During the harsh winter season, driving becomes difficult for every driver because of slick roads. So, choosing a better snow tire can improve your driving experience.
Blizzak and studded are the two most familiar options to choose from. But they differ in grip, sustainability, performance, versatility, ride comfort, and handling.
In this article, I will cover everything about these tires and determine the differences. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
A Quick Comparison Table
| Features | Blizzak Tires | Studded Tires |
| Grip | Decent | Excellent |
| Sustainability | One to one and half season | Easily 2 to 3 seasons |
| Versatility | Has a better grip on ice, packed snow, and clear pavement. | Has a better grip on ice and packed snow. |
| Ride comfort | Better | Good |
| Handling | Responsive | More responsive |
| Performance | Good | Excellent |
Key Differences Between Blizzak And Studded Tires
- Grip
Being winter tires, both Blizzak and studded tires give a good amount of grip.
But studded tires give you more grip with its stud.
It creates more traction with the packed snow or ice as the studs are functional, so they work differently in different conditions.
Moreover, outer studs provide more cornering traction so that you do not lose control on slick, snowy roads.
Conversely, Blizzak tires have a patented design to give you traction. But, there are not as efficient as studs. Less traction on a slick road can cause a dangerous accident. So, for better grip and traction, studded time is a better option.
Also Read: Differences Between Hoosier A7 And R7 Tires.
- Sustainability
Durability is a must-have feature for tires. Nobody wants to change their snow tires after every season. In terms of durability, studded tires are ahead of Blizzak tires.
Blizzak tire allows you to have a great driving experience only for the first season. For further seasons they are not suitable as their efficiency decreases.
On the other hand, studded tires can easily hold up their efficiency for several seasons. For the first season, studded tires are slightly better than Blizzak.
Both Blizzak and studded tires provide almost the same performance, I would say. But for further seasons, the studded tire is a clear winner maintaining its traction power and capabilities.
- Versatility
You never know what weather you are going to face. It’s unpredictable. So, having a versatile tire can save the day for you.
Whether it’s ice, packed snow, or clear pavement, Blizzak tire does an excellent job. Especially on clear pavement, it has more grip than a studded tire.
On the other side, studded tires produce more traction and grip for ice and snow. But when it comes to the pavement, whether wet or dry, Studded tires lose their grip on slick pavement. Therefore, in terms of versatility, Blizzak tires win.
- Ride comfort
Tires have an impact on your riding experience. With better tires, you can have a comfortable journey. Both of the tires give you a good riding experience.
But, when the weather becomes warm, and the temperature rises a little bit, studded tires make a certain sound on clear pavement. The sound can be disturbing for some people. But when you become used to the sound, it becomes less of a fact of disturbance.
Compared to studded tires, Blizzak tires are quieter ones. As they do not have studs attached to them, the riding experience becomes more comfortable and peaceful.
- Handling
Without responsive handling efficiency, tires are not worth it.
So, when buying tires for the winter season, evaluate handling efficiency.
With studs, studded tires allow more responsive handling because studs created more traction on ice and packed snow.
More grip means more responsiveness.
Besides, Blizzak tires are patented with MulticellTM technology.
This technology increases grip on a slippery road. But, they are not efficient as the studded tires.
- Performance
When it comes to snow tires, performance is a significant thing to consider. Blizzak tires give you awesome performance for a single or half of the season. Taking an average of 60.2 seconds to complete a short course.
On the other side, for studded tires, the average time is 52.4 seconds. But studded tires hold up their performance for a longer period. You can use studded tires for two to three seasons. In addition, they remain in good condition for at least two winter seasons.
Which Tire Is A Better Pick For You?
As you can see, Both Blizzak and studded tires have pros and cons. So, the decision is according to priority.
If you are looking for more versatility, better riding comfort, decent performance, and grip, Blizzak is a better option for you.
However, if your priority is sustainability, more responsive handling, excellent performance, and grip, the Studded tire is the one to pick.
Also Read: Differences Between Milestar And Cooper Tires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Studded tires offer better grip, responsive handling, durability, and higher performance on ice and snow. So, buying studded tires is more worthful than Blizzaks. Blizzak tires are more efficient on clear pavement than studded. But the studded tire is a better option for the harsh winter season.
Studded tires are more effective than snow tires or non-studded tires. As metallic or ceramic studs provide more traction on slippery roads, they are more proficient than snow tires. But, on bare roads, snow tires are good to go.
Blizzak tires are designed to avoid cost, noise, and road damage with Patented MulticellTM technology. They can not be studded. Its unique technology increases tire traction on slick roads without adding any studs.
Unfortunately, Blizzak is not the best snow tire. In traction and handling tests, Michelin X-ice X13 occupies the first position as the best snow tire. But on wet and dry surfaces, no tires can beat their stopping distance.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap for today. I hope the comparison between Blizzak and Studded tires has helped you to understand the in-depth differences.
So, if you want to avoid changing tires every season, go for studded tires since they offer more sustainability and other features. But, Blizzak is not far behind in terms of grip, control, and performance. However, the decision is according to your personal preferences.
