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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 5 + 1 road tests and 3 + 16 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 860 S is ahead, 75–63

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Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
Tire ABridgestone

Blizzak Ice

Winter

± 7

Tests 60 · 5 tests Owners 66 · 3 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (exterior noise)

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 860 S

Winter

± 7Provisional

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 80 · 16 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 65

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 S +11
    76
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests6473
    Reviews found online6780

    Blizzak Ice: 60% × 63.6 + 40% × 66.8 = 65

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 79.5 = 76

  2. 54

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 860 S +21
    75
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests4470
    Reviews found online7083

    Blizzak Ice: 60% × 43.6 + 40% × 69.6 = 54

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70 + 40% × 82.9 = 75

  3. 62

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 860 S +12
    74
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests6371
    Reviews found online6278

    Blizzak Ice: 60% × 62.6 + 40% × 61.9 = 62

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 78.1 = 74

  4. 67

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +10
    77
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests70≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online6581

    Blizzak Ice: 40% × 70 + 60% × 65.3 = 67

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 71.2 (est.) + 60% × 81.4 = 77

    No road tests of comfort for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 76

    Noise

    Blizzak Ice +5
    71
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 1 tests8373
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Blizzak Ice: 60% × 82.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 76

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 71

    No owner ratings of noise for Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 67

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 860 S +8
    75
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online6780

    Blizzak Ice: 60% × 66.7 (est.) + 40% × 67.1 = 67

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 71.3 (est.) + 40% × 79.7 = 75

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak Ice. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 65

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 S +19
    84
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Reviews found online6584
  8. 48

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +29
    77
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests4877
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak IceContinental WinterContact TS 860 S
Relative Score 63 75
Dry 65 76
Wet 54 75
Snow 62 74
Comfort 67 77
Noise 76 71
Treadwear 67 75
Handling (owners) 65 84
Efficiency 48 77

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak Ice

± 7

WinterContact TS 860 S

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryBlizzak IceWinterContact TS 860 SΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 70% #5/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 60% #19/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 80% #5/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 80% #4/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 70% #10/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 43% #7/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #5/7 2025 Moottori Studless Winter Tire Test R16 #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – 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 WinterContact TS 860 S

Pros

  • Exceptional handling and grip in wet, dry, and snow conditions
  • Stiff sidewalls providing precise road feedback and cornering stability
  • Summer-tire-like driving dynamics and confidence at low temperatures

Cons

  • Long break-in (scrub-in) period required before optimal grip is reached
  • Lateral grip in wet conditions can occasionally feel lacking during sudden maneuvers
  • High price point
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak Ice B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6092
Rim diameters13″ – 19″16″ – 23″
Tread depth—10 - 11/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common1313

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better efficiency, wet and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice if noise matters most to you. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 16 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 77 vs 48 on efficiency.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 75 vs 54 on wet.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 84 vs 65 on handling.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 62 on snow.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 75 vs 54 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 76 vs 65 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 74 vs 62 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice, 76 vs 71 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 67 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 75 vs 67 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Blizzak Ice or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 48 on our efficiency score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology