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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 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 1 + 1 road tests and 21 + 55 owner reviews. How we score

Alpin A4 is ahead, 80–68

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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. 73

    Dry

    Alpin A4 +7
    80
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests8575
    Reviews found online5487

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

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

  2. 67

    Wet

    Alpin A4 +15
    82
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests6675
    Reviews found online6993

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

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

  3. 73

    Snow

    Alpin A4 +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests6969
    Reviews found online7982

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 68.9 + 40% × 78.6 = 73

    Alpin A4: 60% × 69 + 40% × 81.9 = 74

  4. 61

    Comfort

    Alpin A4 +20
    81
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests69≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online5588

    Blizzak WS90: 40% × 68.8 + 60% × 55.1 = 61

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

    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. 63

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests70–
    Reviews found online51–

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 50.9 = 63

  6. 61

    Treadwear

    Alpin A4 +19
    80
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 75 (est.)
    Reviews found online5889

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

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

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

  7. 62

    Handling (owners)

    Alpin A4 +29
    91
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Reviews found online6291
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    64
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests–64
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak WS90Michelin Alpin A4
Relative Score 68 80
Dry 73 80
Wet 67 82
Snow 73 74
Comfort 61 81
Noise 63 –
Treadwear 61 80
Handling (owners) 62 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 WS90

± 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 WS90Alpin A4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 90% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 79% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 85% #7/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 100% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 89% #6/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 70% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #8/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test #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 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 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 WS90 B · Michelin Alpin A4
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available459
Rim diameters15″ – 19″14″ – 17″
Tread depth11/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure44 psi—
Sizes in common44

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Michelin Alpin A4

Winner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better handling, comfort and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 91 vs 62 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 81 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 80 vs 61 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 82 vs 67 on wet.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
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Tire B · Michelin Alpin A4
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Blizzak WS90 or Alpin A4?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak WS90 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 82 vs 67 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak WS90 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 80 vs 73 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak WS90 or Alpin A4?

Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 74 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak WS90 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 81 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak WS90 or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 80 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