Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

1. ConsumerReports.org

Review Credibility: Excellent Testers here rank the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 alongside 15 other studless winter tires for passenger cars. They test each tire's snow traction, braking on icy, dry and wet roads, handling, hydroplaning, ride comfort, noise and more before recommending best buys.

Review: Bridgestone Blizzak WS70, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Not Dated

2. Motormännen

Review Credibility: Very Good The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 delivers mediocre results in this winter-tire shootout by the Swedish Automobile Association. Braking performance on ice and snow is only fair, and performance on both dry and wet pavement isn't impressive, either.

Review: Best Winter Tires 2012, Editors of Motormännen, Oct. 19, 2012

3. Aftonbladet.se

Review Credibility: Very Good Terrible bare-pavement handling relegates the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 to second-to-last place among severe-winter tires at this Swedish publication. The tire handles reasonably well on ice and snow, but in their 28-tire test experts say there are better choices.

Review: Sweden's Biggest Winter Tire Test, Editors of Aftonbladet, Autumn 2012

4. Norwegian Automobile Federation

Review Credibility: Very Good This group participates in the same lengthy Arctic tire test as Aftonbladet. Editors come to different conclusions about some tires, but they likewise rank the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 next to last. They say it brakes poorly on wet pavement, and it's so soft that it makes the car hard to control at times.

Review: Winter Tire Test 2012, Rune Korsvoll and Jukka Antila, Oct. 11, 2012

5. Vi Bilagare

Review Credibility: Very Good Once again, the Blizzak WS70's poor wet- and dry-road performance drags its overall score down. It trails a bit on snow and ice, too, compared with the Michelin X-Ice Xi3. This Swedish auto magazine's winter-tire shootout painstakingly tests 10 winter tires -- all studless except one -- and the Blizzak ranks close to the bottom.

Review: Tires to Count On In Wet or Dry, Erik Rönnblom, Sept. 25, 2012

6. Automobile Protection Association

Review Credibility: Good Canada's Automobile Protection Association gives more weight to snow-and-ice grip than other sources. Here, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 is the number-one pick among snow tires for passenger cars. Editors say it has "a somewhat deeper tread and better traction in slush" than the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 -- but they haven't updated their picks for this year, so they don't cover the new Michelin X-Ice Xi3.

Review: Passenger Car Tires, Editors of the Automobile Protection Association, Not Dated

7. Tire Rack

Review Credibility: Good The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 finishes third in this four-tire test -- even though it brakes a tiny bit faster and corners slightly better on an ice rink than the winning Michelin X-Ice Xi3. The Blizzak rides a little more comfortably, too. But testers prefer the Michelin's handling, which feels more "like an all-season tire."

Review: Testing the Newest Studless Ice & Snow Winter Tires, Editors of TireRack.com, Sept. 28, 2012

8. Tire Rack

Review Credibility: Good With nearly 300 owner reviews posted, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 ranks second to the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (the newer Xi3 hasn't accumulated enough reviews yet) in the studless passenger-tire category. Owners actually rate the Blizzak a little higher than the Michelin on ice and snow, and about equal on wet roads but lower on dry roads. They find the Blizzak a little noisier, with a less comfortable ride and less durable, too -- although both tires are reated as Superior or Excellent on all measures.

Review: Bridgestone Blizzak WS70, Contributors to TireRack.com, As of November 2012