Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 16 in 2019 Teknikens Värld Large Winter Tire Test R17 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Blizzak WS80 leads, 69–66 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 70 · 45 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 9 in 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (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
Level65Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 – Reviews found online 49 64 -
66
Wet
Blizzak WS80 +672Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 – Reviews found online 62 72 -
75
Snow
Blizzak WS80 +176Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 – Reviews found online 70 81 -
70
Comfort
Level70Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 – Reviews found online 71 71 -
79
Noise
VikingContact 7 +1366Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Professional tests (TWG score) 86 – Reviews found online 67 65 -
59
Treadwear
Blizzak WS80 +665Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Reviews found online 54 65 -
60
Handling
Blizzak WS80 +969Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Blizzak WS80 Reviews found online 60 69
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 69 |
| Dry | 65 | 65 |
| Wet | 66 | 72 |
| Snow | 75 | 76 |
| Comfort | 70 | 70 |
| Noise | 79 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 65 |
| Handling | 60 | 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.
Important
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
66
/ 100
VikingContact 7
69
/ 100
Blizzak WS80
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 WS80 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 94% #2/16 · 2019 Teknikens Värld Large Winter Tire Test R17 | 38% #6/9 · 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +56.6 | 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 WS80
Pros
- Exceptional traction and grip in deep snow, slush, and ice
- High confidence and safety during severe winter weather and mountain driving
- Surprisingly low road noise on dry and wet pavement
Cons
- Reduced fuel economy / lower gas mileage
- Slightly squishy handling and reduced braking performance on dry roads
- May feel less responsive than standard all-season or newer model compounds in non-winter conditions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 134 | 21 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | 15″ – 18″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 44 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
69
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better handling, wet and treadwear. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 79 vs 66 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 69 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 72 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 65 vs 59 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
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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.