Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is rated 9.8 out of 10 and is the best winter tyre for normal and premium vehicles but performs less well for high performance car or supercars. This is a compilation of 1,000 user reviews on the Blizzak WS80 with vehicle range from hatchbacks to premium sedans, vans and supercars:
1,832,511 Total Miles Driven
1 out of 6 Top Winter Tyres
Winter/Snow Performance
9.8 out of 10 on light snow traction
9.6 out of 10 on deep snow traction
9.3 out of 10 on Ice traction
One of the most helpful review was from a BMW M5 driver that teach racing and skid control:
Having to drive up steep mountains and covering over 100 miles every day, the Blizzak WS80 are incredible through snow that was sometimes 8 inches deep. With only two wheel drive, the tyres magnificiently dug its way up my steep winding driveway. My fellow pro BMW techs made fun of "nano-particles" until they saw my car jump from standstill on snow covered road.
These tyres wear quickly and could last me only one winter, as expected from soft winter rubber with lots of tiny sipes and my aggressive driving covering long distance every day. Off come the best summer tires ever made, Michelin Pilot SuperSports and go on to the best winter tyres ever made, Blizzak WS80 in dry conditions are very uninspiring.
Wet Performance
9.5 out of 10 on Hydroplaning resistance
9.1 out of 10 on Wet traction
The Blizzak received excellent reviews on wet grips especially in temperatures below 5 degree celcius / 40 fahrenheit. One particular review that stands out are from this 43 year old Chevrolet Impala driver:
The Blizzak WS80 are the usual soft and squishy snow tyres. The wet handling of these tyre heavily dependent on the temperature. Under freezing wet conditions below zero degree, these tyres grip is as good as any summer performance tyre in wet. You may feel a little disconnected at first, but wait for the weather to get even colder then the fun will come.
However, above zero degrees, the car feels uncertain and you gets the jello like feeling due to the soft tyre compound. That being said, driving around in un-plowed driveways are not even a concern. The Blizzak WS80 is the best winter tyre i have ever used, but do change to summer tyres or all season tyres when the temperature rises above zero degree.
Comfort
9.3 out of 10 on Ride Quality
8.7 out of 10 on Noise
Ride quality for Blizzak is by far one of the most comfortable among top winter tyres, but can vary according to vehicles and tyre pressure. However these tyres can be on the higher pitch as it wears.
One of the Blizzak WS80 owner fitted these tyres on his Honda Odyssey mentioned that the tyres are very comfortable for long distance travels:
I have been on several long distance drives (300+ miles) for vacations and the van drove really well, super smooth and quiet. The ride was very soft and squishy, most probably due to the soft compound and large sidewalls. So far, I am really liking the Blizzaks and will purchase them again. I actually purchased a set for my Mazda 6 touring not long ago because they have been so good thus far!
However, the road noise becomes quiet apparent as the tyre wears, especially for those with tyre sizes of 18 inch and above. Below is the review of a Subaru BRZ owner playing around with these winter tyre:
As a note of caution - these Blizzaks takes a while to break in and were a little greasy for the first few miles. Handling for the Blizzak WS80 significantly improved when it is given few more ps of air, especially when cornering. They are SILENT on the road initially, but as i have driven it over 10k miles, the tyres noise is mildly aggressive at highway speeds but not obnoxious. Overall this is an excellent in cold temperatures but do consider changing to summer tyres as the temperature rise above 5 degrees.
Dry Performance
8.6 out of 10 Dry traction
8.1 out of 10 Dry Handling
8.2 out of 10 Cornering Stability
An owner of Audi A8 love the Blizzaks, especially when he is living at 6000 ft elevation and snow is part of his every day life:
I tried almost all snow/winter tyres available. It is clear that tyres of other manufacturers were less than ideal, Blizzak is THE winter tyre you will be looking for, but it is not great in the dry, especially when new. These tyres don't wear well in the dry, but if you drive conservatively, it will be ok. Note of reminder - get the narrowest tyre available, as the OEM size wide tyres still "floats" on snow and do not perform as well on snow.
Conclusion
Consumers of all vehicle ranges had been really happy and confident having the Bridgestone Blizzaks WS80 fitted to their vehicles for maximum safety in snow and wet conditions. The only downfall is the driving performance on the dry, especially above freezing temperatures. If you live in a winter climate, these tyres are highly recommended. The cost of changing tyres is much less than an insurance deductible.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Technical Details
Bridgestone engineered the Blizzak WS80 so you can conquer the cold, snow and ice. With a suite of features that delivers trusty traction in all winter conditions, it is easy to see why Blizzak is one of the best winter tyres.
Mighty Molecules
A new Hydropholic Coating reacts to the elements for confident stopping power on snow and ice. Advanced Multicell Compound with Nano Pro-Tech works at a molecular level to remain pliable in cold.
Optimized Construction
New Cavity Shape distributes contact pressure uniformly across the entire footprint area for even wear and dry, ice and snow performance.
Serious Thread
Bite particles act like microscopic studs providing confident road grip and braking on ice. 3D Zigzag Sipes create biting edges without sacrificing block stiffness. Increased block edges by 20% (compared to Blizzak WS70) for better handling on snow and slush.
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Blizzak WS80 is definitely an excellent tyre, but has it surpass the capabilities of its successor Blizzak WS70 which is one of the best light and deep snow traction tyres even until today, and how does it hold up against some of the best winter tyres out there? Guess we will just have to find out.
Would i get these for my vehicle? Definitely! I will get another set for my daughter's car too, they are definitely great and worth every penny.
What do you think about the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80? Would you get them for your kids too? Let us know what you think about this product in the comments below.
