Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Blizzak LM005 leads, 68–66 Narrow edge
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Tests 72 · 32 tests Owners 64 · 113 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2020 Auto Motor und Sport Winter Tire Test R17 (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
65
Dry
Blizzak LM005 +570Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 77 Reviews found online 49 61 Dry Braking (% of best) 96% 99% -
66
Wet
Blizzak LM005 +2490Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 100 Reviews found online 62 75 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 80% 97% Wet Braking (% of best) 77% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 96% 98% -
75
Snow
VikingContact 7 +174Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 79 Reviews found online 70 67 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) 80% 97% -
70
Comfort
Blizzak LM005 +272Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 78 Reviews found online 71 64 -
79
Noise
VikingContact 7 +1168Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Professional tests (TWG score) 86 69 Reviews found online 67 – Exterior Noise (% of best) 100% 99% -
59
Treadwear
VikingContact 7 +1841Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Professional tests (TWG score) – 34 Reviews found online 54 53 -
60
Handling
Blizzak LM005 +565Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak LM005 Reviews found online 60 65
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 68 |
| Dry | 65 | 70 |
| Wet | 66 | 90 |
| Snow | 75 | 74 |
| Comfort | 70 | 72 |
| Noise | 79 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 41 |
| Handling | 60 | 65 |
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
66
/ 100
VikingContact 7
68
/ 100
Blizzak LM005
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 | VikingContact 7 | Blizzak LM005 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | −3.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 96% #2/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +3.9 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 96% #10/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | −0.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 89% #12/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | +11.4 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 99% #2/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #7/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | −0.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 50% #12/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 42% #7/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | +7.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2020 Auto Motor und Sport Winter Tire Test R17 | −66.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 97% #6/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +3.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 80% #7/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 97% #6/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | −17.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 87% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −7.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #3/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 70% #5/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 97% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | −16.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 77% #13/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −22.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% #5/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/7 · 2022 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | −2.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 7
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
Tire B Blizzak LM005
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on wet roads and heavy rain
- High driving comfort with low interior noise levels when new
- Predictable and stable handling characteristics in dry and mild winter conditions
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, with many users reporting the tire wearing out within 5,000 to 15,000 km
- Noticeable degradation in snow and ice grip by the second or third season
- Increased tire noise, whining, or humming vibrations as the tire ages
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 134 | 165 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | 14″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 9/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
68
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 — better wet, dry and handling. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if treadwear and noise matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 90 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 59 vs 41 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 79 vs 68 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 70 vs 65 on dry.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
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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.