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Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

In the 9 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 6 times and the UltraGrip 9+ 3 times. The Blizzak LM005 was stronger in dry and wet, the UltraGrip 9+ in ice and value.

Performance profile

12 measurements from the 9 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingDry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow HandlingNoiseWearRolling Resistance

Where each is furthest ahead

Blizzak LM005

UltraGrip 9+

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 97%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 9 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.

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. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.

Measurement Blizzak LM005 Gap UltraGrip 9+ Wins
Dry Blizzak LM005 ahead
Dry Braking ft 150 2.4% 154 3-1
Dry Handling mph 78.3 1.4% 77.2 2-0
Subj. Dry Handling pts scored 12.5% scored 1-0
Wet Blizzak LM005 ahead
Wet Braking ft 130 8.7% 142 5-0
Wet Braking - Concrete ft 119 9.5% 132 1-0
Wet Handling mph 45 1.1% 44.5 2-0
Subj. Wet Handling pts scored 80% scored 1-0
Wet Circle s 12.59 0.6% 12.66 1-0
Straight Aqua mph 51.9 0.1% 52 3-1
Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² 11.2 0.2% 11.2 1-1
Snow Level
Snow Braking ft 82 0.7% 81 2-3
Snow Traction lbf 300 0.5% 297 2-2
Snow Handling mph 34 0.4% 33.9 1-1
Subj. Snow Handling pts scored 11.1% scored 1-0
Ice UltraGrip 9+ ahead
Ice Braking ft 69 11.4% 61 0-1
Comfort Level
Subj. Comfort pts scored 11.1% scored 0-1
Noise dB 71.2 0.6 dB 71.8 2-1
Value UltraGrip 9+ ahead
Wear miles 20,536 21.5% 25,010 0-2
Rolling Resistance kg / t 8.36 1.1% 8.27 1-2
Fuel Consumption l/100km 5.7 1.8% 5.6 0-1
Abrasion mg/km/t 83 10.8% 74 0-1

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.

Head to head in 9 tests, 2020 to 2023

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.

Test Blizzak LM005 Field UltraGrip 9+
2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test ADAC · 2023 · 205/60 R16 P6 of 16 P3 of 16
2022 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 ADAC · 2022 · 185/65 R15 P7 of 15 P1 of 15
2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild · 2021 · 205/55 R16 P5 of 20 P7 of 20
2021 AMS Winter Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport · 2021 · 195/55 R16 P1 of 10 P6 of 10
2021 ADAC 15 Inch Winter Tire Test ADAC · 2021 · 195/65 R15 P7 of 16 P1 of 16
2021 Winter Tire Market Overview Auto Bild · 2021 · 205/55 R16 P1 of 50 P6 of 50
The Best Winter Tires for 2020 Tire Reviews · 2020 · 205/55 R16 Tire Reviews test P1 of 19 P2 of 19
2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test Auto Zeitung · 2020 · 205/55 R16 P1 of 14 P3 of 14
2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 ADAC · 2020 · 205/55 R16 P1 of 15 P8 of 15

Blizzak LM005 vs UltraGrip 9+: your questions

Is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 or the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ the better tire?

In the 9 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 6 times and the UltraGrip 9+ 3 times. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the UltraGrip 9+ 9.4 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the Blizzak LM005 or the UltraGrip 9+?

The Blizzak LM005 led 14 of the 17 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.7% shorter in the wet across 5 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

The Blizzak LM005 led 6 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.4% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.

Which is better in snow?

Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 6-6 between the Blizzak LM005 and the UltraGrip 9+.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The UltraGrip 9+ lasted 21.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 1.1% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 5.9/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 9.7/10 for the UltraGrip 9+.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

The Blizzak LM005 was 0.6 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 8.5/10 for the UltraGrip 9+.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the UltraGrip 9+ 88% from 6. 56% of Blizzak LM005 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the UltraGrip 9+.

Which is more expensive?

In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Blizzak LM005 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 6.7% 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 UltraGrip 9+ in 19 (14 to 16 inch). 18 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 UltraGrip 9+ B and C.

Which is the newer tire?

The UltraGrip 9+ 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 UltraGrip 9+ replaced the Goodyear UltraGrip 9.

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.

Review the Blizzak LM005 Review the UltraGrip 9+

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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