Tests 59 · 5 tests Owners 63 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 5 in 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak Ice vs Continental VikingContact 8 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
VikingContact 8 is ahead, 74–61
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Tests 74 · 7 tests Owners 75 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (fuel consumption)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
64
Dry
VikingContact 8 +1074Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 64 76 Reviews found online 64 72 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 98% -
52
Wet
VikingContact 8 +1769Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 42 62 Reviews found online 68 80 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 80% 70% Wet Braking (% of best) 77% 87% Wet Handling (% of best) 60% 98% -
58
Snow
VikingContact 8 +2078Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 62 79 Reviews found online 52 76 Snow Braking (% of best) 80% 72% Snow Handling (% of best) 95% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) 97% 100% -
68
Comfort
VikingContact 8 +2088Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 94 Reviews found online 64 79 -
76
Noise
VikingContact 8 +278Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 82 78 Reviews found online – 77 Exterior Noise (% of best) 100% 98% -
65
Treadwear
VikingContact 8 +570Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Reviews found online 65 73 -
63
Handling
VikingContact 8 +1174Why this score
Source Blizzak Ice VikingContact 8 Reviews found online 63 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak Ice | Continental VikingContact 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 61 | 74 |
| Dry | 64 | 74 |
| Wet | 52 | 69 |
| Snow | 58 | 78 |
| Comfort | 68 | 88 |
| Noise | 76 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 70 |
| Handling | 63 | 74 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
61
/ 100
Blizzak Ice
74
/ 100
VikingContact 8
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 | Blizzak Ice | VikingContact 8 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 98% #2/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | +1.8 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 70% #10/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 95% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −24.6 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 92% #8/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −7.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 82% #15/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 89% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | −7.0 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 88% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −12.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 63% #15/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | −32.0 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 98% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #4/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 22% #15/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 86% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −63.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 80% #8/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 72% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +7.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −4.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 97% #6/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | −3.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 91% #7/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 70% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +21.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 90% #2/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #3/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #2/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 100% #6/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 90% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 60% #18/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 80% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 70% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +10.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 77% #17/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 87% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −10.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 60% #19/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 98% #4/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | −37.9 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak Ice
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Tire B VikingContact 8
Pros
- Exceptional ice and snow traction that rivals studded tires
- High level of ride comfort and ability to soak up potholes
- Very low noise levels and quiet operation
Cons
- Slightly loose grip or slipping behavior on completely dry roads
- Lack of steering feel and a noticeable gap in response on straightaways
- Occasional underperformance reports regarding rear-end stability at low speeds on specific SUVs
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak Ice | B · Continental VikingContact 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 60 | 123 |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 19″ | 15″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
61
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
74
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 8
Winner: Continental VikingContact 8 — better snow, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 78 vs 58 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 88 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 69 vs 52 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 74 vs 63 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
Tire B · Continental VikingContact 8
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.