Tire: Blizzak WS80
Category: Studless Ice & Snow
UTQG (treadwear): Not rated
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is one of the few Blizzak tires in the WS lineup that are purpose-built to tear up snow and ice covered roads. The WS80 variety here have been designed for drivers of coupes, sedans, wagons, and minivans. This tire is available in a wide variety of sizes from 15" to 19" wheels and in a variety of widths. It's an impressive manufacturing job to get this tire to fit in so many sizes. Bridgestone is well known for their use of advanced compounds and materials including it's adaptive NanoPro-Tech Multicell compound with hydrophilic coating that helps wick water off the road surface to keep traction in below freezing conditions. Compared to the other Blizzak WS tires, the WS80 has more directional tread to deal with ice and snow and help keep an optimized footprint. Considering the incredible winter traction these tires provide, Bridgestone recommends only installing them in sets of four. These tires also meet the industry standard for severe snow service.
With all this technology, it should come as no surprise that these tires rank at the top in this performance category. In my opinion, they outpace all other passenger studless snow and ice tires. Drivers that use these tires tend to agree as well. I have yet to find one person that wouldn't buy these tires again. There is a ton of repeat business that I see with the Blizzak WS80. I will caution that these tires are a little pricey, but they are well worth it. You'll get about 50,000 miles out of a set, which is a little above average. In colder climates, you may hit 60,000. This is more of a one season tire with the tread compound really doing it's job well when the temperature drops. I could spend the next 1000 words extolling the virtues of these tires, but let me be crystal clear here...these tires are the best in the category and do an outstanding job on snow and ice. You won't find me being this praiseful of any other tire on this website. The reason being is that this tire will get you through the hard times and will in many instances make your FWD care feel like an AWD car. I've had a number of drivers even say to me that their FWD car with these tires outperforms their AWD SUV with all season tires, and after seeing these tires in action on so many vehicles in winter, I would be inclined to believe that.
