Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 73% · 115
- TR Score
- 8.1/10
- Owners say
- 72% · 6
In the 13 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 13 times and the Winterhawk 4 not once. The Blizzak LM005 stopped 5.8% shorter in the wet; the Winterhawk 4 lasted 13.7% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if you prioritize maximum safety and control on wet, variable winter roads and want sharper dry dynamics. Choose the Firestone Winterhawk 4 if you value lower price, quieter ride, longer wear, and frequent snow-route composure for everyday driving.
Where the Blizzak LM005 is stronger
- Outstanding wet braking and wet handling; frequent 5-9% shorter wet stops
- Excellent aquaplaning resistance (notably strong in curved aquaplaning)
- Consistently better dry braking/handling than Winterhawk 4
Where the Winterhawk 4 is stronger
- Lower purchase price and stronger value indices
- Quieter running and generally better wear mileage
- Frequent advantages in snow handling/traction and occasional ice braking
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Blizzak LM005 vs Winterhawk 4 at a glance
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Gap | Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won13 shared tests | 13 | 0 | |
| Dry15 measurements | 14 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 3.2% shorter in the dry (8 tests) | 1 |
| Wet40 measurements | 36 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 5.8% shorter in the wet (11 tests) | 4 |
| Snow31 measurements | 14 | The Winterhawk 4 averaged a 2.7% higher speed on the snow handling course (6 tests) | 17 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort8 measurements | 1 | The Winterhawk 4 was 1 dB quieter (8 tests) | 7 |
| Value13 measurements | 6 | The Blizzak LM005 had 5.6% lower rolling resistance (7 tests) | 5 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Blizzak LM005 by 0.8 | 8.1/10 |
| Owner rating115 and 6 reviews | 73% | Too close to call | 72% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 56% | The Winterhawk 4 by 11 points | 67% |
| Pricein the 7 tests that listed prices | +24.4% | The Blizzak LM005 was dearer in 7 of 7 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 165 | 82 sizes made in both | 83 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 13 tests, 2021 to 2023
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Blizzak LM005 | Field | Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P8 of 10 | P9 of 10 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P10 of 20 | P20 of 20 | |
| 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | P6 of 16 | P7 of 16 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P1 of 54 | P6 of 54 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 10 | P6 of 10 | |
| 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P1 of 56 | P14 of 56 | |
| 2022 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | P7 of 15 | P9 of 15 | |
| 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 8 | P5 of 8 | |
| 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 20 | P10 of 20 | |
| 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 18 | P12 of 18 | |
| 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P1 of 50 | P5 of 50 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 13 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Blizzak LM005
Winterhawk 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 94%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 8 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Blizzak LM005
Winterhawk 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Blizzak LM005
Winterhawk 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Blizzak LM005 | Gap | Winterhawk 4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.86 | 3.2% | 46.34 | 7-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 63.9 | 1.5% | 64.9 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 114 | 1.5% | 112.3 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 41.41 | 5.8% | 44.03 | 11-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 36.4 | 5% | 38.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 91.2 | 0.9% | 92 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 78.05 | 1.9% | 76.6 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 13.51 | 2.1% | 13.79 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 82.69 | 1% | 81.93 | 5-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.42 | 10.7% | 3.14 | 6-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 25.63 | 0.4% | 25.71 | 9-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 2,290 | 0.2% | 2,311 | 3-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 29.9 | 2.3% | 29.2 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 56.57 | 2.7% | 58.05 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.95 | 3.7% | 4.1 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.93 | 5% | 4.12 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 21 | 2.9% | 20.4 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.91 | 1 dB | 70.94 | 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 32,983 | 13.7% | 37,367 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.82 | 5.6% | 8.3 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | = | 5.7 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 83 | 6.7% | 89 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Winterhawk 4 8.1 out of 10.
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Winterhawk 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | Dry | 18 | ||
| 99 | Wet | 86 | ||
| 64 | Comfort | 66 | ||
| 43 | Value | 49 | ||
| 66 | Snow | 69 | ||
| 13 | Ice | 54 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Winterhawk 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | Dry Grip | 7.3 | ||
| 8.4 | Wet Grip | 7.3 | ||
| 7.5 | Road Feedback | 6.2 | ||
| 7.3 | Handling | 5.5 | ||
| 5.9 | Wear | 7.6 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 7.7 | ||
| 7.4 | Snow Grip | 7.5 | ||
| 6.3 | Ice Grip | 6.8 | ||
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
- 73%from 115 reviews
- 56%would buy again
- 1,170,613 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners most consistently praise the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 for strong wet-road performance, with around half highlighting secure wet grip and only a handful disagreeing. Dry grip is also commonly rated better than expected for a winter tyre, while opinion on snow traction is far more mixed, splitting owners almost evenly depending on conditions and expectations. The biggest drawback is durability: around two in five owners report fast wear (often with performance dropping as the tyre ages), and roughly three in ten mention noticeable road noise, with a smaller group also finding it weak on ice.
- Very strong wet grip and confidence in heavy rain
- Impressive dry grip for a winter tyre
- Comfortable, compliant ride
- Secure and predictable wet handling
- Fast tread wear and short overall life
- Grip drops off noticeably as the tyre wears
- Uneven/abnormal wear reported by some owners
Summarised by AI from 102 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 115 Blizzak LM005 reviewsOverall very good tires for snow. I have a heavy vehicle with big tires (20 inch on sedan). Very good snow and ice grip. However they are quite noisy in the cabin despite BMW insulation.
Firestone Winterhawk 4
- 72%from 6 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 25,300 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Firestone Winterhawk 4 highly for everyday winter use, with strong confidence in snow and rain, short braking distances, and reassuring all-round performance. Many highlight its good value versus premium brands, along with a quiet, comfortable ride and responsive feel. Overall satisfaction is high across the majority of reviews.
- strong snow performance
- good wet grip and braking
- quiet and comfortable ride
- good value for money
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 6 Winterhawk 4 reviewsGood quality for mid-range brand, cover winter needs. In general there is no high potential of performance for winter tyres independently of brand!
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 165 sizes of the Blizzak LM005 and 83 of the Winterhawk 4, 82 of them made in both.
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 165 sizes, 14 to 22 inch | 83 sizes, 14 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 82 sizes 155/65 R14165/65 R14165/70 R14175/65 R14175/70 R14185/60 R14185/65 R14165/60 R15165/65 R15175/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15and 70 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A88%B12% | B100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C80%B19%D1% | D50%C50% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B99%A1% | 71 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 360 of 360 | 101 of 101 |
| On the market since | 2019 | 2020 |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO (2017) | Firestone Winterhawk 3 (2013) |
| Replaced by | Bridgestone Blizzak 6 | - |
| Awards | Commended: Best Winter SUV Tyres (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Winter Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2023) Winner: Winter Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2022) Winner: Winter Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2021) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Blizzak LM005 was the dearer tyre in 7 of the 7 tests that listed prices, by 24.4% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits Bridgestone's premium-touring Blizzak LM005 against Firestone's value-focused Winterhawk 4. Across 13 shared professional tests from 2021-2023, the LM005 repeatedly sets the benchmark in the wet and remains competitive on dry roads, while the Winterhawk 4 leans toward snow-balanced behavior, lower noise, and stronger value metrics.
Expect the LM005 to deliver class-leading wet braking and aquaplaning resistance-often by meaningful margins of 5-9%-with sure-footed handling on wet and dry. The Winterhawk 4 counters with better pricing, longer wear, and quieter running, plus frequent advantages in snow handling/traction. The trade-off is clear: outright grip and safety reserves in the wet versus affordability and comfort with competent winter-road manners.
Conclusion
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 is the decisive performer: 13 test wins to 0 overall, dominant in wet braking and aquaplaning, and consistently stronger in dry control and stopping. If your winter includes long spells of rain, slush, and variable temperatures, the LM005's shorter braking distances and higher aquaplaning thresholds are the safer, more confidence-inspiring choice.
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 appeals on value and refinement. It's typically cheaper, quieter, and longer-lasting, and it often edges the LM005 in snow handling/traction and occasionally in ice braking. Drivers prioritizing budget, mileage, and frequent snow-route composure-without chasing ultimate wet performance-will find it compelling. In short: LM005 for maximum wet-road safety and dynamic capability; Winterhawk 4 for cost-conscious daily driving with solid snow manners and low noise.
Blizzak LM005 vs Winterhawk 4: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 or the Firestone Winterhawk 4 the better tyre?
In the 13 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 13 times and the Winterhawk 4 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Winterhawk 4 8.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Blizzak LM005 or the Winterhawk 4?
The Blizzak LM005 led 36 of the 40 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.8% shorter in the wet across 11 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Blizzak LM005 led 14 of the 15 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.2% shorter in the dry across 8 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winterhawk 4 led 17 of the 31 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 2.7% higher speed on the snow handling course across 6 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Blizzak LM005 had 5.6% lower rolling resistance (7 tests); the Winterhawk 4 lasted 13.7% longer in the wear tests (4 tests). Owners rate wear 5.9/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 7.6/10 for the Winterhawk 4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Winterhawk 4 was 1 dB quieter (8 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 7.7/10 for the Winterhawk 4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6. 56% of Blizzak LM005 owners would buy it again, against 67% for the Winterhawk 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 7 tests that listed prices, the Blizzak LM005 was the dearer tyre in 7 of them, by 24.4% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Blizzak LM005 is made in 165 sizes (14 to 22 inch) and the Winterhawk 4 in 83 (14 to 20 inch). 82 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Blizzak LM005 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winterhawk 4 B and D.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Winterhawk 4 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2020, the Blizzak LM005 in 2019. The Blizzak LM005 replaced the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO. The Winterhawk 4 replaced the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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