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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 vs Michelin Alpin A4 — 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 + 1 road tests and 45 + 55 owner reviews. How we score

Alpin A4 is ahead, 80–71

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Michelin Alpin A4
Tire BMichelin

Alpin A4

Winter

± 7

Tests 73 · 1 test Owners 88 · 55 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (wet braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 66

    Dry

    Alpin A4 +14
    80
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 66 (est.)75
    Reviews found online6487

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

    Alpin A4: 60% × 75.4 + 40% × 86.6 = 80

    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).

  2. 72

    Wet

    Alpin A4 +10
    82
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 72 (est.)75
    Reviews found online7393

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 71.8 (est.) + 40% × 72.7 = 72

    Alpin A4: 60% × 75.3 + 40% × 93.2 = 82

    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).

  3. 77

    Snow

    Blizzak WS80 +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 74 (est.)69
    Reviews found online8282

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 74.2 (est.) + 40% × 82.2 = 77

    Alpin A4: 60% × 69 + 40% × 81.9 = 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).

  4. 68

    Comfort

    Alpin A4 +13
    81
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online6888

    Blizzak WS80: 40% × 68.6 (est.) + 60% × 68.2 = 68

    Alpin A4: 40% × 72.5 (est.) + 60% × 87.5 = 81

    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 Alpin A4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 65

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)–
    Reviews found online64–

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

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

  6. 67

    Treadwear

    Alpin A4 +13
    80
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 75 (est.)
    Reviews found online6789

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 66.6 = 67

    Alpin A4: 60% × 74.5 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80

    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 Alpin A4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 68

    Handling (owners)

    Alpin A4 +23
    91
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Reviews found online6891
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    64
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests–64
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak WS80Michelin Alpin A4
Relative Score 71 80
Dry 66 80
Wet 72 82
Snow 77 74
Comfort 68 81
Noise 65 –
Treadwear 67 80
Handling (owners) 68 91
Efficiency – 64

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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak WS80

± 7

Alpin A4

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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 WS80Alpin A4ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #6/9 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 #6/16 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test – 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 Alpin A4

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and braking performance on snow and ice
  • High level of confidence and stability in wet, cold conditions
  • Impressive tread life and durability over multiple seasons

Cons

  • Reduced steering feedback and 'numb' handling feel
  • Performance decline in dry conditions when temperatures exceed 10°C
  • Occasional reports of increased rolling resistance
All owner themes in the Alpin A4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 B · Michelin Alpin A4
CategoryWinter Premium Touring tiresWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available219
Rim diameters15″ – 18″14″ – 17″
Tread depth11/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure44 psi—
Sizes in common11

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80

Michelin Alpin A4

Winner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better handling, dry and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 91 vs 68 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 80 vs 66 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 81 vs 68 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 80 vs 67 on treadwear.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
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Tire B · Michelin Alpin A4
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Blizzak WS80 or Alpin A4?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak WS80 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 82 vs 72 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak WS80 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 80 vs 66 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak WS80 or Alpin A4?

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

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak WS80 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 81 vs 68 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak WS80 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 80 vs 67 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