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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

WinterContact TS 860 S leads, 74–73 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. 74

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    71
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Professional tests (TWG score)73–
    Reviews found online7773
  2. 73

    Wet

    Blizzak LM25 +3
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Professional tests (TWG score)70–
    Reviews found online7978
  3. 73

    Snow

    Level
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Professional tests (TWG score)71–
    Reviews found online7876
  4. 74

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    71
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Reviews found online7974
  5. 72

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Professional tests (TWG score)73–
    Reviews found online71–
  6. 72

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Reviews found online7671
  7. 81

    Handling

    WinterContact TS 860 S +6
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBlizzak LM25
    Reviews found online8175
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SBridgestone Blizzak LM25
Relative Score 74 73
Dry 74 71
Wet 73 76
Snow 73 73
Comfort 74 71
Noise 72 –
Treadwear 72 69
Handling 81 75

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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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

WinterContact TS 860 S

Blizzak LM25

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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 LM25

Pros

  • Exceptional longevity and tread life
  • Strong performance in deep snow and slush
  • Sporty handling and road-holding capabilities

Cons

  • Limited braking performance on pure ice
  • Potential for increased road noise
  • Susceptibility to saw-tooth wear patterns if not managed properly
All owner themes in the Blizzak LM25 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM25
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9210
Rim diameters16″ – 23″16″ – 20″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Bridgestone Blizzak LM25

Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on handling, dry and comfort. Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 is stronger on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 75 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 71 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 71 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 72 vs 69 on treadwear.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM25
Check price on Amazon

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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.

74

Narrow edge

WinterContact TS 860 S

Amazon