Bridgestone Blizzak Ice vs Michelin X Ice Snow

In this article we will be looking at independent tire test data, and real world driver reviews of the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice and the Michelin X Ice Snow to find out which tire is best for your own driving.

The good news is that both the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice and Michelin X Ice Snow are Premium Touring Winter tires designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars, which means comparing the two tires is relatively simple.

Both tires are hugely popular in the market place with drivers, and both have been featured in independent tire tests.

In This Article
Introduction Test Results Driver Reviews Conclusion
Blizzak-Ice VS X-Ice-Snow

Test Results

Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been three tests which compare both tires directly!

Out of these three tests:

  • Michelin X Ice Snow finished ahead of the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice in three of the tests

While it might look like the Michelin X Ice Snow is better than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.

Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.

Dry Braking

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice stopped the vehicle in 5.06% less distance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
29.64M
Michelin X Ice Snow
31.22M
Dry braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Dry Braking: Bridgestone Blizzak Ice

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:30.2M Michelin X Ice Snow: 31.2M
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:28.69M Michelin X Ice Snow: 31.49M
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:30.03M Michelin X Ice Snow: 30.96M

Subj. Dry Handling

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during zero subj. dry handling tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice scored 24.95% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
4 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
5.33 Points
Subjective Dry Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:8 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 8 Points
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:2 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 4 Points
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:2 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 4 Points

Wet Braking

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during three wet braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow stopped the vehicle in 4.33% less distance than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
40.85M
Michelin X Ice Snow
39.08M
Wet braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Wet Braking: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:38.7M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 38.6M
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:43.12M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 40.23M
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:40.74M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 38.4M

Wet Handling [s]

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow was 3.36% faster around a wet lap than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
42.01s
Michelin X Ice Snow
40.6s
Wet handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:35s Michelin X Ice Snow: 35s
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:47.14s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 44.71s
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:43.9s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 42.1s

Subj. Wet Handling

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during zero subj. wet handling tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice scored 25% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
6 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
8 Points
Subjective Wet Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:6 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 8 Points

Straight Aqua

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during zero straight aqua tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice floated at a 6.98% higher speed than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
60.6Km/H
Michelin X Ice Snow
65.15Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H, higher is better

Best In Straight Aqua: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:61.4Km/H ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 65.3Km/H
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:59.8Km/H ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 65Km/H

Snow Braking

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two snow braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow stopped the vehicle in 2.68% less distance than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
25.42M
Michelin X Ice Snow
24.74M
Snow braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Snow Braking: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:52M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 50.4M
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:11.5M Michelin X Ice Snow: 11.61M
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:12.77M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 12.21M

Snow Traction

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two snow traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow accelerated 2.04% faster than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
5.4s
Michelin X Ice Snow
5.29s
Snow acceleration time, lower is better

Best In Snow Traction: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:6.2s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 6s
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:4.59s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 4.57s

Snow Handling [s]

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow was 0.64% faster around a lap than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
66.71s
Michelin X Ice Snow
66.28s
Snow handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Snow Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:50.8s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 48.7s
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:72.73s Michelin X Ice Snow: 73.44s
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:76.6s Michelin X Ice Snow: 76.7s

Subj. Snow Handling

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during zero subj. snow handling tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice scored 11.11% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
8 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
9 Points
Subjective Snow Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:8 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 9 Points

Ice Braking

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during three ice braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow stopped the vehicle 7.27% shorter than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
20.91M
Michelin X Ice Snow
19.39M
Ice braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Ice Braking: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:45.9M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 42.7M
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:3.54M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 3.39M
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:13.3M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 12.09M

Ice Traction

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two ice traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow accelerated 9.6% faster than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
6.98s
Michelin X Ice Snow
6.31s
Ice acceleration time, lower is better

Best In Ice Traction: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:5.9s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 5.3s
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:8.05s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 7.32s

Ice Handling [s]

Looking at data from three tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during two ice handling [s] tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was 1.46% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
52.77s
Michelin X Ice Snow
53.55s
Ice handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Ice Handling [s]: Bridgestone Blizzak Ice

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:61.2s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 61s
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:52.2s Michelin X Ice Snow: 52.54s
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:44.9s Michelin X Ice Snow: 47.1s

Subj. Ice Handling

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
7 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
7 Points
Subjective Ice Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Ice Handling:

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:7 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 7 Points

Subj. Noise

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice scored 8.33% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
6 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
5.5 Points
Subjective in car noise levels, higher is better

Best In Subj. Noise: Bridgestone Blizzak Ice

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:9 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 8 Points
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:3 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 3 Points

Noise

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice was better during one noise tests. On average the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice measured 1.07% quieter than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
73.7dB
Michelin X Ice Snow
74.5dB
External noise in dB, lower is better

Best In Noise: Bridgestone Blizzak Ice

2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 ✓ Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:73.7dB Michelin X Ice Snow: 74.5dB

Price

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one price tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow cost 2.77% less than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
1586
Michelin X Ice Snow
1542
Price in local currency, lower is better

Best In Price: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:1586 ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 1542

Rolling Resistance

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow had a 15.38% lower rolling resistance than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
4.55kg / t
Michelin X Ice Snow
3.85kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t, lower is better

Best In Rolling Resistance: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:2.9kg / t ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 1.8kg / t
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test
205/60 R16		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:6.2kg / t ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 5.89kg / t

Fuel Consumption

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow used 0.96% less fuel than the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
5.2l/100km
Michelin X Ice Snow
5.15l/100km
Fuel consumption in Litres per 100 km, lower is better

Best In Fuel Consumption: Michelin X Ice Snow

2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17		 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice:5.2l/100km ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 5.15l/100km

Real World Driver Reviews

Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice and Michelin X Ice Snow.

In total the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tire 76% overall.

The Michelin X Ice Snow has been reviewed 13 times and drivers have given the tire 83% overall.

This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Best Review for the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
205/55 R16 Q on mostly town for 15,000 average miles
Some of the best Bridgestone Blizzak Ice winter tires, like many of the Blizzak VRX series. Very strong sidewall. Tread 8.5 mm. They behave very confidently on ice.
Helpful 68 - tire reviewed on May 19, 2020
View all Bridgestone Blizzak Ice driver reviews >>
Best Review for the Michelin X Ice Snow
Given 93% 225/45 R17 on mostly country roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Previously owned the Michelin alpin 4a on a volkswagen tiguan. Fantastic tires, Decided to choose the new version for my Fiat Panda cross. The x ice snow is an amazing tire. It has been raining and snowing for the last month, i leave for work every morning in -10c and come home at night in -3c. Fresh snow, sludge, rain and ice. The tire is amazing. I feel confident while driving In all conditions. Recently went offroading in a few mountain trails. Parked the car up and iced road, jumped out with the kids, and we could not walk without falling over, Completely iced over. I did not even... Continue reading this review using the link below
Helpful 199 - tire reviewed on December 5, 2020
View all Michelin X Ice Snow driver reviews >>

Conclusion

In conclusion the Bridgestone Blizzak Ice performed better in dry braking, ice handling [s], subj. noise and noise, while the Michelin X Ice Snow performed better in subj. dry handling, wet braking, wet handling [s], subj. wet handling, straight aqua, snow braking, snow traction, snow handling [s], subj. snow handling, ice braking, ice traction, price, rolling resistance and fuel consumption.

Interestingly, both tires performed equally well in subj. ice handling, showing that they are closely matched in these areas.

Which tire is best for you depends a lot on your driving style and situation, plus what you want from the tire. Comparing all the data in the tire reviews database, on balance Michelin X Ice Snow seems to be the best tire overall.

However, it's important to note that both tires have their strengths.

Remember, the best tire for you might depend on which of these factors are most important for your specific driving needs and conditions.

Michelin X Ice Snow

Overall Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow

Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Michelin X Ice Snow has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.

Similar Comparisons

Looking for more tire comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tires:

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
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Michelin X Ice Snow
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 VS Michelin X Ice Snow
Continental VikingContact 8
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Continental VikingContact 8 VS Michelin X Ice Snow
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
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Michelin X Ice Snow
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 VS Michelin X Ice Snow
Michelin X Ice North 4
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Michelin X Ice Snow
Michelin X Ice North 4 VS Michelin X Ice Snow
Continental IceContact 3
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Michelin X Ice Snow
Continental IceContact 3 VS Michelin X Ice Snow
Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
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Michelin X Ice Snow
Bridgestone Blizzak Ice VS Michelin X Ice Snow
Michelin X Ice Snow
VS
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Michelin X Ice Snow VS Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Michelin X Ice Snow
VS
Pirelli Ice Zero FR
Michelin X Ice Snow VS Pirelli Ice Zero FR
Continental VikingContact 7
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Michelin X Ice Snow
Continental VikingContact 7 VS Michelin X Ice Snow

Footnote

This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.

Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.

As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.

Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.