Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 73% · 115
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 47
In the 23 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 16 times and the Winter Sport 5 7 times. The Blizzak LM005 stopped 8.5% shorter in the wet; the Winter Sport 5 lasted 19.7% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 for rain-dominant, temperate winters and drivers prioritizing wet safety and precise on-road feel. Choose Dunlop Winter Sport 5 for frequent snow/ice use, longer tread life, and stronger overall value in mixed or cold continental climates.
Where the Blizzak LM005 is stronger
- Best-in-class wet braking and wet handling across most tests (often 5-14% advantage)
- Strong dry braking/handling with precise steering and low external noise
- Good aquaplaning resistance and generally low rolling resistance
Where the Winter Sport 5 is stronger
- Superior snow and ice capability (more snow category wins and both ice braking wins)
- High mileage and low wear; strong value proposition in multiple tests
- Balanced, predictable behavior with good aquaplaning reserves
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 Winter Sport 5 at a glance
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Gap | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won23 shared tests | 16 | 7 | |
| Dry22 measurements | 19 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 2% shorter in the dry (12 tests) | 3 |
| Wet52 measurements | 45 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 8.5% shorter in the wet (17 tests) | 7 |
| Snow43 measurements | 17 | The Winter Sport 5 averaged a 1.3% higher speed on the snow handling course (8 tests) | 25 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | The Winter Sport 5 stopped 7.6% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 2 |
| Comfort13 measurements | 10 | The Blizzak LM005 was 1.5 dB quieter (11 tests) | 2 |
| Value21 measurements | 9 | The Winter Sport 5 lasted 19.7% longer in the wear tests (7 tests) | 11 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | Level | 8.9/10 |
| Owner rating115 and 47 reviews | 73% | The Winter Sport 5 by 10 points | 83% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 56% | The Winter Sport 5 by 27 points | 83% |
| Pricein the 10 tests that listed prices | +2.7% | The Blizzak LM005 was dearer in 7 of 10 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 165 | 48 sizes made in both | 49 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire 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 23 tests, 2019 to 2024
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 23 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Blizzak LM005
Winter Sport 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 10 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Blizzak LM005
Winter Sport 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire 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
Not ahead in any category
Winter Sport 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47. 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 tires 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 | Winter Sport 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 146 | 2% | 149 | 9-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 45.61 | 0.9% | 46.01 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 67.4 | 1.4% | 66.4 | 8-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 28.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 130 | 8.5% | 142 | 17-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 119 | 7.6% | 129 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49.09 | 3.2% | 50.72 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 48.5 | 2.2% | 47.4 | 7-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 80% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.36 | 1.9% | 12.6 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 51.4 | 2.2% | 50.4 | 8-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 44.1 | 2.3% | 43.2 | 6-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81 | 0.6% | 81 | 7-9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.59 | 3.6% | 5.39 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 475 | 0.8% | 475 | 5-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 90.56 | 1.5% | 89.18 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 36.1 | 1.3% | 36.6 | 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 35.88 | 0.1% | 35.92 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9.5 | 0.7% | 9.4 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11.4 | 2.1% | 11.6 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71 | 7.6% | 65 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 12.5% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.61 | 1.5 dB | 73.12 | 10-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 22,231 | 19.7% | 26,533 | 2-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.12 | 2.7% | 8.36 | 7-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 1.8% | 5.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 90.75 | 25.3% | 67.15 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 tires 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 Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Winter Sport 5 8.9 out of 10.
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Winter Sport 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | Dry | 45 | ||
| 99 | Wet | 85 | ||
| 64 | Comfort | 18 | ||
| 43 | Value | 66 | ||
| 66 | Snow | 83 | ||
| 13 | Ice | 48 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Winter Sport 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | Dry Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 8.4 | Wet Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 7.5 | Road Feedback | 7.9 | ||
| 7.3 | Handling | 7.9 | ||
| 5.9 | Wear | 8.7 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 8.4 | ||
| 7.4 | Snow Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 6.3 | Ice Grip | 8.2 | ||
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47. 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 tire, 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 tire 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 tire
- Comfortable, compliant ride
- Secure and predictable wet handling
- Fast tread wear and short overall life
- Grip drops off noticeably as the tire wears
- Uneven/abnormal wear reported by some owners
Summarised by AI from 102 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire 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.
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
- 83%from 47 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 485,102 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers largely praise the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 for outstanding snow and ice traction, strong wet grip in cold conditions, predictable handling, good comfort/low noise (for a winter tire), and excellent tread life. A minority report softer sidewalls and reduced dry performance or understeer as temperatures rise, with a few notes on noise increase over time and isolated quality/balance issues. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with most buyers willing to repurchase.
- snow and ice grip
- wet grip in cold
- predictable handling
- ride comfort
- weaker dry grip/softer feel in warmer temps
- increased noise with age
- occasional balance/quality issues
Summarised by AI from 39 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 47 Winter Sport 5 reviewsYou must know, in 225/50/17 it is the best what you can buy in eurowinter tires
+ perfect rim protector
+ dry and wet grip at different temperatures including +17 Celsius
+ snow grip? Easy
+ treadwear 12000 km/per 1 mm (on my new set 8 mm, now 7,0-6,8 after 2 seasons and 14400 km)
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 165 sizes of the Blizzak LM005 and 49 of the Winter Sport 5, 48 of them made in both.
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 165 sizes, 14 to 22 inch | 49 sizes, 15 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 48 sizes 195/55 R15195/65 R15205/65 R15195/45 R16195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16225/55 R16205/50 R17and 36 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A88%B12% | B52%C48% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C80%B19%D1% | C75%D24%B1% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B99%A1% | 70-74 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 360 of 360 | 79 of 79 |
| On the market since | 2019 | 2021 |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO (2017) | Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D (2021) |
| Replaced by | Bridgestone Blizzak 6 | - |
| Awards | Commended: Best Winter SUV Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Winter Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2023) Winner: Winter Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) Winner: Winter Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2021) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Blizzak LM005 was the dearer tire in 7 of the 10 tests that listed prices, by 2.7% on average. Each test priced the tires 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 pitches two proven winter options with different missions: the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 (premium-touring) against the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 (ultra-high-performance). Across 23 shared tests, the LM005 consistently sets the benchmark in the wet and is often among the best on dry roads, while the Winter Sport 5 tends to come into its own when temperatures drop and the surface turns white or icy.
The data shows a clear pattern: Bridgestone dominates wet braking and handling by meaningful margins (often 5-14% shorter wet stops), with generally confident dry manners and low noise. Dunlop counters with stronger snow and ice capability, far better tread life and value in many sizes, and balanced all-round winter behavior. If your winter is mostly rain-soaked asphalt, the LM005 looks tailor-made; if you regularly face packed snow, slush and ice, the Winter Sport 5's depth shows.
Conclusion
Synthesizing results across multiple years and sizes, Bridgestone is the wet-road specialist and an easy pick for maritime winters: class-leading wet braking (17 wins to 0), frequent wet handling wins, solid aquaplaning resistance and typically quieter running. Its trade-offs are modest snow/ice headroom versus Dunlop and weaker longevity in several ADAC/Auto Bild wear evaluations.
Dunlop takes the upper hand when winter gets truly wintry: more wins in snow braking/handling and both recorded ice braking wins, with significantly better projected mileage (often 30-70% higher) and stronger value scores. It's the safer long-term choice for mixed or snow-dominant regions, and for drivers prioritizing durability and running costs. Bottom line: choose Bridgestone for wet-leaning, temperate climates and precise road feel; choose Dunlop for consistent snow/ice grip and standout tread life.
Blizzak LM005 vs Winter Sport 5: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 or the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 the better tire?
In the 23 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 16 times and the Winter Sport 5 7 times. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Winter Sport 5 8.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Blizzak LM005 or the Winter Sport 5?
The Blizzak LM005 led 45 of the 52 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.5% shorter in the wet across 17 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Blizzak LM005 led 19 of the 22 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2% shorter in the dry across 12 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter Sport 5 led 25 of the 43 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1.3% higher speed on the snow handling course across 8 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Blizzak LM005 had 2.7% lower rolling resistance (10 tests); the Winter Sport 5 lasted 19.7% longer in the wear tests (7 tests), used 1.8% less fuel (2 tests) and shed 25.3% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 5.9/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 8.7/10 for the Winter Sport 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Blizzak LM005 was 1.5 dB quieter (11 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 8.4/10 for the Winter Sport 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47. 56% of Blizzak LM005 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Winter Sport 5.
Which is more expensive?
In the 10 tests that listed prices, the Blizzak LM005 was the dearer tire in 7 of them, by 2.7% 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 Winter Sport 5 in 49 (15 to 21 inch). 48 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 Winter Sport 5 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Winter Sport 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Blizzak LM005 in 2019. The Blizzak LM005 replaced the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO. The Winter Sport 5 replaced the Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D.
More comparisons with these tires
vs 
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870
4-6 in 11 shared tests
vs 
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
0-8 in 8 shared tests
vs 
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Hankook Winter i cept evo3
8-5 in 14 shared tests
vs 
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
5-10 in 16 shared tests
vs
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Hankook Winter i cept evo3
2-6 in 9 shared tests
vs
Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
7-1 in 9 shared tests
vs 
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
21-1 in 22 shared tests
vs
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
5-4 in 9 shared tests
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire 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 tires 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 Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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