Tests – · none yet Owners 70 · 45 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 9 in 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 vs Continental VikingContact 7 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Blizzak WS80 leads, 69–66 Narrow edge
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 16 in 2019 Teknikens Värld Large Winter Tire Test R17 (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
65
Dry
Level65Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 Reviews found online 64 49 -
72
Wet
Blizzak WS80 +666Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) – 69 Reviews found online 72 62 -
76
Snow
Blizzak WS80 +175Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) – 79 Reviews found online 81 70 -
70
Comfort
Level70Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online 71 71 -
66
Noise
VikingContact 7 +1379Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) – 86 Reviews found online 65 67 -
65
Treadwear
Blizzak WS80 +659Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Reviews found online 65 54 -
69
Handling
Blizzak WS80 +960Why this score
Source Blizzak WS80 VikingContact 7 Reviews found online 69 60
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 66 |
| Dry | 65 | 65 |
| Wet | 72 | 66 |
| Snow | 76 | 75 |
| Comfort | 70 | 70 |
| Noise | 66 | 79 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 59 |
| Handling | 69 | 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.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Blizzak WS80
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 WS80 | VikingContact 7 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 38% #6/9 · 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 94% #2/16 · 2019 Teknikens Värld Large Winter Tire Test R17 | −56.6 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak WS80
Pros
- Exceptional traction and grip in deep snow, slush, and ice
- High confidence and safety during severe winter weather and mountain driving
- Surprisingly low road noise on dry and wet pavement
Cons
- Reduced fuel economy / lower gas mileage
- Slightly squishy handling and reduced braking performance on dry roads
- May feel less responsive than standard all-season or newer model compounds in non-winter conditions
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 WS80 | B · Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 21 | 134 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 18″ | 14″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
66
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better handling, wet and treadwear. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 79 vs 66 on noise.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 69 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 72 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 65 vs 59 on treadwear.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Tire B · Continental VikingContact 7
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.