Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 Tire Review and Rating

Starting off with the rubber compound, it’s a similar story to most of the other winter tires out there. A special compound that is designed to offer improved performance in multiple road conditions.

Bridgestone designed the Blizzak LM001’s tread with a directional pattern for the all-around performance on multiple road conditions. It should offer improved stability and control in severe conditions.

Specifically for wet performance, the Blizzak LM001 gets rounded junctions at the shoulders, 3D sipes, and Vari-Width grooves. The result of this should be a tire with excellent grip and traction on wet, as well as superb aquaplaning resistance.

Snow performance is brought to you by the 3D sipes and the tread pattern. Both of them should enable the Blizzak LM001 to bite into the snow and find traction.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

The Blizzak LM001 behaves very well on dry tarmac, something you should expect from a premium tire. A slight problem is that the overall performance isn’t class-leading.

Handling-wise, the tire performs very well and has plenty of grip and traction on the road. The problem is that in the premium winter segment, it is slightly above average. The driving dynamics are more or less as you’d expect from a winter tire. It is decently responsive, but there is a bit more flex to the sidewall than enthusiasts would like to see. In everyday driving, you won’t even notice this.

The braking distances are the biggest weakness as those results are below average in its class.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The Blizzak LM001 performs a bit better on wet and slippery roads but still doesn’t impress.

It has plenty of grip in the corners or traction when accelerating, meaning that it’s not a total disappointment. In this area, the difference between the Blizzak LM001 and the class-leading is smaller, meaning that the handling is better.

Another thing that’s better is the braking distances. On wet roads, the Blizzak LM001 stops significantly well and is way above average for its class.

One area where the tire performs the best is the aquaplaning resistance. Thanks to the variable groove width, you are looking at one of, if not the best aquaplaning resistance in this segment.

How is it over snow?

Moving on to snow performance, the Blizzak LM001 goes back to being an average performer.

Despite not being overly impressed by how the tire handles snow, it is still very safe to drive and has plenty to offer for regular drivers. Even slightly more aggressive acceleration will be fine because the traction is there. 

Braking distances are marginally longer than the ones you’d see on the top of the scoreboard. Keep in mind that we are talking about small differences, so expect to have short and safe braking distances still.

Ice performance is similar, and as long as you are aware that you’re driving on ice, the tire will keep you and your car safe.

Is it comfortable and refined?

The Blizzak LM001 is very comfortable and averagely quiet.

Remember that sidewall flex I mentioned? Enthusiasts will consider it a downside, but people who are after a softer ride will love it. The comfort levels are excellent, with almost no vibration reaching the cabin even when you hit a bigger pothole.

The noises are not too bad, but the Blizzak LM001 is a winter tire, so expect a bit more roar out of it. If you really put your ear to it, you will hear the tire even around town. At the end of the day, it’s not the worst experience, and I won’t fault the tire for it.

Is it good for off-roading?

The Blizzak LM001 is not a tire that you should take off-roading. All of the performance you get on paved roads won’t be carried over when you go off-roading. On top of that, the softer rubber means that it won’t take much abuse over rougher surfaces and can get damaged.

Is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 ideal for sporty driving?

No, the Blizzak LM001 is far from the best winter tire for sporty driving. Even though there’s a decent amount of performance for the tire to be pushed harder, the dynamics are not the best. When you add the flex in the sidewall, you get a tire that may disappoint you if you want to give it the beans.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 Warranty

Unlike some of its competitors, the Blizzak LM001 doesn’t come with a treadwear warranty. Instead, you will have to settle for the limited tread warranty, which applies to uniformity for the first 1/32 inch of wear. The good news is that the workmanship and materials have a 5-year warranty, and you could get a replacement in the first 3 years.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

The Blizzak LM001 doesn’t have the best price per performance ratio but is worth the money. You will pay from $160 for a single tire, which is a lot. For that, you get excellent winter performance from a premium tire manufacturer.

Should I buy the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001?