WS 90 of Blizzak and Nokian Hakkapeliitta of Nokia (Latest 2023)

WS 90 of Blizzak and Nokian Hakkapeliitta of Nokia are two linear grooves along its sides, and two disconnected grooves are formed by notching the shoulder lugs. All of its blocks also have multidirectional, zigzag sipes.

Blizzak WS90 tread features a symmetrical pattern in which the central rib is crisscrossed circumferentially without lateral spacing.

Due to only a few narrow voids, its relatively larger contact patch results in better dry traction.

However, a low void ratio on a wet road reduces hydroplaning resistance.

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Comparison Between WS 90 of Blizzak and Nokian Hakkapeliitta of Nokia

Although its channels are comparatively deeper, they allow snow to be evacuated in a backward direction while rolling over a snow-covered path. In the absence of decent siping, the tire struggles on ice.

On the other hand, the Nokian R3 has an aggressive tread which has four circumferential grooves, two of which are disjointed and create a clawed design of tread ribs, and multidirectional deep sipes of various widths are marked over its lugs, while its voids are embossed with snow claws.

Its tread grips over the dry surface is relatively loose due to its high void ratio.

Moreover, wider grooves and deeper sipes enhance traction on wet surfaces, since water is effectively wiped away from the treads.

Although its performance in snow is good due to its voids that evacuate snow reliably, engraved snow claws provide biting ability on soft snow, but in comparison, it is lacking in tread depth.

Because of its deeper sipes, it provides good traction on ice.

Comparison of road grips

Blizzak offers a better grip on dry surfaces as it has a relatively large contact patch due to less narrow grooves and a continuous central rib, resulting in a solid grip.

However, the relatively fewer grooves make it stand out among the competition despite its zigzag sipes and deep voids that offer dependable hydroplaning resistance.

As WS90 rolls on snow-covered roads, its channels are deeper than those of its competitors, allowing it to evacuate snow and slush more efficiently.

Furthermore, bite particles in the tread compound improve snow traction.

In the absence of decent siping, the tire lacks ice grip.

Although Nokian R3’s unique tread design provides enough contact patch to give satisfactory performance on a dry road, its dry grip is lower than the competitor due to its relatively high void ratio.

Due to the wide grooves and multidirectional sipes of varied widths, this tire is excellent over slippery surfaces like wet roads, as water is effectively wiped off.

During snow-packed conditions, R3’s tread rubber contains cryo crystal 3 particles, many grooves, and snow claws that provide biting edges and evacuation, ensuring reliable traction. However, its performance is inferior because its voids are shallower, resulting in a relatively smaller evacuation and biting capacity than its competitor.

It excels on ice due to its higher number of sipes.

Comparative analysis of handling

Its shoulder lugs are comparatively larger and have traction notches to provide more biting power as the vehicle steers along a corner on a dry road.

Because of its higher contact patch and smaller sipes, it falls behind its competitor in terms of steer management over wet surfaces.

During snowy conditions, its lateral grooves are deeper, so they can evacuate snow more efficiently and maintain firm traction.

In addition, its tread compound contains bite particles that provide superior snow traction.

Ice handling is enhanced by the tire’s efficient siping.

The Nokian R3’s shoulders are comparatively smaller and lack traction notches, which reduces its steer handling on a dry road, since a smaller amount of its surface area is in contact with the ground.

In contrast, it provides controlled handling on a wet road due to its wide sipes and shoulder grooves that wipe away water and maintain stable traction.

While R3 presents optimized handling on snow-covered paths, its minimal tread depth makes it less efficient.

Since it lacks enough siping on its shoulders, it performs poorly on ice.

Hydroplaning Resistance Comparison

While both tires have unique tread features that make them resistant to aquaplaning, the WS90 scores lower due to its low void ratio.

On wet roads, zigzag sipes over lugs, along with linear and disjointed grooves among them, pass water easily and reduce the chances of slipping.

Because Nokian R3 has a larger number of voids over its tread, it offers superior resistance to hydroplaning.

Water passes through multidirectional sipes of various widths all over the tread.

Rolling resistance comparison

As more surface area of the Bridgestone WS90 tread is in direct contact with the road, it encounters more rolling resistance.

Due to this friction, large quantities of fuel are consumed in order to overcome it.

With a high void ratio and minimal contact patch, the Nokian R3 faces less friction against its movement on the road and displays lower rolling resistance values.

Fuel average is improved as less energy is required to overcome the hysteresis.

Comparison of comfort and noise

Due to their aggressive tread patterns, winter tires are usually noisier than summer tires.

In contrast, WS90 makes less noise because it has fewer grooves that allow sound waves to reflect and reverberate.

Due to its higher contact patch and low void ratio, it is more comfortable on dry roads, while the same features decrease comfort on wet surfaces.

Due to its high void ratio, Nokian R3 produces more noise than its competitors.

Wide channels provide more space for air particles to move and collide, resulting in loud noise when the tire rolls.

It is relatively uncomfortable on dry pavement due to its smaller contact patch, whereas it is more comfortable on wet roads due to its better aquaplaning resistance.

Tread Wear and Durability

Due to its tread design and composition, the Blizzak WS90 is less durable.

In addition to having a larger contact patch, its tread wears out more quickly after its upper layer is consumed.

This treadwear is constructed using a dual compound structure containing silica enhancements, microscopic bite particles, and a hydrophilic coating to provide exceptional ice and snow traction, while Bridgestone’s winter tire compound is 45% softer and contains silica enhancements.

Since Nokian R3s encounter less resistance when rolling, their tread wears down slower against the friction of the road, resulting in a longer lifespan.

Biobased Cryo crystal 3 grip particles have been added to its tread rubber to strengthen and stabilize its ice grip.