -5.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | +9.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +4.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #6/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 93% #7/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +3.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -5.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2 | 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 LM80 EVO receives mixed feedback, with users highlighting its versatility and durability in challenging alpine environments. While some drivers appreciate its dry-road handling and off-road capability, others note concerns regarding noise levels and inconsistent wet-weather traction.
Pros
- Strong performance in snow and alpine conditions
- Reliable grip on dry surfaces
- Capable handling on unpaved or rough roads
- Good overall tread longevity
Cons
- Increased road noise compared to summer tires
- Occasional traction loss in cold, wet conditions
- Perceived lack of premium refinement
Observations
- Users operating in mountainous regions like the Alps report high satisfaction with year-round performance on rugged vehicles like the Nissan Terrano.
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 LM80 EVO | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | 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?
79
/ 100
Bridgestone
79
/ 100
Continental
Too close to call: Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO is stronger on noise and snow. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on wet, comfort and handling.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO scores 62 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 80 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 80 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 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.