“This morning I drove on mostly dry roads at 23f/5c going an average of (55mph/88.5kmh). It handled well during any lane changes, has good acceleration from a stop and has a pleasant feeling ride. On a separate road trip...”
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Replaced by the Blizzak IcePeak Replaces the Blizzak WS80
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a studless Nordic winter tyre with strong snow and ice grip. Its compromises are vague steering, modest wet cornering grip and noticeable road noise, with some owners also finding the ride rough.
Snow and ice are the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90's strongest areas, with all six owners praising snow traction and five praising ice grip. Consumer Reports placed it first of 17 in 2020. In Tire Rack's 2026 comparison it led the five-tyre winter class in ice braking, ice acceleration and snow handling, while snow braking was second, 2.2% behind the class best. Owners also describe confident progress through slush, supporting its appeal for drivers regularly facing severe winter conditions.
Road behaviour is less convincing even against other winter tyres. Tire Rack found slow steering response and wet cornering grip near the bottom of the class. It also noted tread noise, matching complaints from half of the owners. Two owners found the ride rougher, and two were less satisfied in warmer conditions, though neither view was universal. Most reviews were written early in the tyre's life, so long-term wear is less certain. Its snow and ice strengths suit winter use where grip on those surfaces matters most, with clear costs in refinement and steering precision.
The quick answer
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tyre - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated September 2026.
- 6owner reviews
- 62,500miles driven
- 3professional tests
All Tests
View Test ResultsTested 3 times by independent publications, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 has taken 2 test wins with an average finish of 2nd.
Finishing position in each test
2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test P3 of 5Winter
The Blizzak WS90 remains the winter benchmark of this group. Nothing else in the test matched it for ice traction or for snow handling, and it stays forgiving and controllable when its limits are finally passed. The cost is vague steering and modest wet grip, which is the familiar bargain a dedicated winter tyre asks you to make.
| Year | Test | Result | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre TestTire Rack · 215/55 R17 | P3 / 5Winter | |
| 2020 | 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre TestConsumer Reports · 215/60 R16 | P1 / 17 | |
| 2020 | The Best Winter Tyres for 2020Tyre Reviews · 205/55 R16 | P1 / 19 | Tested by Tyre Reviews |
On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict
Videos
10 of the BEST Winter Tires for 2020
Alternative Tyres
View AllDimensions & Label Scores
View AllSize Range52 sizes available
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 in the wet?
How good is the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 in the dry?
How good is the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 in the snow?
How good is the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 on ice?
What do owners say about the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90?
More questions about the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 (5)
How comfortable and quiet are the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90?
How well do the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 wear, according to owners?
Would owners buy the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 again?
What does the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 replace?
Has the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 been replaced?
Owner Questions
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Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 Owner Reviews
Review this tyreWhat owners say summarised from 6 reviews
Snow traction is the clearest strength of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, praised by all six owners, with five also praising ice grip. Five of the six written reviews are positive, and two owners specifically commend its behaviour in slush and its snow handling. Noise is the main compromise, drawing complaints from half of the group, while two owners describe a rougher ride. Warmer-weather behaviour is also less convincing for two owners, although one is satisfied with it. Four reviews were written at the initial stage, so the picture is mainly of the tyre when new, with too little long-term feedback to establish a tread-life pattern.
What owners mention most counted across 6 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 6 ratings
- Owner score 79%
- Snow Grip 100%
- Ice Grip 98%
- Wet Grip 80%
- Wear 73%
- Dry Grip 70%
- Handling 65%
- Comfort 64%
- Road Feedback 63%
Featured reviews
“These tires have been held up really well. I have just over 30,000 miles on them with maybe 15-20% life left. I have used these tires year round due to my seasonal lifestyle. Alaska for the summer and western ski areas...”
All 6 Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 reviews
- BMW 3 series
- 225/50 R17
- 20,000 miles
- Mostly Motorways
- Average
Snow and ice grip was unbelievable--driving up to Quebec from Massachusetts in a blizzard I was able to maintain speed and grip the entire time without so much as a wiggle on greasy, slushy, and snowy roads. Highway performance was fantastic, crossing lanes did not cause my car to dive to one side or the other while driving over the slush humps between lanes. These tires excel in the worst conditions and I felt a ton of confidence driving in the winter with these. Snow feels like it isn't even there, I cannot overstate how planted these tires are.
That's not to say there are no tradeoffs, however. These tires are LOUD. From about 10 mph on up there is an audible hum that got worse as the tires aged, not so loud as to be annoying but I had to turn my stereo up; my car was noticeably quieter when re-mounting my all seasons in the spring. The soft rubber in the compound leads to very vague steering, lots of sidewall flexing, and a very underwhelming handling in the dry. They also get softer in the warmer ends of the season which exacerbates these characteristics. The plush sidewalls do help make frost heaves much less violent so I see it as a plus in deep winter driving. They also never cold spotted on me.
Ultimately these are fantastic winter tires for extreme conditions. I replaced mine after 3 more seasons of use because they were beginning to dry rot (2019 mfd) and I was beginning to notice uneven wearing across the tread which I cannot fault the tires for necessarily. Living in New England as of late we don't get much in the way of blizzards and often get mid season rain/ice, and these tires felt like more extreme winters than I needed. I opted to purchase a set of Vredestein Wintrac Pros (no +) to replace them because I no longer drive in the worst of conditions. If I lived in a snowier climate or was obligated to travel no matter the weather I wouldn't hesitate to buy these again. These are some exceptional winter tires, but know that they are all about utility.
As I bought mine used I am generous with the wear rating.
- Subaru 2.0 Crosstrek
- 235/55 R17
- 5,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
- Mercury Grand marquis
- 215/70 R15
- 2,000 miles
- Mostly Country Roads
- Average
On my car, a classic old fashioned RWD full size car with no traction controls and good ground clearance, it will easily climb through snow that comes to the very bottom of the undercarriage, even up a grade. With some skill and weight on the rear axle, you can escape about any snow condition as good as a 4x4. Even tonight I was driving in freezing rain, and it wanted to handle as if it were near dry pavement. Impressive.
My only complaint is ride quality, as it certainly rides much rougher than all season tires. I drive luxury cars that have extremely good ride quality, and the difference is easy to feel. Not sure if it is the tread pattern, as it almost seems to be riding on cogs rather than a smooth tire. No real road noise of vibration, but a very definite "firm" feel that translates back into the ride quality.
I use these tires exclusively in the long winters we have, so dry condition driving is limited in my case. They certainly don't feel as nice or seem to grip as well as all season tires I've had of similar size on this and similar cars of the same type on dry, warm conditions. I cannot comment on tire wear, as I drive several old automobiles, and have a limited mileage lifestyle.
All in all, they are exactly what a winter setup should be expected to be. Almost unbelievable high snow and cold performance, all at the sacrifice of warm weather comfort and control.
Which tyres do you drive?
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- Toyota Camry
- 205/65 R16
- 2,500 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
- Mercedes Benz GLA45
- 245/50 R18
- 3,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
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- 215/60 R17
- 30,000 miles
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