Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Both Dunlop Sport 3D and Blizzak WS90 are equipped with advanced features as they both qualify the industry’s three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF), a brand recognition that ensures they can outperform in harsh and ever-changing wintry conditions.

Developed through the latest Dunlop Touch and Interlocking 3D Sipe Technologies, Sport offers the most reliable grip and handling experience on wet, icy, and snowy roads. It also offers a great deal of anti-hydroplaning during heavy rain and snowfall. Finally, its Jointless Band (JLB) Technology ensures fantastic levels of speed performance by reducing the tire’s circumferential deformations on highway journeys.

Whereas, the Bridgestone Blizzak even in the harshest winter conditions proved to be the leader in providing best-in-class grip over dry pavements, thanks to its latest Patented Multi-Cell Technology. The secret of its unparalleled long-lasting durability lies in its Edge Performance Technology Package. Finally, its full-depth silica-enhanced compounds give the confidence of comfortable and quiet rides to its riders.

Compared to Blizzak WS90, Sport 3D outperforms in providing maximum speed with less production of noise, matchless hydroplaning resistivity, stunning handling experience, and marvelous grip over wet, ice & snowy pavements. But Blizzak outshines Sport in providing better durability, and comfortable rides with leading dry road grip.

But same was not the case when we compare Blizzak with Michelin’s X Ice tires.

Tread Design

Sport is powered with a directional tread pattern that has a central tread block column with various tread blocks and crisscross-shaped lateral grooves. It has two circumferential grooves with a zigzag shape which indicates varying contact patch. But its overall width of lateral grooves and circumferential grooves is larger which indicated a comparatively high void ratio and less contact patch. Its three unique siping patterns (pulling, high amplified & 3D Interlocking) on the entire length of the tire are also of higher density than its rival’s. Finally, its shoulder blocks are also larger when compared to its rival’s. And there are a few notches on the external corner of its shoulder blocks as well.

Blizzak with a directional tread pattern has a central rib, two tread block columns, and four circumferential grooves of different widths. This makes its contact patch inconsistent. But overall its contact patch is more than its rival’s. There are notches on the central rib and two adjacent tread block columns. Its zigzag-type sipes are spread all over the entire length of the tire. But comparatively, they are of lower density than their rival’s siping density. Similarly, its shoulder blocks are also comparatively smaller than its rival’s.

Grip Comparison

Sport would ensure inferior dry road grip to its rival because it has comparatively less contact patch. But it would ensure superior wet road grip as its sipes are comparatively of higher density. And likewise, it would ensure superior ice grip thanks to its biting edges of high-density sipes that creates interlocking feature on icy sleets. And finally, it would not regret its riders in snow traction as well because it would also ensure superior grip over snowy paths. Overall, its void ratio is comparatively higher than its rival’s which will wipe out all slush coming in the best-in-design aqua-planned lateral grooves.

Blizzak would ensure superior dry road grip thanks to its comparatively high contact patch than its rival’s. But because of its comparatively low-density sipes, it would not ensure superior wet road grip. A similar inferior ice grip would be seen from it because its sipes have comparatively lesser biting edges than its rival’s. And finally, its snow grip would also be inferior because its overall void ratio is comparatively lower than its rival’s.

Parameters	Sport 3D	Blizzak WS90
Dry Grip	Moderate	High
Wet Grip	High	Moderate
Ice Grip	High	Moderate
Snow Grip	High	Moderate

Handling Comparison

Sport ensures superior dry road handling facility thanks to its comparatively larger shoulder blocks. Similarly, it would also ensure a superior wet road handling facility because its sipes on shoulder blocks are comparatively of higher density than its rival’s. Its riders would experience superior ice handling too because its higher-density sipes on its comparatively larger shoulder blocks are more promising in providing better biting edges compared to its opponent. Plus its riders would also experience a better snow handling because it has comparatively larger lateral grooves and unlike its opponent, it also has notches on its shoulder blocks.

Blizzak would provide an inferior dry road handling facility because of its comparatively smaller shoulder blocks than its rival’s. Its wet and ice road-handling facilities would also be inferior as well because its sipes on shoulder blocks are comparatively of lower density than its rivals. Finally, its customers would experience an inferior snow handling facility because its overall void ratio is comparatively lower.

Parameters	Sport 3D	Blizzak WS90
Dry Handling	High	Moderate
Wet Handling	High	Moderate
Ice Handling	High	Moderate
Snow Handling	High	Moderate

Hydroplaning Resistivity

Comparatively wide circumferential grooves, crisscross lateral grooves of the central rib, and the lateral grooves on the shoulders make the void ratio of Sport relatively higher than its competitor. Hence its hydroplaning resistivity would be superior since a high void ratio would allow more water to reside in the grooves. On the other hand, the hydroplaning resistivity of Blizzak would also be pretty good since its relatively deep tread blocks would enhance its void ratio. But it would still lack behind its competitor by a small margin.

Hence, Sport is the winner in this competition.

Durability

Let’s have a look at the table about tread depth data of both contenders for a better analysis of their durability. It’s because the lower tread depth would indicate that the tire would wear off much sooner than its competitor.

Contenders	Tread Depth
Sport 3D (245/40R18)	10/32″
Blizzak WS90 (245/40R18)	12/32″

So after having a glance over it, it has become clear that Blizzak would ensure better durability than its rival’s because it has higher tread depth.

Comfort and Noise

So Blizzak would also ensure a more comfortable ride than its competitor since it has a comparatively more tread depth. It’s because the durability factor is heavily dependent upon the tread depth of a tire since higher tread depth would ensure more cushion between the road and the passenger on bumpy roads.

Noise is the result of the collision of air particles with the tread blocks, inside the grooves. Since Sport has a high void ratio, it is more likely to produce high humming noise since it provides more space for air particles to circulate.

So Blizzak would provide a comparatively more comfortable and noise-free ride to its customers.

Rolling Resistance and Fuel Efficiency

Since Sport has a comparatively less contact patch than its rival so it would have less rolling resistance. This means the friction between the tire and the road would be less, which leads to minimum energy loss. Hence, less rolling resistance simply means more fuel efficiency. So Sport is a more fuel-efficient tire since it would have less energy loss, due to rolling resistance, because of its lower contact patch.

Load and Speed

Let’s analyze the table chart about the load and speed data of both contenders.

Contenders	Speed Rating	Max Speed (mph)	Load Index	Max Load (lbs.)
Sport 3D (245/40R18)	V	149	97	1609
Blizzak WS90 (245/40R18)	H	130	97	1609

So after having a close look at the data chart we can easily conclude that both contenders are tied in maximum load-bearing capabilities. But Sport would ensure more speed as it has a better speed rating than its rival.

Quick Summary

Both Contenders;

• are high-performance winter tires with directional tread patterns.
• are best suited for passenger cars and SUVs/CUVs.
• can carry equal weights.

Sport 3D:

• has a superb grip over wet, ice, and snowy tracks.
• ensures the most reliable handling facility.
• provides better hydroplaning resistivity.

Blizzak WS90:

• provides superior dry road grip.
• provides long-lasting durability.
• provides more comfortable rides.

produces less noise.