Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 Review

What the reviewers like:

• Very good on snow and solid ice
• Good braking on dry pavement
• Good value

What the reviewers don't like:

• Noisy
• Poor cornering, steering
• Fast tread wear
• Lower performance on wet pavement and melting ice

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 review highlights

We found the best review of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 at Consumer Reports, where editors rank it in comparison with 21 other winter tires based on thorough objective tests. TireRack.com provides a more detailed review along with ratings based on a large survey of owners. The single-product review at CanadianDriver.com is even more detailed, and over 30 owners note this tire's pros and cons at Epinions.com.

Reviews recommend the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 as a budget-priced unstudded snow tire, with good performance on snow and ice. Some reviews note annoying noise plus somewhat poor cornering and steering. As with most winter tires, performance is better on snow and ice than on dry or wet pavement, and tread wears fast. If winters aren't severe where you live, reviews suggest the Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 (*est. $75) for better performance on dry or wet roads.

Also see full report: Snow Tires

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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Winter Tires
Editors of Consumer Reports
Jan. 2008

Consumer Reports compares the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 with 21 other winter tires and performance winter tires, ranking each tire based primarily on ratings for traction on snow and braking on ice. Ratings are also specified for braking on dry pavement, wet pavement, handling, hydroplaning, ride comfort, and noise.

2. The Tire Rack
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 Reviews
Contributors to TireRack.com

TireRack.com is a retail website that publishes staff reviews as well as detailed ratings from a survey of more than 2,600 users - where the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 earns high ratings for performance on light snow, deep snow, ice - plus only slightly lower ratings on eight other factors, including dry and wet traction. However, it ranks toward the bottom of the pack when compared here with 15 other winter tires.

3. Canadian Driver
Winter Tire Test: Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Michael Clark
Feb. 14, 2006

Michael Clark tests the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 on his 1981Toyota Celica Supra, finding it excellent on snow, but better on solid ice than melting ice.

4. Epinions
Bridgestone Blizzak Passenger/Performance Tire Reviews
Contributors to Epinions.com

Over 30 users review Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires here, but it's not clear that all are commenting on the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50. The average rating is near-perfect, but some owners complain of noise, poor cornering and steering, and short treadwear.

Also see full report: Snow Tires

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 Review