Cooper Discoverer True North vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 (updated with snow results!)

Cooper Discoverer True North vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS90: If you are living in an area which has a cold and long winter, you probably heard of Nordic/Studless tires. These are the tires which are designed specifically for snow & ice usage only. In terms of winter performances the typical ranking goes like this, All Season –> Winter –> Nordic/Studless–>Studded.

We have covered this segment quite a bit with the undisputed best Nordic/Studless tire, Continental’s VikingContact 7 which is the best you can get in this segment. In the European circuit, it has won 24 out of the available 27 tests. For this time around we would like to bring on Cooper Discoverer True North and Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 which are two popular winter tire models that were launched in 2017.

Cooper Discoverer True North boasts of its superior handling and stability in snow and ice conditions, thanks to its innovative tread design. It also promises longer tread life and improved fuel efficiency. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 on the other hand, is marketed as a top-performing tire in harsh winter weather, providing excellent grip and stability in snow, sleet and ice. It features advanced multicellular compound technology for improved handling and braking performance. Let’s put these 2 tires head to head and see who comes up on top !

Results

Results below were taken from the Tire Rack’s “Testing Studless Ice & Snow Tires 2022” test. A total of 4 tires were tested this time around in Tire Rack’s own proving ground. The graph below shows the comparison between Cooper Discoverer True North vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 based on the relevant performance category. The Discoverer True North was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark. Note that for subjective evaluation, we equate 1 point as 5%. Hence for example if tire A is graded 7 while tire B is graded 6, A is better than B by 5%.

As we are evaluating the Nordic/Studless segments, Tire Rack has tested ice but the snow results are due this 2022/23 winter season. Besides ice, a detailed testing on summer performances such as wet & dry braking/handling were conducted. The tire size of interest is a 225/45R17 which is a common tire size for Audi A3 and Hyundai Elantra. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a powerful 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited.

Ice

As what vanilla ice said in his famous song “Ice Ice Baby”, the song sums up the key needs for this particular segment. As the usage conditions are usually around lower than -10°C, ice is the most wanted criteria. This is where we got a clear indication who dominates in winter performance as Blizzak WS90 managed to out-brake Discoverer True North by 7.7 feet (2.3m) from a braking speed of 12 mph (20 km/h) to 0.

In ice acceleration the direction is pretty much the same as Blizzak WS90 took 0.54 seconds less to get till 60 feet in comparison with Discoverer True North.

Blizzak WS90:

• +24% in ice braking
• +13% in ice acceleration

Snow

When comparing the snow performance of the Cooper Discoverer True North and the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, we find subtle but important distinctions. The Cooper Discoverer True North demonstrates slightly superior snow braking capabilities, requiring a distance of 46.10 feet to come to a complete stop, whereas the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 needs 47.30 feet. In terms of snow acceleration from 0-12 Mph, both tires are evenly matched, each registering a performance figure of 25.40, with lower numbers indicating better performance.

Though the Blizzak WS90 matched others closely in recorded acceleration, its performance notably enhanced when the traction control was deactivated. The Bridgestone tire’s capability to produce speed while allowing slight tire spin enabled it to exit corners more assertively than the rest in the evaluation. It also appeared to handle sideways forces better than its counterparts. Our team was particularly impressed with its driving behavior, even on the smoother turns.

Test driver feedback on snow for Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

However, when evaluating snow handling, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 garners a higher subjective score of 8.58 out of 10, suggesting it offers better maneuverability and control compared to the 7.83 score of the Cooper Discoverer True North. While the True North slightly edges out in braking, the Blizzak WS90 shines in handling, making the choice between them dependent on individual preferences concerning braking versus maneuverability. Below are some of the test driver feedback on the tire’s snow handling performances

The Discoverer True North showcased proficient acceleration and braking on light snow, with its performance measurements either matching or surpassing the closely-packed group. While our drivers appreciated its behavior on the track, they observed that it didn’t capitalize on wheel spin as effectively as some other tires. It appeared to offer slightly diminished traction when exiting corners, with a more abrupt oversteer that reduced forward momentum. However, even if our drivers approached turns a bit more cautiously compared to other tires, the Cooper’s outstanding braking ensured safety, which is crucial in treacherous winter scenarios.

Test driver feedback on snow for Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Blizzak WS90:

• -2.5% in snow braking
• 0% in ice acceleration
• +3.8% in snow handling (subj)

Wet

The friction of coefficient of the tire/road dramatically decreases in wet roads compared to dry roads. Hence it is more likely to get into a road accident during wet conditions rather than on a sunny day. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. Blizzak WS90 came out on top again as it out brake Discoverer True North by 15.8 feet (4.8m) in distance at a braking speed of 50mph (80km/h) down to 0.

With such a big advantage in wet braking, Blizzak WS90 continues to dominate in wet handling as it was 1.1 seconds faster per lap & has a higher subjective rating of 6.3/10 compared to the 5.9/10 of Discoverer True North. Below are some of the key feedback from the subjective drivers:

Blizzak WS90:

The Blizzak WS90’s braking advantage was absolute, with a fifteen-foot shorter braking distance from fifty miles per hour that could undoubtedly be put to good use on the street. Cornering traction also came in six-hundredths of a g higher than the Cooper and Goodyear, which yielded a significant subjective improvement and is something drivers would probably notice on the streets. 

Test driver feedback on Blizzak WS90

Discoverer True North:

While the Cooper managed a slight advantage over the Goodyear in lateral grip, it tended to push quickly into understeer when the limit was exceeded. It’s an appropriate response to traction loss, but our team found it to be slightly abrupt and took a bit longer to bring the front end back on line

Test driver feedback on Discoverer True North

Blizzak WS90:

• +12% in wet braking
• +1.9% in wet handling (subj)
• +2.9% in wet handling (lap time)

Dry

As for dry, safety is usually not an issue as the braking distance is much longer than wet. However this is the default daily usage and the tires have to perform at a very consistent level. While things overwhelmingly favored Blizzak WS90 in the wet, it continued in dry as Blizzak WS90 managed to brake 10.5 feet (3.2m) earlier compared to Discoverer True North from a speed of 50mph (80km/h) down to 0.

Similar to the wet story with such a big dry braking advantage, Blizzak WS90 was once again the best when it came to wet handling as it was 0.38 seconds faster per lap with an overall subjective rating of 6.2/10 compared to Discoverer True North’s 5.9/10 rating.

Blizzak WS90:

• +12% in wet braking
• +2.4% in wet handling (subj)
• +1.2% in wet handling (lap time)

Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality

Ride comfort, noise & comfort was tested and Discoverer True North came out slightly ahead at 6.63/10 rating compared to the 6.29/10 rating of Blizzak WS90 with ride quality & noise being the main differences.

Blizzak WS90:

• –1.7% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.

Price

To our initial surprise, Discoverer True North was only 11 dollars cheaper compared to Blizzak WS90 ! This is definitely something not expected especially looking at brand positioning and technical excellency.

Tire size: 225/45R17

Discoverer True North: $182

Blizzak WS90: $193

Difference: +5% more expensive for Blizzak WS90.

Summary

Overall, Blizzak WS90 is clearly dominant in ice, wet & dry performances. The only shining light for Discoverer True North came in the form of noise & snow. For us, the winner of this duel is clearly Blizzak WS90 with is outstand ice, wet & dry performance. Enjoy!

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