The Best BLIZZAK Ever

Bridgestone has released the "BLIZZAK VRX," which it claims achieves the highest performance in the 25-year history of BLIZZAK. BLIZZAK, a leading studless tire brand in Japan, has been around for 25 years. What kind of evolution has it undergone? We bring you a report from a test course in Hokkaido.


The new technologies incorporated into the "BLIZZAK VRX" are three: "Active Foaming Rubber," "New Asymmetric Pattern," and "New Asymmetric Side Shape." These further improve the "braking effectiveness" on icy surfaces, for which the tire has been renowned, while comprehensively responding to various winter road conditions such as dry roads and wet roads from melted snow. Of course, the low fuel consumption performance demanded of modern studless tires has also been enhanced.

While the braking performance on ice was already satisfactory with the previous model, "BLIZZAK REV GZ," the new "Active Foaming Rubber" in the "BLIZZAK VRX" further improves water-dispersing capabilities. By coating the tread surface, which acts as a water channel, with a hydrophilic material, water is guided into the fine bubbles on the tire surface, reducing the water on the road. This leads to improved grip on icy surfaces.


The countless bubbles on the tire surface absorb moisture, suppressing slippage caused by water. In essence, while previous products could only absorb moisture up to half the capacity of the bubbles (the "water storage tanks"), the "BLIZZAK VRX" can store moisture in almost the entire volume of the bubbles. Reducing water on the road surface leads to the tire adhering firmly to the icy surface, resulting in improved grip on ice.

An Era Where Fuel Efficiency Influences Product Choice

Furthermore, the "New Asymmetric Pattern" adapts to constantly changing road conditions and driving scenarios that vary with time of day and temperature. The design of the blocks closer to the center on both the inner and outer sides has been evolved and optimized for their respective roles, while maintaining block rigidity and reducing their size.

The smaller, interlocking V-shaped blocks and the sipes installed within them enhance the "digging" effect, allowing each block to firmly contact the various small and large irregularities on the icy surface. This provides high grip regardless of road conditions.


Additionally, the "New Asymmetric Side Shape" ensures high straight-line stability. By adopting distinct designs for the inner and outer sides, it reduces wobbling of the tire and car caused by unevenly packed snow or irregular icy patches. This is also effective against bumps and road undulations during normal driving.


In terms of fuel efficiency, rolling resistance has been reduced by 10 percent compared to the previous model. It seems we have entered an era where studless tires can be chosen with fuel efficiency in mind.

However, the question remains whether these high performances can be truly felt in everyday driving; that is the key point when choosing a new product. Even with impressive claims, the value of choosing it is not that high based on those claims alone. For anyone thinking this way, the most easily understandable factor is the braking performance on frozen roads.


Of course, this is not the sole criterion for evaluating studless tires, but based on over 30 years of experience driving on snowy roads for skiing, it is also true that no studless tire with inferior braking power has ever met satisfactory quality standards.

The Car Accelerates Briskly

Bridgestone's internal tests confirmed a 10 percent performance improvement with the "BLIZZAK VRX." We conducted a comparative test using a 4WD minivan, comparing the new and old BLIZZAK tires on an icy course.


After accelerating to 30 km/h, we applied the brakes at the same point and checked the distance to a complete stop. The test course was Bridgestone's dome-shaped experimental facility, where conditions can be kept constant, making comparisons easier.

The results clearly showed that the "BLIZZAK VRX" had a shorter braking distance. Surprisingly, the difference was not "subtle" or "marginal," but "overwhelmingly" different – so much so that we regret not being able to show it to you.


While the previous model, which stops reliably where you expect it to, was already considered high-performance, the "BLIZZAK VRX" offered a braking distance that could be described as stopping a whole car length shorter than expected. The braking response was good, and the strong grip on the road was clearly transmitted to the driver.


While the braking performance of the "BLIZZAK VRX," which makes you think "I can brake with confidence and stop surely," is astonishing, there was also a significant difference in grip performance during acceleration. With the traction control equipped, the old model would enter an acceleration state with only slight wheel spin even with rough accelerator input. In contrast, the "BLIZZAK VRX" accelerates briskly with almost no wheel spin.


The steering response of the old model also felt slightly delayed, but the "BLIZZAK VRX" is highly responsive, comparable to driving with summer tires. This difference can again be described as "overwhelming" without exaggeration.

A Clear Performance Difference

Our perception that the "BLIZZAK REV GZ," which has the performance to be a benchmark for other manufacturers, was already sufficient was overturned, in a good way. The difference with the "BLIZZAK VRX," introduced after four seasons, meaning it was launched with full confidence, was greater than expected.


Like digital products, studless tires are often sold alongside older models, which can be purchased at a lower price. However, this overwhelming performance difference is akin to buying an iPad 2 when the iPad Air is already available. Of course, we are not saying that choosing the newest product is always the right choice, as budget and preferences play a role, but it signifies that there is a clear performance gap between the two, far exceeding the price difference.

With digital gadgets, the difference might be limited to usability or speed. However, studless tires carry people's lives. While it's natural to want to save a few thousand yen when purchasing, wouldn't it be regrettable to think, "If only the 'BLIZZAK VRX' had stopped a few meters sooner, I might have avoided an accident..." in a critical moment?


In major urban areas in snowy regions like Tohoku and Hokkaido, one in two cars is a "BLIZZAK" user. Their reliability and high performance remain unwavering even with the new model. Incidentally, VRX in "BLIZZAK VRX" comes from VERTEX, signifying the highest point or summit. If you experience both, you will surely understand its meaning and the development team's dedication.

BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK VRX |
BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK VRX
Tire Size | 135/80R12 68Q to 245/40 R20 95Q (108 sizes in total)

Price | Open

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