Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Vs. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Why invest in good winter tires? Over 70% of roads in America fall into snowy regions, and 17% of all accidents occur in extreme winter conditions. We believe this statistic alone should get you concerned!
The rate of accidents and the subsequent death toll can be significantly reduced by installing proper winter tires on your vehicle. A set that provides stability, short-breaking distance, and maximum grip to your vehicle.
It goes without saying that for a comfortable and safe drive we need to mount the best tires. In our opinion, no one makes better tires than Bridgestone.
Don’t worry we’ve compared some of the best winter tires in the market and have a recommendation for you in the end.
We carried out a head-to-head comparison of two of its popular tires — the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 and the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2.
Both are excellent winter tires, but which one outperforms the other? Let’s jump in and pin both against each other.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
The successor to the popular Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 is an excellent studless tire that combines all the best attributes of the WS60 and WS70 together, along with some tweaks.
The Blizzak series is designed for light-weight vehicles i.e. coupes, minivans, and sedans. This is probably the reason behind Blizzak’s popularity and better sales as most people tend to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles.
Let’s dive in and check out what you can expect from the WS80s.
Product Information
The WS80 is known to cover maximum ground because of the way it is designed. This allows for adequate distribution of forces across the tire, which lead to a stable drive in dry, wet, and snow-ridden conditions.
Tires that have been tested in extreme weather conditions are branded with the 3PMSF logo. Owing to its many capabilities, the WS80 is also stamped with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF).
The tire’s rubber is made up of a compound, which has small gaps across the treads and a water-loving hydrophilic coating.
Not only does the combination allow you to drive comfortably in extreme conditions, it keeps the rubber flexible enough in varying temperatures.
We feel the quality of rubber will also add to the overall life of the tire. Treadwear is bound to happen, but could be somewhat slowed down with the quality of the compound used in the tire.
The WS80’s next-gen multicell compound also has tiny particles across the tire instead of studs. They enhance the grip of the vehicle and provide better control to the driver in snowy conditions.
The WS80 has 3D zig-zag sipes, which limit the tread blocks from elongating too far within the tire. The sipes help with the tire’s longevity too.
The band of the tread block is set at a 45-degree angle to the tire’s spin. The drivers get a better steering control and grip due to the angular block design of the tire.
Unlike its many predecessors, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 has smaller shoulder blocks — this allows for more lug channels and a 20% increase in snow-biting edges. The overall grip of the WS80 is 10% better than the WS70.
Pros
- The grip is impressive
- Traction control is always good
- A comfortable and safe ride
Cons
- To assess how good they are — you need to mount them on all four wheels
- Some owners feel the traction is not impressive at sharp turns
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
A successor to the Blizzak DM-V1, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 can be installed on pickup trucks, CUVs, and SUVs.
No doubt, the DM-V1 outperformed many winter tires when it came out, but the new variant does all that and much more.
Some of the improvements include:
- Better performance on ice, snow, slush, and wet surfaces
- Traction control is even better
- Steering control and maneuvering is easy
Let’s go over some of its key specifications:
Product Information
The rubber compound of the DM-V2 remains flexible when the vehicle is driven in winter conditions. Its performance on ice and snow is brilliant.
Silica is evenly distributed across the tire, which leads to a better grip on the road.
All accumulated water, ice, and slush is evacuated — thanks to the countless pores in the rubber compound. The multicell compound rests 55% in the tread depth, while the remaining 45% of the tire has the standard compound for winter tires.
The 3D zig-zag sipes improve performance on wet, dry, and ice-ridden surfaces. The design offers more snow-biting edges, which instantly lead to improved traction on ice and snow.
The DM-v2 has a multi-z pattern. Probably the reason behind the many snow-biting edges on the tire. The tire features circumferential grooves that evacuate water from the contact patch.
Bigger cars like an SUV or a pickup are difficult to steer at sharp corners, but it is not a problem for DM-V2 — the large shoulder blocks allow better handling even on curvy roads.
If you have an SUV and like it running smooth across the year then you will love the DM-V2s — as they are designed for larger vehicles.
Pros
- The traction is exceptional in slush, snow, and ice.
- When compared to other winter tires, the DM-V2 performs quite well in dry surfaces.
- The overall performance is outstanding; the ride is comfortable with minimal noise
Cons
- Some reviews claim that the wear and tear starts sooner than expected
Major Differences
Bridgestone has revolutionized the tire industry — all of their products are made to perfection. The use of advanced technology ensures that if you mount Bridgestone tires on your car — your commute would be comfortable and safe.
Among the many products launched so far by Bridgestone, two popular winter tires are the WS80 and the DM-V2. The WS80 is meant for small cars and minivans, while the DM-V2 are an excellent fit for CUVs, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
Both models are a considerable upgrade to their predecessors. The DM-V2 has 15% more biting edges than the DM-V1, while the WS80 has 20% more snow biting edges. Hence performance has gotten much better.
In terms of short-braking distance in the ice rink test — DM-V2 performed slightly better than the WS80, while the car equipped with WS80 was noise free.
We found out that the tread on the DM-V2 wears out quicker than WS80.
The DM-V2 has a stiff sidewall so you may feel some jerks in your drive.
| Comparison | ||
| Aspects | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 | Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 |
| Diameter | 31.7″ | 26.1’’ |
| Width | 10.7″, | 8.7’’ |
| Rim Size | 17″ | 16’’ |
| Weight | 42 Lbs | 23 Lbs |
| Revolutions Per Mile | 658 | 797 |
| Maximum Load | 2679 Lbs | 1521 Lbs |
| Air Pressure | 44 PSI | 44 PSI |
| Tread Depth | 14/32″ | 12/32″ |
| Rim Width | 7-9″ | 6-7.5″ |
| Speed Rating | S or T | T and H |
What We Like/ Didn’t Like
What We Like
- The short-braking distance in winters is great
- The road grip and precise steering control is beyond impressive
- Chances of hydroplaning are next to none with both tires
- Both tires have extensive warranties
- The rubber remains flexible in temperatures below freezing point
What We Didn’t Like
- The DM-V2 does not provide a noise-free experience
- The traction on corners could be better
- The treadwear occurs at a faster pace
Our Advice
We believe your choice should be based on what you want to get out of your vehicle. If you have a coupe or a sedan, the WS80 will do you good, but if you have an SUV, you should go with DM-V2s.
The bottom line is that you cannot go wrong with either tire as both tires were released after years of research and tests. We have highlighted the differences between the two tires. Both tires are high quality and will get you through the winter season for sure.
Load rating of w80 102 is suitable for like Highlander. Why can’t I use them? What is the drawback?