David Samuel

In this icy standoff, Sumitomo Ice Edge, which is known for its efficient braking on snowy terrain, locks horns with the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, revered for its superb handling on ice. Let’s check out these boys in more details.

Tire Sizes

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 comes in 52 total sizes in 15 to 19 inches (wheels) with following specs.

• Speed ratings: T or H.
• Load ratings: SL or XL.
• Tread depth: 11 or 12/32″.
• Weight: 17 to 29 lbs.

On the other side, the Sumitomo Ice Edge comes in 14 to 20 inches with following.

• Speed ratings: T only.
• Load ratings: SL and XL.
• Tread depth: 12/32″ on all.
• Weight: 16 to 33 lbs.

Tread Appearance

The The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 (review) is a standout with its robust and well-configured directional tread pattern. Let’s talk about it in more details.

Primarily, the tread features three prominent ribs, with the central one designed as a continuous running structure, meaning there aren’t any proper blocks there.

So this rib has a lot of things going on for it. First off, stating the obvious, it gets to have a lot of wave like siping on itself.

Moreover, you also see lateral slits, which gets thicker towards the edges and join up with the V shaped outer notches. These notches/biters face on both side, providing traction.

The shoulder lugs are on the other two ribs. These lugs may seem to have been divided in the middle, but as it’s those slits aren’t full depth, they are considered as in-groove biters.

Moreover, you also get lateral facing biters as well, you can see the notches facing the central rib.

Other than this, you also get to see zigzag longitudinal slits towards the outer eds as well. And of course, these lugs are also filled with a lot of siping, like any other winter tire.

On the other hand, we have another beautiful tire.

The Ice Edge is an expertly designed directional tire, brought to you by the renowned Japanese manufacturer, Sumitomo.

This tire’s tread is characterized by a five-rib design, and I have to say, looking at other winter tires, lugs here are slightly more spaced up. And this by the way, really helps in self-cleaning.

The middle-most rib boasts half-triangular shaped lugs, adorned with interlocking sipes and notches.

Each of these lugs is connected to one another through reinforced longitudinal foundations, and so you get to have exceptional braking and acceleration capabilities.

The adjacent ribs contain blocks that are somewhat squared off, yet they retain significant biting edges, as well as stud holes.

But still, shoulder lugs are the most aggressive. Their edges, which face the lateral tread voids, possess an extreme serrated design.

And in line with the rest of the tire, these blocks also feature wave-like siping and stud holes.

Ice Performance

On icy surfaces, the Blizzak WS90 confidently excels, compared to its counterpart. In fact, its one of the best ice tires out there.

Its advantage lies in its tread design, where it features a mixture of slanted incisions of varying sizes and V-shaped notches in both lateral directions.

And this combined with its dual-angled design of (more) aggressive sipes, you get overall shorter braking distances and handling times (on tests).

On the other hand, the Sumitomo Ice Edge, marked by larger tread voids and fewer notches, seems slightly underprepared for icy conditions.

This tire’s central tread area struggles to maintain a solid grip on packed ice due to wider lateral tread voids, and the absence of multi-angled siping detracts from its performance.

So overall Blizzak WS90 does better on icy terrains, though the studable lugs of Sumitomo allows to handle more extreme situations better.

Dry Traction

When it comes to dry conditions, the Blizzak WS90 again outperforms its counterpart, offering better directional grip and handling.

When it comes to directional grip, cenral tread area is judged, and here Bridgestone WS90 with its unbroken center rib, ensures continuous surface contact as the tire moves straight, leading to superior performance.

In contrast, the Sumitomo Ice Edge, with its wider grooves, doesn’t quite match the performance of the Blizzak WS90.

Moreover, its extra weight negatively affects the handling, leading to more lug movement as the tire corners, which in turn weakens the steering feedback.

So Sumitomo is lacking here overall.

Tread Life

The tread life of a tire is closely related to its rolling resistance, which depends on weight and tread design.

So having said that, it can be explained why the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 being lighter does better.

With its lighter structure, its tread doesn’t get pushed as hard against the road.

And less push means less friction, and less friction means the tire doesn’t wear out as fast.

On the flip side, the Sumitomo Ice Edge is heavier. It puts more weight on a smaller part of the tire because of the bigger spaces between the treads.

This makes the treads wear out faster, and potentially, the tire might not last as long.

So overall, the tread life would be better on Bridgestone WS90.

Wet Traction

When driving on wet surfaces, the tire’s ability to maintain grip is paramount. This capacity is chiefly influenced by the tread pattern and the texture of the rubber used in the tire’s construction.

The interplay of sipes and grooves in the tread contributes to water dispersion, reducing the risk of hydroplaning, while the softness of the rubber determines the flexibility of the tire, allowing it to adapt to changing surface conditions.

Having said that, although both tires features a lot of tread voids, to disperse water off, the Blizzak WS90 still get to have the upper hand.

Th tire comes with a blend of interlocking and straight sipes that offer effective water channelling and absorption, leading to superior wet traction.

The tire’s densely packed sipes, coupled with an optimal balance of rigidity and flexibility, provide enhanced grip, particularly during cornering.

In comparison, the Sumitomo Ice Edge features laterally oriented sipes, which while effective, do not offer the same level of grip as the Blizzak WS90.

Nonetheless, the Ice Edge shows commendable resistance to hydroplaning. This is thanks to its larger grooves that promote effective water dispersion, minimizing the risk of losing control on wet surfaces.

So you get superior wet grip on Blizzak, while hydroplaning resistance is seen better with Sumitomo.

Snow Performance

When it comes to performance on snowy terrain, both tires deliver impressive performances.

The Sumitomo Ice Edge, however, especially shines when traversing fluffier snow.

The key to its superior traction lies in the unique design of its more spacious tread pattern, featuring lugs that open up to the snow surface.

These lugs create a snow-to-snow contact, which is more efficient for traction as snow sticks better to other snow than to rubber.

On the other side, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 has a more minimalist design, when it comes to thicker snow, with its continuous center rib, and no interlocking groove structure.

This design makes Blizzak’s tread less aggressive in collecting snow, thus giving the Sumitomo Ice Edge an advantage in fluffy snowy conditions.

Fuel Economy

The topic of fuel economy in tires revolves around two main parameters: the tire’s adherence to the surface and its overall weight. These factors directly influence the rolling resistance of a tire, which plays a significant role in energy expenditure.

Having said that it makes sense why the Sumitomo Ice Edge lacks here overall, with its greater weight, pushing lugs to bend more against the road, as the tire corners, for example

This molding of the lugs asks for extra energy consumption, that could have been used in to the rolling of the tire.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, on the other hand, is lighter and designed with longitudinally aligned ribs, which provide superior aerodynamic properties compared to the spacious pattern of the Ice Edge.

This results in smoother straight-line journeys, such as on highways. So overall performance here is seen better on Blizzak.

Comfort

The comfort level offered by a tire encompasses 2 key factors, road noise, and vibration absorption.

Let’s break them down for a more detailed analysis.

Noise Generation

Noise from tires is generated as a result of air particles colliding with the tread walls.

This noise can have a significant impact on the overall driving experience, making its management a critical aspect of tire design.

In this regard, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 appears to hold an edge over the Sumitomo Ice Edge, as the tire features a tread pattern with a less voided structure.

The reduced voids mean less space for air to bounce around, thus generating less noise as the tire rolls on the road. And this design consideration makes the Blizzak WS90 a quieter tire, enhancing the comfort level for the driver and passengers alike.

In contrast, the louder Sumitomo Ice Edge, with its larger tread voids, leaves more room for air to collide with the tread walls, generating extra noise levels.

Vibration Absorption

Tires act as the first line of defense against road irregularities, and their ability to absorb and dampen vibrations, caused by bumps, potholes, and other road imperfections significantly contributes to the ride comfort.

Here, the Sumitomo Ice Edge outshines the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, with its unique tread design and compound composition, which shows superior vibration absorption capabilities.

When the (Sumitomo) tire comes into contact with bumps or uneven surfaces, its construction allows it to cushion these impacts effectively. This results in a smoother ride, minimizing the transmission of vibrations to the vehicle’s body and enhancing the comfort level for the occupants.

On the other hand, while the Blizzak WS90 also offers reasonable vibration absorption, it doesn’t quite match the performance of the Ice Edge. Its design and material composition, although effective, do not cushion impacts as well as the Ice Edge, leading to a slightly less comfortable ride over uneven or bumpy terrains.

Summing Up

Ultimately, the verdict comes down to this.

Both of the boys are robust winter tires, each with their distinct strengths.

Here the Blizzak WS90 notably excels on icy surfaces and in dry traction, thanks to its intricate biters and unbroken center rib.

And yes, its offers superior fuel efficiency due to its lighter weight and streamlining design, with a slight advantage in wet traction and a quieter ride.

However, the Ice Edge shines on snowy terrains and in vibration absorption, owing to its open tread pattern and effective cushioning design.

Despite having more weight leading to quicker tread wear and lesser fuel efficiency, its snow performance and comfort level on bumpy surfaces stand out. Both tires demonstrate impressive capabilities but differ subtly, making the choice dependent on specific driving conditions and personal preferences.

Both the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 are masters of their own game in the winter tire market. So let me dissect their individual performance in various terrains, and weather conditions, helping you make an informed decision for your next tire purchase.

Tire Sizes

The The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 (review) comes in 52 total sizes in 15 to 19 inches (wheels) with following specs.

• Speed ratings: T or H.
• Load ratings: SL or XL.
• Tread depth: 11 or 12/32″.
• Weight: 17 to 29 lbs.
• Tread warranty: None.

On the other side, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 comes in 14 to 18″ with following specs.

• Speed ratings: H and T.
• Load ratings: SL and XL.
• Tread depth: 11 and 12/32″.
• Weight: 16 to 36 lbs.
• Tread warranty: None.

Tread Appearance

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a strong winter tire with a very well-designed tread pattern. Let’s explore its details more.

The tread consists of three primary sections, or “ribs”, and I’ll examine each of these in turn.

Let’s begin with the shoulder lugs.

So these are packed with numerous biters, you get lateral notches facing the center of the tire, combined with the longitudinal slits (located at middle of these lugs).

And further out, you also get zigzag slits too.

And yes, of course, there’s ton of siping here, stating the obvious.

The central rib is continuous running, so no blocks there.

This rib has similar-to-shoulder slits (and sipes). These slits join up with the V shaped notches, which face both directions laterally.

On the other hand, Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 also features a directional pattern.

When you break down the tread, you can see it’s got 7 ribs, which are like column of blocks in the middle.

These column make up 6 channels that go from one end of the tire to the other.

The middle-most column is just one piece, because the slits don’t cut it into blocks (well, not all the way). But you can picture triangles being formed there.

These are made by incisions, which basically act as in-groove notches, supplying bite on snowy terrains.

And that bite get further aided by the ribs sharp off-set edges and a ton of siping.

The surrounding two ribs have blocks with similar features, but with slightly open design. Though they are still connected to each other longitudinally.

Moving towards shoulders, lugs are very blocky, have longitudinal slits, and similar wave-like pattern like seen elsewhere.

Snow Performance

In the realm of snowy conditions, both boys delivered exceptional performance, despite the unique challenges each type of snow presented. However, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 emerged as a stronger contender in terms of traction, especially on slightly fluffy snow terrains.

The reason? Well, answer lies within its intricately designed treads.

Its more aggressive directional tread pattern, adorned with lugs possessing a more open design, equips the tire with an advantageous edge, facilitating better snow-to-snow contact.

The fluffy snow particles find themselves easily snatched up by the tire’s interlocking grooves and snow-vices. Once trapped, these particles enhance the tire’s grip on the ground, providing a superior traction experience as snow inherently sticks better to its own kind than to rubber.

In contrast, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90’s design is more closed up, even though both tires features a continuous running central rib.

Moreover, its missing interlocking groove structure, on top, don’t allow the tire to pick up as much snow as its competitor, resulting in slightly diminished performance in snow-ridden conditions.

So overall Yokohama has the upper hand here.

Ice Performance

Moving on to icy conditions, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 showcases superior capabilities, most notably in its average braking distance, which is significantly shorter compared to its counterpart.

A comparative test between the two shows that on average, the Blizzak came to a stop a whopping 15 feet shorter.

So why is that the case?

Well, because the Blizzak tire is adorned with intricate biters of various widths, presenting slanted incisions, V-shaped notches facing both lateral directions, and abundant siping.

All these elements contribute to the tire’s heightened ability to grip and bite onto ice. Additionally, these biters feature dual angles, further enhancing grip and shortening braking distance.

On the other side, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 struggles with its larger tread voids and fewer notches.

It falters particularly in effective braking, where the central tread area is crucial. With wider lateral tread voids, it struggles to secure a firm grip on packed ice. The lack of multi-angled siping further accentuates the tire’s shortcomings, leading to a longer handling time compared to its competition.

Wet Traction

Tread design and rubber compound largely dictate a tire’s wet traction capabilities.

And in this aspect, although both tires come armed with ample siping and soft, thermally adaptive rubbers, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 still gets to take the lead. Let me explain why.

So sipes basically work by expelling air out and sucking water particles in. And Blizzak with dual siping structures composed of more aggressive interlocking, and rectilinear ones provide better biting abilities on icy terrains.

Moreover, all its sipes also have multiple angles, so they are able to wipe water off in all directions, as the tire corners, brakes or accelerates.

On the other side, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53’s siping takes a different approach, featuring only a lateral orientation, so you can not get the similar results with this tire.

Though yes, its performance is much more commendable when we look at its hydroplaning resistance.

In both curved and straight aquaplaning tests, the tire delivered slightly higher speeds. This improved performance can be attributed to its interconnected web of grooves which disperse water in all directions more effectively than its counterpart’s continuous central rib.

Dry Traction

When considering dry traction, two key components come to the fore: directional grip and lateral traction.

And here, the Blizzak WS90 outperforms with its continuous running rib providing consistent contact with the surface. This translates into shorter braking distances and quicker acceleration times.

However, the Yokohama, with its wider grooves, cannot quite match its competitor’s performance.

And yes, compounding the issue, the Ice Guard’s more substantial structure leads to increased lug movement as the tire corners, resulting in diminished steering feedback.

So overall you get a better handling and directional grip on Bridgestone WS90.

Comfort Levels

Comfort in a tire involves a delicate interplay of factors such as road noise and vibration absorption, both influenced by the tire’s tread pattern, and sidewall design.

In terms of tread noise, the Blizzak WS90 performs slightly better, due to its less-voided tread design, so it doesn’t allow as much air to come in and strike around (generating noise).

And with its lighter weight, it also features quicker response times, allowing for a smoother overall ride compared to its counterpart.

However, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 does have an advantage with its softer rubber compound, which is better at cushioning road bumps compared to the Blizzak.

But yes, the WS90 in comparison is quieter.

Fuel Economy

Fuel usage in a tire is largely dictated by its stickiness with the surface and its overall weight.

In both these aspects, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 falls short, with its significant weight and relatively broader tread voids yielding increased friction as the tire rolls on the surface.

Despite a noticeable increase in performance in extreme winter temperatures, the tires’s shortcomings in this regard are undeniable.

In contrast, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, with its lighter structure and longitudinally aligned ribs, provides a more streamlined travel experience, particularly for straight-line travel such as on highways.

This design leads to more efficient fuel consumption by minimizing energy expenditure.

So overall things are better with Blizzak WS90.

Tread Life

Rolling resistance is also a determinant of tread longevity.

And in this regard, the Blizzak outperforms the Yokohama Ice Guard IG53.

Let me explain why.

So basically, WS90 comes with a lighter structure, which exerts a smaller overall amount of force on its tread blocks, generating less friction and slower wear.

On the other side, on Yokohama’s tire, the opposite happens. Here, you have larger weight (on average), and a smaller overall rubber area, where that weight would go.

So each of its lugs bears more weight pressure on itself, and rubs against the road with a greater amount of friction.

This burns down the tire’s rubber directly and also generates heat, which is the worst enemy of winter tires.

However, it’s worth noting that the performance difference between the two is marginal, which may explain why neither tire offers any warranties.

The Bridgestone tire offers a longer tread life, comparatively.

Summing Up

So let me summarize all of the above.

• Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 exhibits superior traction in snowy conditions due to its aggressive directional tread pattern, which facilitates better snow-to-snow contact.
• In icy conditions, Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 excels with shorter braking distances owing to its intricate biters and dual-angle siping.
• In terms of wet traction, Blizzak’s siping structure surpasses its competitor’s lateral-only orientation. However, Ice Guard performs better in hydroplaning resistance tests.
• For dry traction, Blizzak’s continuous running rib grants superior directional grip and handling.
• Comfort levels are similar, but Blizzak is quieter, while Ice Guard provides better bump cushioning.
• The Blizzak also offers better fuel economy and tread life due to its lighter structure and longitudinally aligned ribs. The performance difference between the two, however, is marginal.

A gripping contest is underway as Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, armed with its unique rubber compound for maximum winter grip, challenges the Michelin X-Ice Snow, celebrated for its advanced tread design for better handling. Will the ice reveal a clear victor in this contest of winter champions?

Info on Sizes

The Blizzak WS90 (review) comes in 52 total sizes in 15 to 19 inches (wheels) with following specs.

• Speed ratings: T or H.
• Load ratings: SL or XL.
• Tread depth: 11 or 12/32″.
• Weight: 17 to 29 lbs.
• Tread warranty: None.

On the other side, the Michelin X-Ice Snow (review) comes in 125 total sizes in 15 to 22 inches. They have following specs.

• Speed ratings: T and H.
• Load ratings: SL and XL.
• Tread depth: 10.5/32″ on all.
• Weight: 16 to 40 lbs.
• Tread warranty: 40k miles.

Tread Design

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 showcases a very uniquely designed directional tread pattern.

This pattern consists primarily of three defined ribs, with the central one being continuous. So yes, you can say, that the shoulder lugs cover majority of the tread’s area.

The central most rib come with full depth interlocking sipes and incisions which for triangular shaped block pattern.

These incisions basically vary in width, and this provides you with amazing biting efficacy. And adding to that are it’s V shaped notches facing both sides (laterally).

These notches are joined up with these incisions I talked about.

Moving towards shoulders, you see more biters.

There are notches facing the middle. Then there are longitudinal incisions of varying length (just as seen on the central lugs). These actually split up the shoulder blocks.

Moreover, you also get more zigzag siping at the end there. And of course all these lugs are laced with regular wave like sipes seen everywhere else on the tread.

On the other hand, Michelin X-Ice Snow showcases a distinctive, directional tread pattern too.

It’s tread is equipped with 4 circumferential grooves which are formed by 4 total ribs, which are formed by 6 total ribs.

The central most longitudinal groove is the narrowest and very tough passing. It’s formed by two ribs containing blocks having multiple sharp edges, wave-like sipes, and chamfered sides facing the shoulders.

The outer surrounding lugs although also carry similar tread features, they have slightly wider spaces around them, and lugs are overall smaller.

All these blocks (including the shoulders), are interconnected with each other. You can say, they are all lying on a secondary rubber layer underneath, which accounts for lug stability as the tire maneuvers.

The shoulders carry slightly softer edges, and so they are a bit squared off, you can say.

Moreover, these lugs carry rectilinear lateral siping on them. And their outer edges also have notches on them.

Wet Traction

Wet traction is primarily governed by a duo of elements: the tread pattern and the rubber compound. These dictate the tire’s grip and its defense against hydroplaning. Let’s unpack them.

Wet Grip

While both tires come armed with ample siping and adaptable tread rubber, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 manages to seize an advantage in the grip department.

And the reason is the tire’s dual siping design, which showcases an array of rectilinear and interlocking patterns of these slits.

Basically sipes work by drawing in water particles, enabling the biters to latch onto the slightly dried surface, and with dual siping design, as seen on Blizzak, those slits become like water magnets.

The Michelin X-Ice Snow on the other hand, although shows up with a ton of biters as well, combined with multi-directional sipes, the missing rectilinear slits in longitudinal directions don’t allow the tire to have as great of a lateral traction (on corners), as the WS90.

So Michelin has the upper hand here.

Hydroplaning Resistance

Hydroplaning arises when water obstructs the tread from making proper contact with the underlying surface, causing the tire to float a bit and losing all traction, which as one might imagine, is a major issue.

And here, between the two, the Michelin X-Ice Snow takes the lead, with its wider grooves, and sweeping arms, which allow the tire to have better average float speeds, excelling in both curved and straight aquaplaning tests.

The tire basically comes out with a genius design here, not only it offers a directional tread pattern, which swoops water off the surface of the tread, those lugs are divided up, so you get an interconnected web of grooves, running every which way, allowing for effective dispersing of water in all directions.

The Blizzak WS90 on the other hand, lacks here with its symmetric tread pattern, and missing inter-connectivity of tread voids.

Dry Traction

Dry traction is a two-part story, involving directional grip and handling. Let’s discuss them both.

Directional Grip

Dry grip hinges on the central portion of the tread since it’s the primary contact point with the road, particularly for winter tires, given their rounded contact patch and predominantly directional design.

Though this design isn’t always the best, and that explains why the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 takes the lead in this area, showing up with faster braking efficacy.

The tire’s symmetric tread pattern showcases a continuous running central rib, maintaining an uninterrupted bond between the rubber and the road. This ensures superior braking distances, a key measure of directional grip.

Conversely, the Michelin X-Ice Snow doesn’t fare as well with its wider tread voids, and so its unable to offer a similar contact patch. Though its directional grip is still much better when you consider its handling capabilities.

Handling

The overall ability of a tire to maintain traction, especially during cornering, largely depends on its shoulder lugs. There are two key factors we evaluate in this context. Firstly, we examine how effectively the lugs interact with the surface as the tire swivels. Secondly, we measure the extent of lug flex that occurs during such maneuvers.

When looking at the Michelin X Ice Snow, we see that it displays a similar level of contact between the rubber of its shoulder lugs and the road, when compared to its competitors. However, despite this similarity, its increased weight still hinders its overall performance in this domain.

Essentially, as the tire makes turns, the weight it carries shifts towards its edges, also known as the shoulders. And so in the case of a heavier tire, the lugs on the shoulders are subjected to increased bending, which in turn disturbs the delicate balance between oversteer and understeer, ultimately causing a delay in steering feedback.

Therefore, due to its weightier structure and wider grooves, the Michelin X-Ice Snow displays extended handling lap times, compared to its counterpart.

Fuel Efficiency Assessment

Fuel efficiency in tires is closely linked to their road grip and overall weight.

In this context, the Michelin X Ice Snow leaves room for improvement. Specifically, the tire’s considerable weight and extensive tread voids heighten its rolling resistance and friction with the road surface.

On the other hand, the lighter Blizzak WS90 imposes less pressure on the road, leading to reduced overall friction. Furthermore, its longitudinally aligned tread ribs align with the tire’s direction of movement, minimizing resistance, conserving energy, and thereby enhancing fuel efficiency.

So Ws90 has the upper hand, when it comes to overall fuel economy performance.

Ice Traction

When navigating icy surfaces, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 unequivocally showcases its superior performance, outclassing its counterpart.

On tests the tire achieves a significantly quicker stop time by an average of one second, which incidentally, is a trend mirrored in its acceleration capabilities (up to 40 mph).

But why does the Michelin tire under-performs here? Well there are a couple of things to consider here.

First, the tire although has a lot of siping just like its peer, its still not as aggressive as seen on the WS90. Moreover, the tire is also missing with any kind of notches and has wider tread voids (which makes blocks).

In comparison, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 excels due to its superior biters. Its central rib comprises an assortment of angled cuts, V-shaped notches extending in both lateral directions, and an abundance of siping, all of which contribute to an exceptional ice-biting performance.

The biters’ dual-angle design further elevates the tire’s grip, thereby enabling efficient braking. When it comes to handling, the tire’s shoulder lugs are crucial, and they come equipped with biters oriented both laterally and longitudinally, ensuring a comprehensive grip from every conceivable angle.

Therefore, when it comes to ice traction, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 clearly outperforms its competition.

Snow Traction Analysis

When navigating snow, you can’t beat the Michelin X Ice Snow as this tire demonstrates a far much more commendable traction capabilities, compared to ws90.

To clear up things, I am talking about fluffy snowy terrains here.

The X Ice Snow’s wider tread voids basically facilitate superior snow-to-snow contact here, which is exactly what you need here. Its lug voids adeptly trap powdery snow particles within their interconnected grooves and snow vices, and connected with the ground (with that lodged up snow).

Its better because snow sticks better on snow, instead of rubber.

The Blizzak WS90 on the other hand, is designed with a more enclosed structure that isn’t able to do so as effectively.

So, when considering overall snow performance, the Michelin X Ice Snow is the superior choice.

Comfort Level Assessment

The comfort level provided by a tire is largely determined by the amount of road noise it generates and its ability to dampen vibrations. These characteristics are mainly influenced by the tire’s construction.

Let’s delve into each aspect.

Tread Noise

Noise is generated when air particles collide with the walls of the tire tread. Consequently, larger tread voids tend to produce louder noise.

Comparing the two tires, the Bridgestone WS90 stands out for its quieter ride. This is primarily due to the more compact shoulder lug design, which is where most of the air enters. Additionally, the tire’s central lugs are densely arranged, leaving less space for air particles to move around, thus creating less noise.

Furthermore, any residual noise is effectively diminished by the tire’s advanced pitch sequencing technology.

As these features are lacking in its counterpart, the Bridgestone WS90 offers a quieter ride overall.

On-Road Vibration

While the Michelin X Ice Snow might be a bit noisier, it performs exceedingly well in terms of impact comfort.

This can be attributed to two factors. First, its tread rubber is more absorbent to bumps. Second, it features a deeper tread, which provides a thicker layer of rubber between the vehicle and the bumps, enhancing its shock-absorbing capabilities.

Therefore, in terms of bump absorption, the Michelin X Ice Snow outperforms its competitor.

Tread Longevity Evaluation

Tread longevity is largely influenced by rolling resistance, particularly when considering these two tires.

In this regard, the Blizzak WS90 emerges superior. Its reduced weight places less strain on the tread blocks during contact with the road, leading to less friction and slower wear of the rubber.

In contrast, the heavier Michelin X Ice Snow channels its extra weight onto a smaller rubber surface due to its larger tread voids. This added stress on each lug hastens tread wear, thereby diminishing its overall lifespan.

However, it’s worth noting that the performance difference between the two tires is relatively minor, which explains the absence of specific warranties.

So in essence, you get a longer life on Blizzak WS90.

So what’s the verdict?

Although its not recommended that you skip any of the above, let me summarize the things below.

In terms of wet traction, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 outperforms its counterpart with superior grip, thanks to its dual siping design. However, for hydroplaning resistance, Michelin’s wider grooves and interconnected voids offer better performance.

For dry traction, the Blizzak excels in directional grip due to its continuous running central rib, while Michelin’s weight and wider grooves limit its handling performance.

In terms of fuel efficiency, treadwear, and ice traction, the Bridgestone WS90 takes the lead due to its lighter weight and superior biters.

And lastly, for snowy traction, you get to see a superior performance on Michelin.

The Toyo Observe GSI 6 equipped with an innovative tread compound for optimal grip, squares up against the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, with its superior multi-cell compound. Who will emerge victorious in this showdown of the snow?

Info on Sizes

The Blizzak WS90 (review) comes in 52 total sizes in 15 to 19 inches (wheels) with following specs.

• Speed ratings: T or H.
• Load ratings: SL or XL.
• Tread depth: 11 or 12/32″.
• Weight: 17 to 29 lbs.
• Tread warranty: None.

On the other side, the Toyo Observe GSI 6 comes in 14 to 22″ with following.

• Speed ratings: H and V.
• Load ratings: SL and XL.
• Tread depth: 11 to 12.6/32″.
• Weight: 17 to 41 lbs.
• Tread warranty: None.

Tread Structure

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a tough winter tire with a special design on the surface, or tread. Let’s look more closely at its parts.

So on the tread, you’ll notice three sections, or ‘ribs. The one in the middle is continuous running, so there aren’t any proper blocks there. Though you do get a lot of tread features there, nonetheless.

So besides a lot of wave like siping, you also get small cuts or slits here, which get wider as they reach the edges.

They then join with V-shaped notches that look like teeth, or “biters”, which help with traction a lot.

This also goes for the lateral notches on the shoulder lugs. These combined with the longitudinal slits (in the middle of these lugs), yield amazing traction values.

Moreover, these shoulder blocks also have zigzag slits running along near the edges of the tire. And like other winter tires, you get a ton of siping here as well.

On the other hand, Toyo Observe GSI 6 also features a directional pattern.

Looking at its tread, we can see it has three parts, or ribs, (consider them columns of blocks in the middle).

So these 3 create 4 longitudinal channels, of equal width, though the outer ones are more biting.

The central-most rib is made continuous, as its not divided all the way by those slits you see.

And they are a lot, they make zigzag pattern all along.

Moreover, you can also see sharp notches and a mixture of rectilinear and interlocking siping on this rib.

The surrounding ribs are open, forming interconnected grooves, and these have a ton of biters.

You can see the snow-vices facing the shoulders, then you can see multiple notches, and off-set edges, along with siping. And yes, you can not miss the flower/snowflake shaped deep incisions.

The shoulder lugs also have the same story. They have snow-vices, zigzag slits in the middle, and of course wave-like siping.

Snow Performance

When discussing performance in soft snow, the Toyo Observe GSI 6 manages to nudge ahead slightly, because it features more gaps/biters, which essentially function to trap snow particles, enhancing snow-to-snow contact.

The trapped snow, basically, creates the contact patch with the ground as the tire spins, fostering improved traction. And this occurs because snow bonds more effectively to itself than to rubber.

Moreover, with the tire’s tread having a directional pattern, you also get a paddling effect, where snow is scooped and thrown backwards, and forward momentum is created.

The Blizzak WS90 on the other hand is missing with both of these features. It’s pattern is symmetric, and it doesn’t offer as effective of a snow to snow contact.

Wet Traction

Wet traction is largely influenced by two factors: tread configuration and rubber formulation. These in turn determine the tire’s grip and resistance to hydroplaning, the two dimensions of wet performance. Let’s dive into each one.

Wet Grip

Even though both these tires feature abundant siping and flexible tread rubber, the Blizzak is still overall lacking here.

So why is that?

Well because the WS90, although features numerous biters, they are still not as abundant when seen alongside with Toyo Observe.

The Toyo’s central rib can be seen with zigzag longitudinal slits, along with an array of rectilinear and interlocking sipes, along with notches. Moreover, you can also see snowflake shaped slits on the surrounding blocks, along with snow vices facing the shoulders (which by the way also have those, apart from zigzag slits).

All of these provide much better water absorption capabilities.

Basically these tread voids expel/blow out air, when meeting with the surface, essentially creating a type of vacuum, which allows for a suction, soaking water particles ability.

And with more in number of these voids/biters, you get a superior performance on Toyo GSI 6.

The Blizzak WS90 on the other hand, although also features dual siping design, and multi-angled biters, it’s performance still takes the back seat, as the tire shows up slightly longer handling lap times (on average).

So overall in case of wet girp, you get a supeiror performance on Observe GSI 6

Side Note: All of these features which make Toyo better here, also can be used to explain its more commendable ice traction performance too.

Hydroplaning resistance

Hydroplaning is a phenomenon that occurs when water forms a barrier between the tire tread and the underlying surface.

This “barrier” effectively causes the tire to levitate slightly, resulting in a complete loss of traction, which is a significant safety hazard.

And so when it comes to this aspect, the Toyo Observe GSI-6 takes center stage with an impressive performance.

Its wide channels, coupled with sweeping arms, permit increased average hydroplaning speeds.

This holds true for both straight and curved aquaplaning scenarios.

Furthermore, its elaborate maze of channels is designed to efficiently disperse water in all directions, contributing to an overall superior hydroplaning resistance.

So overall hydroplaning resistance is seen better on Toyo GSI 6.

Tread Life

Tread life is significantly impacted by rolling resistance, which is a function of the tire’s weight and rubber composition.

So it’s logical that the Toyo Observe GSI 6 falls short in this area as well.

The tire’s heavier weight exerts increased stress on the tread, and since the lugs are more spaced apart, each lug has to endure more weight pressure, as they grind against the road with greater force.

Indeed, the tire’s relatively softer rubber compound exacerbates this situation.

In contrast, the Blizzak WS90 benefits from being lighter and having closely-packed lugs, which encounter less friction as the tread contacts the road.

So overall treadwear is seen faster on Toyo.

Comfort Levels

Tire comfort is primarily influenced by factors such as the level of road noise and the ability to absorb vibrations.

Speaking of noise first, which basically originates from the collision of air particles against the walls of the tread, you get a lacking performance on Toyo. As simply put, the wider the tread voids, the higher the noise produced.

And Toyo GSI 6 with relatively spacious tread design falls short in keeping the ride quiet.

Contrastingly, when we venture into the realm of shock absorption, the Toyo Observe GSI-6 outshines its counterpart, the Blizzak WS90.

Due to its softer tread compound, this tire is exceptionally well-suited to cushion shocks, ensuring a smoother ride overall.

Fuel Economy

Tire fuel efficiency is fundamentally linked to tread design and structural weight. These things basically tell you about the rolling resistance.

For the sake of simplification, the tire’s greater weight, coupled with larger tread voids, contribute to increased lug flexing during cornering, braking, or accelerating.

And this flexing or molding of the lugs results in extra energy consumption, which is exactly what we see on Toyo Observe GSI 6.

On the other side, the Blizzak WS90, equipped with more streamlined, longitudinally aligned ribs, doesn’t generate as much rolling resistance, so you get a better MPG here.

Dry Traction

Dry traction can be divided into two parts: directional grip and handling. Let’s examine each one.

Directional Grip

Dry grip is dependent on the central area of the tread since it forms the most contact with the ground, especially when it comes to winter tires, given their rounded contact patch and directional design, for the most part.

Hence, in this case, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 emerges victorious, as it features a “wider” continuous-running central rib, ensuring an uninterrupted connection between the rubber and the road.

This results in superior braking distances, indicative of directional grip.

In contrast, Toyo Observe GSI 6 falls short with its broader tread voids, and narrower central rib (however continuous).

Handling

A tire’s cornering abilities or overall sideways traction depends on its shoulder lugs.

Here, two things are evaluated.

First, how effectively these lugs connect with the ground as the tire rotates.

And second, the extent to which these lugs bend during this process.

And in both aspects, the Blizzak WS90 outperforms its counterpart.

Its compact pattern forms a larger contact with the ground, and due to its lighter weight, its lugs don’t tend to flex too much as the tire corners.

During cornering, most of the tire’s weight shifts towards the shoulders, and their bending disrupts the balance between oversteer and understeer, resulting in a slower steering response.

Therefore, with heavier structures and broader channels, the Toyo Observe GSI 6 displays longer handling lap times.

To Conclude

Both premium winter tires are very notable, with each excelling in different areas.

The Observe GSI-6 shows superiority in wet traction and soft snow performance, thanks to its abundant sipes and tread voids. However, its wider grooves compromise comfort by increasing road noise.

Conversely, the Blizzak WS90 shines in dry traction and fuel economy due to its continuous central rib and lighter weight, but it lacks hydroplaning resistance.

Moreover, despite their unique advantages, the Observe GSI-6 suffers quicker treadwear, while the Blizzak WS90 offers a smoother ride, illustrating that each tire serves specific needs depending on driving conditions.