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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO — 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 + 3 road tests and 14 + 3 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 860 S is ahead, 74–69

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Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 860 S

Winter

± 7Provisional

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
Tire BBridgestone

Blizzak LM001 EVO

Winter

± 7

Tests 69 · 3 tests Owners 68 · 3 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 74

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 S +7
    67
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7366
    Reviews found online7668

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 76.4 = 74

    Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 65.8 + 40% × 68.1 = 67

  2. 74

    Wet

    Blizzak LM001 EVO +6
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7082
    Reviews found online8075

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 80.1 = 74

    Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 82.3 + 40% × 75.3 = 80

  3. 73

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 860 S +16
    57
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7153
    Reviews found online7763

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 76.9 = 73

    Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 53.1 + 40% × 63.3 = 57

  4. 76

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +7
    69
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online7969

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 70.9 (est.) + 60% × 78.6 = 76

    Blizzak LM001 EVO: 40% × 69.1 (est.) + 60% × 68.7 = 69

    No road tests of comfort for WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 71

    Noise

    Blizzak LM001 EVO +6
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7484
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.5 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 71

    Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 83.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 77

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 74

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 860 S +5
    69
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 71 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7965

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.6 (est.) + 40% × 78.9 = 74

    Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 71.7 + 40% × 65.1 = 69

    No road tests of treadwear for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 S +11
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Reviews found online8170
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +4
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVO
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7773
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SBridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
Relative Score 74 69
Dry 74 67
Wet 74 80
Snow 73 57
Comfort 76 69
Noise 71 77
Treadwear 74 69
Handling (owners) 81 70
Efficiency 77 73

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
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

WinterContact TS 860 S

± 7

Blizzak LM001 EVO

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM001 EVOΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 95% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 91% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 95% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 87% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 85% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #10/51 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A WinterContact TS 860 S

Pros

  • Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
  • Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
  • Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability

Cons

  • Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
  • Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
  • Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

Tire B Blizzak LM001 EVO

Pros

  • Superb wet braking and performance in cold, wet conditions
  • Sharp and responsive steering feel
  • Very quiet operation when new

Cons

  • Fast tread wear, particularly in dry and warmer conditions
  • Below average snow performance and limited resistance to aquaplaning
  • Increased tire noise inside the cabin as the tire ages
All owner themes in the Blizzak LM001 EVO review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available925
Rim diameters16″ – 23″15″ – 17″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common00

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better snow, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO if wet and noise matter most to you. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 14 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 73 vs 57 on snow.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 70 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 76 vs 69 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
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WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO, 80 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 74 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 73 vs 57 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO, 77 vs 71 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 76 vs 69 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 74 vs 69 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or Blizzak LM001 EVO?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 73 on our efficiency 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