Tests 67 · 1 test Owners 68 · 2 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 S is ahead, 74–68
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Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
67
Dry
WinterContact TS 860 S +774Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Professional tests (TWG score) 64 73 Reviews found online 72 77 Dry Braking (% of best) 93% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
64
Wet
WinterContact TS 860 S +973Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Professional tests (TWG score) 62 70 Reviews found online 67 79 Wet Braking (% of best) 86% 91% Wet Handling (% of best) 93% 97% -
72
Snow
WinterContact TS 860 S +173Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Professional tests (TWG score) 73 71 Reviews found online – 78 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 96% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
68
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 S +674Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Reviews found online 66 79 -
72
Noise
Level72Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Professional tests (TWG score) 75 73 Reviews found online – 71 -
–
Treadwear
No comparison72Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Reviews found online – 76 -
66
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +1581Why this score
Source Blizzak LM80 EVO WinterContact TS 860 S Reviews found online 66 81
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 74 |
| Dry | 67 | 74 |
| Wet | 64 | 73 |
| Snow | 72 | 73 |
| Comfort | 68 | 74 |
| Noise | 72 | 72 |
| Treadwear | – | 72 |
| Handling | 66 | 81 |
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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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
68
/ 100
Blizzak LM80 EVO
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 LM80 EVO | WinterContact TS 860 S | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 93% #9/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | −5.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #4/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | 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 | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 45% #6/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | −10.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 13% #8/10 · 2013 Auto Bild SUV / 4x4 Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | −12.5 | 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 | 98% #6/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | −0.4 | 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 | 93% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | −4.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak LM80 EVO
Pros
- Strong performance in snow and alpine conditions
- Reliable grip on dry surfaces
- Capable handling on unpaved or rough roads
Cons
- Increased road noise compared to summer tires
- Occasional traction loss in cold, wet conditions
- Perceived lack of premium refinement
Tire B WinterContact TS 860 S
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
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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 34 | 92 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | 16″ – 23″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
74
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 66 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 73 vs 64 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 68 on comfort.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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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.