Tests 72 · 32 tests Owners 64 · 113 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2020 Auto Motor und Sport Winter Tire Test R17 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Continental VikingContact 7 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Blizzak LM005 leads, 68–66 Narrow edge
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Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
70
Dry
Blizzak LM005 +565Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 77 76 Reviews found online 61 49 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 96% -
90
Wet
Blizzak LM005 +2466Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 100 69 Reviews found online 75 62 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 97% 80% Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 77% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 96% -
74
Snow
VikingContact 7 +175Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 79 Reviews found online 67 70 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 100% Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) 97% 80% -
72
Comfort
Blizzak LM005 +270Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 70 Reviews found online 64 71 -
68
Noise
VikingContact 7 +1179Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 86 Reviews found online – 67 Exterior Noise (% of best) 99% 100% -
41
Treadwear
VikingContact 7 +1859Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 34 – Reviews found online 53 54 -
65
Handling
Blizzak LM005 +560Why this score
Source Blizzak LM005 VikingContact 7 Reviews found online 65 60
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 66 |
| Dry | 70 | 65 |
| Wet | 90 | 66 |
| Snow | 74 | 75 |
| Comfort | 72 | 70 |
| Noise | 68 | 79 |
| Treadwear | 41 | 59 |
| Handling | 65 | 60 |
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
68
/ 100
Blizzak LM005
66
/ 100
VikingContact 7
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 LM005 | VikingContact 7 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 96% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 96% #2/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −3.9 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #10/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 89% #12/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | −11.4 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 99% #2/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #7/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 42% #7/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 50% #12/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −7.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/10 · 2020 Auto Motor und Sport Winter Tire Test R17 | 33% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +66.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #6/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 97% #6/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | 80% #7/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +17.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 87% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 70% #5/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +20.0 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +16.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 77% #13/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +22.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #2/7 · 2022 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | 96% #5/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak LM005
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on wet roads and heavy rain
- High driving comfort with low interior noise levels when new
- Predictable and stable handling characteristics in dry and mild winter conditions
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, with many users reporting the tire wearing out within 5,000 to 15,000 km
- Noticeable degradation in snow and ice grip by the second or third season
- Increased tire noise, whining, or humming vibrations as the tire ages
Tire B VikingContact 7
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 165 | 134 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | 14″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
66
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 — better wet, dry and handling. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if treadwear and noise matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 90 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 59 vs 41 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 79 vs 68 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 70 vs 65 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Tire B · Continental VikingContact 7
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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.