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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 vs Continental VikingContact 8 — 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 1 + 8 road tests and 21 + 12 owner reviews. How we score

VikingContact 8 is ahead, 76–68

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Continental VikingContact 8
Tire BContinental

VikingContact 8

Winter

± 5

Tests 74 · 8 tests Owners 79 · 12 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (snow handling (tester's mark))

Category by category

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

  1. 73

    Dry

    VikingContact 8 +2
    75
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests8575
    Reviews found online5475
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–090%84%
    Dry Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–191%94%

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 84.9 + 40% × 54.1 = 73

    VikingContact 8: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 75.2 = 75

  2. 67

    Wet

    VikingContact 8 +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests6663
    Reviews found online6985
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–079%79%
    Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–181%85%

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 65.6 + 40% × 68.5 = 67

    VikingContact 8: 60% × 63 + 40% × 84.9 = 72

  3. 73

    Snow

    VikingContact 8 +5
    78
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests6977
    Reviews found online7980
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%89%
    Ice Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%95%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–170%73%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–185%86%
    Snow Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–155%56%

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 68.9 + 40% × 78.5 = 73

    VikingContact 8: 60% × 77.4 + 40% × 79.9 = 78

  4. 61

    Comfort

    VikingContact 8 +24
    85
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests6991
    Reviews found online5582
    Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–194%100%

    Blizzak WS90: 40% × 68.8 + 60% × 55.2 = 61

    VikingContact 8: 40% × 91.1 + 60% × 81.7 = 85

  5. 63

    Noise

    VikingContact 8 +17
    80
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7079
    Reviews found online5181
    Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–191%97%

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 51.1 = 63

    VikingContact 8: 60% × 78.8 + 40% × 81.3 = 80

  6. 61

    Treadwear

    VikingContact 8 +12
    73
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online5877

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 63.4 (est.) + 40% × 57.8 = 61

    VikingContact 8: 60% × 70.3 (est.) + 40% × 77.1 = 73

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak WS90. 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 VikingContact 8. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 62

    Handling (owners)

    VikingContact 8 +14
    76
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Reviews found online6276
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    78
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests–78
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak WS90Continental VikingContact 8
Relative Score 68 76
Dry 73 75
Wet 67 72
Snow 73 78
Comfort 61 85
Noise 63 80
Treadwear 61 73
Handling (owners) 62 76
Efficiency – 78

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
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 WS90

± 5

VikingContact 8

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.

In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 finished ahead 0 times and Continental VikingContact 8 1 times.

DisciplineCategoryBlizzak WS90VikingContact 8ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 90% 84% +6.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Dry Circle Dry 91% 94% −3.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Wet Braking Wet 79% 79% +0.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Wet Circle Wet 81% 85% −4.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Ice Braking Snow 100% 89% +10.6 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Ice Traction Snow 100% 95% +5.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Snow Braking Snow 70% 73% −2.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Snow Handling Snow 85% 86% −0.8 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 55% 56% −1.7 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 94% 100% −6.2 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 91% 97% −6.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Road Rating (tester's mark) Other 79% 91% −12.1 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Overall Ranking Overall #8/10 #6/10 – 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17

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
All owner themes in the Blizzak WS90 review

Tire B VikingContact 8

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and grip on ice and hard-packed snow
  • High level of ride comfort, effectively soaking up potholes and rough roads
  • Remarkably quiet operation with minimal tread noise

Cons

  • Slightly soft cornering feel
  • Noticeable gap in steering response and lack of feel on straightaways
  • Occasional slip reported on really dry roads at low speeds
All owner themes in the VikingContact 8 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 B · Continental VikingContact 8
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available45123
Rim diameters15″ – 19″15″ – 22″
Tread depth11/32″10 - 11/32″
SidewallBlackwallBlack Side Wall
Max pressure44 psi50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common2929

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Continental VikingContact 8

Winner: Continental VikingContact 8 — better comfort, noise and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Continental VikingContact 8 scores 85 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Continental VikingContact 8 scores 80 vs 63 on noise.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental VikingContact 8 scores 76 vs 62 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Continental VikingContact 8 scores 73 vs 61 on treadwear.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
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Tire B · Continental VikingContact 8
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Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Continental VikingContact 8, 72 vs 67 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 75 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Continental VikingContact 8, 78 vs 73 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Continental VikingContact 8, 80 vs 63 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Continental VikingContact 8, 85 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak WS90 or VikingContact 8?

Continental VikingContact 8, 73 vs 61 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