Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 64 · 21 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 vs Continental IceContact 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
IceContact 3 leads, 71–67 Narrow edge
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Tests 79 · 13 tests Owners 66 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2023 Studded Tyre Test (subj. comfort)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
72
Dry
Level72Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 74 Reviews found online 54 69 Dry Braking (% of best) 90% 98% -
67
Wet
IceContact 3 +471Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 65 73 Reviews found online 70 67 Wet Braking (% of best) 79% 80% Wet Circle (% of best) 81% 100% -
73
Snow
IceContact 3 +780Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 85 Reviews found online 78 72 Snow Braking (% of best) 70% 90% Snow Handling (% of best) 85% 99% -
65
Comfort
IceContact 3 +1883Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 68 98 Reviews found online 59 60 -
64
Noise
IceContact 3 +569Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 70 Reviews found online 55 – -
62
Treadwear
Blizzak WS90 +359Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Reviews found online 60 54 -
63
Handling
IceContact 3 +669Why this score
Source Blizzak WS90 IceContact 3 Reviews found online 63 69
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | Continental IceContact 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 71 |
| Dry | 72 | 72 |
| Wet | 67 | 71 |
| Snow | 73 | 80 |
| Comfort | 65 | 83 |
| Noise | 64 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 59 |
| Handling | 63 | 69 |
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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Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Blizzak WS90
71
/ 100
IceContact 3
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 WS90 | IceContact 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 90% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −7.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 90% #3/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 74% #14/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +25.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/15 · 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires | 33% #3/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | +66.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 70% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 85% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | −14.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 94% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | −6.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 91% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 60% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +30.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 55% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 90% #6/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −35.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −0.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 81% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | −18.9 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak WS90
Pros
- Outstanding grip and acceleration on ice and hard-packed snow
- Excellent braking performance in hazardous winter conditions
- Strong capability in slush and deep snow
Cons
- Increased road noise during highway driving
- Less responsive or 'softer' handling feel on dry pavement
- Potential for minor rubbing depending on vehicle fitment
Tire B IceContact 3
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on packed snow and ice
- Predictable handling in severe winter conditions
- Strong performance on lake ice tracks
Cons
- Premature stud wear or loss reported after moderate mileage
- Potential for reduced stability in deeper snow (4-5 cm) depending on tire width
- Unpredictable handling characteristics when paired with certain electronic stability control systems
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | B · Continental IceContact 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 45 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
71
/ 100
Continental IceContact 3
Winner: Continental IceContact 3 — better comfort, snow and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental IceContact 3 scores 83 vs 65 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental IceContact 3 scores 80 vs 73 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental IceContact 3 scores 69 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Continental IceContact 3 scores 69 vs 64 on noise.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Tire B · Continental IceContact 3
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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.