Both Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 and Toyo Observe GSI 5 are winter tires made with special rubber compounds to provide maximum traction in snowy conditions and icy roads. WS80 provides reliable driving on dry surfaces due to its higher contact patch. Whereas, on icy roads, it has an efficient sipes pattern which enhances its traction capabilities.
However, GSI gives a splendid performance on snowy terrain and when traveling in wet conditions due to its higher void ratio. Both these tires are now upgraded to newer models.
Find more about interesting features of these tires which will help you in deciding the perfect fit for you according to your requirements.
Table of Contents
Comparing Blizzak with Toyo Observe GSI-5
Vs
Bridgestone WS80 comes with a symmetrical tread pattern with longitudinal division along with the entire tread which is divided into four main sections with two prominent groove spacing patterns in the middle. The lower void ratio increases the contact which proves beneficial on dry roads.
The zig-zag sipes pattern can be spotted all over the tread blocks perpendicular to the grooves which help in attaining maximum grip without compromising handling of the vehicle, the notched edges have straight cuts to give additional traction while cornering.
Overall, it has a decent contact patch with a sufficient void ratio to provide a satisfactory grip for dry and wet roads. There are deep cuts within tread blocks in addition to sipes, that wipe away the water and provide extra hydroplaning resistance on slippery and wet roads.
Toyo Observe GSI 5 is a staggering winter tire with an impressive tread pattern that provides excellent snow performance with confident dry roads driving.
Here, the tread design is also divided into 5 main sections, but it has four large grooves in between each section, The side ones are wider, and the middle ones are a bit compacted.
As the tire has wider grooves which makes the tire less efficient on dry roads as less contact patch leads to reduced traction. This massive groove spacing enhances the capabilities of the tire in deep snow conditions and wet roads.
With the advanced multi-directional “Spider Sipes” this tire provides exceptional grip while accelerating through snowy areas. The greater number of sipes along with wider grooves also enables the tire to provide excellent traction on wet roads and prevent hydroplaning.
Grip Comparison
Bridgestone WS80 comes with two main longitudinal grooves which divide the central ribs, this arrangement increases the contact patch, leading to more traction on asphalt roads.
As more surface area is in contact with the road, so better grip is delivered with a reduced braking distance. The sipes pattern of WS80 is efficient enough to propagate well through wet roads as the peculiar zigzag sipes pattern wipes away the water to maintain sufficient traction.
However, it must struggle a little bit in soft snow due to narrower grooves as compared to its competitor.
Toyo Observe GSI 5 comes with wide spacings between the tread blocks, therefore, it has a relatively higher void ratio. Hence the efficiency of this tire is reduced on dry roads since it allows a lower contact patch, resulting in the reduction in grip and an increase in the braking distance.
But the wide grooves along with impressive sipes pattern assists the tire to propagate through snow terrains without much struggle as the massive grooves clean the tire efficiently by scooping out snow and maintaining grip.
Similarly, on wet roads, the higher void ratio promotes self-cleaning by wiping away water from the tread and maintaining smooth mobility of the vehicle. Although this tire is not that effective on dry roads and ice as compared to its competitor, but the snow and wet traction of the tire is quite impressive.
Handling Comparison
Bridgestone WS80 will not disappoint you while handling it over tricky turns and sharp edges as the relatively bold shoulder lugs come with prominent biting edges and less spacing in between them to provide maximum traction and stability while cornering on dry roads.
The deeper cuts on prominent shoulders with advanced sipes pattern enhance handling while cornering over wet and icy roads too.
Toyo Observe GSI 5 comes with more groove spacing over the shoulders with relatively less contact patch. This compromises the handling of the tire to some extent on dry roads.
The intra-faced shoulder lugs with more spacing slightly reduce handling while steering over the turns. On wet and icy roads, the performance is reduced due to fewer sipes.
Hydroplaning Resistance Comparison
If we talk about hydroplaning resistance, then WS80 lacks due to narrow grooves. The tread blocks contain wider enough cuts to resist hydroplaning at some level. But its self-cleaning ability is a bit lesser than its competitor, mainly due to more spaces in the tread.
Toyo Observe GSI 5 is comparatively more effective in hydroplaning due to wide grooves between each tread block.
The presence of spider sipes and slanting voids around each tread block make the tire effective on flooded roads by securing a reasonable grip and wiping away excess water.
Rolling Resistance Comparison
Bridgestone WS80 comes with a more contact patch due to a relatively lower void ratio. This increases the rolling resistance of the tire as more tread compound is in contact with the surface which requires more energy to roll forward.
The higher rolling resistance leads to more fuel consumption to provide smooth mobility.
Toyo Observe GSI 5 has relatively wider grooves and more spacing between the tread blocks.
This increases the void ratio of the tire and decreases the area in contact with the road. As the contact patch is reduced, less energy is required to roll over the surface.
This increases the fuel efficiency of the tire and provides better mileage.
Comfort Comparison
Bridgestone WS80 has relatively more contact patch and a lower void ratio. This makes the tire quieter and delivers a more comfortable ride. The narrow grooves do not allow much air to get trapped inside them and create noise.
On the bumpy road, its narrow grooves are unable to provide a comfortable ride due to their inability to absorb shocks.
Due to the relatively higher void ratio, the comfort of Toyo Observe GSI 5 is compromised a little bit as more air gets entrapped between the widely spaced groove pattern and strikes with the wall of grooves to produce noise.
This makes the tire a bit noisy while going at high speeds. Whereas its performance on a bumpy road is much higher due to the ability of its wider grooves to absorb shocks, thus, allowing a comfortable ride.
Durability and Treadwear
Bridgestone Blizzak comes with multiple technical features to make this tire capable of withstanding all types of conditions confidently. The Multi-Cell compound tread design delivers outstanding grip on ice without compromising the handling of the vehicle. The micro-texture pattern technology on tread blocks gives this tire a rough look to provide an even better grip.
The presence of zig-zag sipes perpendicular to the grooves makes the tiring work efficiently in the icy road by providing extra grip. The large shoulders with saw-toothed edges increase the handling of the tire while turning over sharp edges. The contact patch is well optimized to give excellent dry traction with confident ice performance.
The prominent shoulders deliver sufficient lateral stability on ice and dry roads. The tire has more contact patch which leads to more treadwear, thus reducing the durability and its lifespan.
The Toyo Observe GSI 5 also comes with tones of features and benefits that make the tire outstanding in snowy conditions. The Microbit technology in the tread compound makes the edges bold and prominent to bite into the snow surface and provide maximum traction.
The tread blocks are composed of a 3D Multi-Wave sipes pattern that works impressively in wet conditions and promotes aquaplaning resistance. The continuous center rib with swing increases straight-line stability while navigating through wet roads.
The wide lateral grooves with prominent biting edges improve the performance in snow and provide maximum grip.
The tire has a higher void ratio with less contact patch which decreases the rolling resistance and enhances fuel efficiency thus increasing the tread life of the tire and providing more mileage with better durability.
So, to sum up:
- Both the tires Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 and Toyo Open GSI 5 are winter tires.
- WS80 shows better traction on dry paved roads and icy conditions.
- GSI 5 dominates in snow terrains and wet roads.
- The dry and wet traction of WS 80 is better.
- WS80 has more contact patch with higher rolling resistance while GSI 5 is more fuel-efficient.
- WS80 is quieter on-road but lacks in enabling a smoother ride.
- GSI 5 is a bit costlier than WS80, but its price can be justified by its better performance in snowy conditions with splendid durability and fuel efficiency.
