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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 vs Firestone Winterforce 2 — 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 0 + 0 road tests and 45 + 28 owner reviews. How we score

Blizzak WS80 is ahead, 70–60

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Firestone Winterforce 2
Tire BFirestone

Winterforce 2

Winter Premium Touring tires

± 8

Tests – · none yet Owners 56 · 28 reviews

Category by category

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

  1. 66

    Dry

    Blizzak WS80 +16
    50
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 57 (est.)
    Reviews found online6441

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 64.2 = 66

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 56.7 (est.) + 40% × 40.8 = 50

    No road tests of dry for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

    No road tests of dry for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 72

    Wet

    Blizzak WS80 +7
    65
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 72 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7363

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 72.8 = 72

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 62.7 = 65

    No road tests of wet for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 77

    Snow

    Blizzak WS80 +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 74 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online8277

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 74.2 (est.) + 40% × 82.1 = 77

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 72.4 (est.) + 40% × 76.6 = 74

    No road tests of snow for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

    No road tests of snow for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 68

    Comfort

    Blizzak WS80 +17
    51
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online6843

    Blizzak WS80: 40% × 68.7 (est.) + 60% × 68.3 = 68

    Winterforce 2: 40% × 63.5 (est.) + 60% × 43 = 51

    No road tests of comfort for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 65

    Noise

    Blizzak WS80 +7
    58
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online6446

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 63.8 = 65

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 45.7 = 58

    No road tests of noise for Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 67

    Treadwear

    Blizzak WS80 +8
    59
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 62 (est.)
    Reviews found online6754

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 66.6 = 67

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 62.1 (est.) + 40% × 54.1 = 59

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak WS80. 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 Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 68

    Handling (owners)

    Blizzak WS80 +19
    49
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Winterforce 2
    Reviews found online6849
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak WS80Firestone Winterforce 2
Relative Score 70 60
Dry 66 50
Wet 72 65
Snow 77 74
Comfort 68 51
Noise 65 58
Treadwear 67 59
Handling (owners) 68 49

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
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak WS80

± 8

Winterforce 2

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 WS80Winterforce 2ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #6/9 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 #16/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires – 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
All owner themes in the Blizzak WS80 review

Tire B Winterforce 2

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and capability in deep snow
  • Highly competitive price point
  • Reliable performance for daily winter commuting

Cons

  • Increased road noise compared to all-season tires
  • Noticeable 'mushy' or soft handling feedback on dry pavement
  • Limited performance on ice without studs
All owner themes in the Winterforce 2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 B · Firestone Winterforce 2
CategoryWinter Premium Touring tiresWinter Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available2131
Rim diameters15″ – 18″14″ – 18″
Tread depth11/32″12/32″
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure44 psi44 psi
Sizes in common1414

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80

Firestone Winterforce 2

Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better handling, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 68 vs 49 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 68 vs 51 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 66 vs 50 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 67 vs 59 on treadwear.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
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Tire B · Firestone Winterforce 2
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Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 72 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 66 vs 50 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 77 vs 74 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 65 vs 58 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 68 vs 51 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak WS80 or Winterforce 2?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 67 vs 59 on our treadwear 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