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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 vs Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 — 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 + 0 road tests and 21 + 10 owner reviews. How we score

Blizzak WS90 leads, 68–64 Narrow edge

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Category by category

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

  1. 73

    Dry

    Blizzak WS90 +11
    62
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests85≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online5560

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 85 + 40% × 55.1 = 73

    Winter Snow Control Series 3: 60% × 64.5 (est.) + 40% × 59.5 = 62

    No road tests of dry for Winter Snow Control Series 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 67

    Wet

    Winter Snow Control Series 3 +2
    69
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests65≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online6968

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 65.3 + 40% × 69 = 67

    Winter Snow Control Series 3: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 68.4 = 69

    No road tests of wet for Winter Snow Control Series 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 73

    Snow

    Blizzak WS90 +10
    63
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests69≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7958

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 69.1 + 40% × 79.2 = 73

    Winter Snow Control Series 3: 60% × 66.1 (est.) + 40% × 58.3 = 63

    No road tests of snow for Winter Snow Control Series 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 61

    Comfort

    Blizzak WS90 +1
    60
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests68≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online5655

    Blizzak WS90: 40% × 68.5 + 60% × 56 = 61

    Winter Snow Control Series 3: 40% × 66.5 (est.) + 60% × 54.9 = 60

    No road tests of comfort for Winter Snow Control Series 3. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 63

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests70–
    Reviews found online52–

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 51.7 = 63

  6. 61

    Treadwear

    Level
    61
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online5858

    Blizzak WS90: 60% × 63.2 (est.) + 40% × 57.8 = 61

    Winter Snow Control Series 3: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 58.1 = 61

    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 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for Winter Snow Control Series 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 62

    Handling (owners)

    Blizzak WS90 +1
    61
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3
    Reviews found online6261
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak WS90Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
Relative Score 68 64
Dry 73 62
Wet 67 69
Snow 73 63
Comfort 61 60
Noise 63 –
Treadwear 61 61
Handling (owners) 62 61

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
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak WS90

± 8

Winter Snow Control Series 3

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 WS90Winter Snow Control Series 3ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #8/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test #6/51 2015 Winter Tyre Market Overview – 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 Winter Snow Control Series 3

Pros

  • Superb traction and handling on snow and packed snow
  • Very good wet weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
  • Precise steering feedback and a safe feel during sportive driving

Cons

  • Slightly higher noise levels on dry roads compared to some competitors
  • Faster or subpar treadwear reported by select users
  • Isolated reports of inadequate performance on severe snow or ice
All owner themes in the Winter Snow Control Series 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 B · Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available45—
Rim diameters15″ – 19″—
Tread depth11/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure44 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3

Narrow edge: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — better dry and snow. Where the Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points. Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 73 vs 62 on dry.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 scores 73 vs 63 on snow.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
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Tire B · Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
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Blizzak WS90 or Winter Snow Control Series 3?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak WS90 or Winter Snow Control Series 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 69 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak WS90 or Winter Snow Control Series 3?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, 73 vs 62 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak WS90 or Winter Snow Control Series 3?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, 73 vs 63 on our snow score.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak WS90 or Winter Snow Control Series 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 61 vs 60 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak WS90 or Winter Snow Control Series 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 61 vs 61 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

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