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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

WinterContact TS 870 is ahead, 79–68

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Tire ABridgestone

Blizzak LM005

Winter

Tests 72 · 32 tests Owners 64 · 113 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 (subj. comfort)

Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 870

Winter

Tests 83 · 15 tests Owners 76 · 25 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 (subj. comfort)

Category by category

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

  1. 70

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 +9
    79
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score)7780
    Reviews found online6176
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 6 shared tests97%97%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests100%100%
    Subj. Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests98%97%
    Dry (% of best) · 1 shared test100%100%
  2. 90

    Wet

    Level
    90
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score)10096
    Reviews found online7582
    Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests99%97%
    Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test96%100%
    Straight Aqua (% of best) · 5 shared tests97%98%
    Subj. Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test93%100%
    Transverse Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test87%100%
    Wet (% of best) · 1 shared test100%100%
    Wet Lateral Stability (% of best) · 1 shared test100%99%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 7 shared tests99%94%
    Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) · 1 shared test100%94%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests100%99%
  3. 74

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 +3
    77
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score)7982
    Reviews found online6771
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests88%95%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 7 shared tests97%99%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests98%99%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 6 shared tests97%97%
    Snow (% of best) · 1 shared test100%100%
  4. 72

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score)7872
    Reviews found online6475
    Subj. Comfort (% of best) · 2 shared tests94%94%
  5. 68

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 +9
    77
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score)6984
    Noise (% of best) · 5 shared tests97%99%
    Exterior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test97%99%
  6. 41

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 870 +35
    76
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score)3477
    Reviews found online5374
    Abrasion (% of best) · 2 shared tests55%81%
    Wear (% of best) · 3 shared tests60%91%
  7. 65

    Handling

    WinterContact TS 870 +10
    75
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 870
    Reviews found online6575
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak LM005Continental WinterContact TS 870
Relative Score 68 79
Dry 70 79
Wet 90 90
Snow 74 77
Comfort 72 73
Noise 68 77
Treadwear 41 76
Handling 65 75

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.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
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Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Blizzak LM005

WinterContact TS 870

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 LM005WinterContact TS 870ΔHead-to-head
Subj. Comfort Comfort 94% 94% 0.0 0–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Price Cost 72% 66% +6.1 2–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #12/20 #3/20 – 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
Value Cost 46% 64% −17.4 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Dry Braking Dry 97% 97% −0.4 2–4 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Dry Handling Dry 100% 100% +0.2 2–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Subj. Dry Handling Dry 98% 97% +1.6 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Dry Dry 100% 100% +0.5 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 96% 96% 0.0 0–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 93% 93% +0.1 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Noise Noise 97% 99% −1.2 1–4 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Exterior Noise Noise 97% 99% −1.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Overall Ranking Overall #8/16 #1/16 – 5–8 in 13 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Ice Braking Snow 88% 95% −6.9 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Snow Braking Snow 97% 99% −1.8 1–6 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Snow Handling Snow 98% 99% −1.3 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Snow Traction Snow 97% 97% −0.2 3–2 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Snow Snow 100% 100% −0.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Abrasion Treadwear 55% 81% −26.0 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Wear Treadwear 60% 91% −30.6 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 99% 97% +1.9 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Longitudinal Aquaplaning Wet 96% 100% −3.7 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Straight Aqua Wet 97% 98% −1.2 1–4 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Subj. Wet Handling Wet 93% 100% −6.7 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test
Transverse Aquaplaning Wet 87% 100% −13.4 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Wet Wet 100% 100% −0.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Wet Lateral Stability Wet 100% 99% +0.6 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17
Wet Braking Wet 99% 94% +5.6 7–0 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Wet Braking - Concrete Wet 100% 94% +6.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
Wet Circle Wet 100% #1/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/11 · 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test 0.0 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% 99% +1.1 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17

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
All owner themes in the Blizzak LM005 review

Tire B WinterContact TS 870

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
  • High level of driver confidence and predictability in varied conditions
  • Strong dry road handling and steering feedback

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance on steep, hard-packed snow for some users
  • Potential negative impact on electric vehicle range
  • Occasional reports of understeer on heavy vehicles in cold, greasy conditions
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 B · Continental WinterContact TS 870
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available16544
Rim diameters14″ – 22″14″ – 19″
Tread depth9/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

Continental WinterContact TS 870

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 — better treadwear, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 76 vs 41 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 75 vs 65 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 79 vs 70 on dry.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 77 vs 68 on noise.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870
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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.

79

Leads

WinterContact TS 870

Amazon