Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent and Blizzak 6 Tires: Comprehensive Review in Frozen Conditions

      Michael Febbo

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      I recently traveled to Colorado to evaluate two new Bridgestone tires: the Blizzak 6 and the Dueler A/T Ascent. The former is designed for year-round use on sports sedans and cars, while the latter encourages luxury truck and SUV owners to venture off-road more frequently.

      Steamboat Springs, a charming ski town located 150 miles northwest of Denver at an elevation of 7,000 feet, resembles the setting of any Hallmark Channel Christmas movie with its snow-covered A-frame homes and locals clad in Ecuadorian alpaca wool jackets. The town features the quirkiest bridge globally and is named after its founder, Larry Steamboat, or so my shuttle driver mentioned. Admittedly, my early arrival at the Las Vegas airport, before the coffee bar even opened, likely clouded my memory. If I'm there before the baristas at Espresso Urbano, you can expect my clarity for the rest of the day to plummet. But I had around 12 hours to acclimate to the altitude and make up for my caffeine deficit. I was more than ready to test some tires.

      McMurdo Station? Nope. It was the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, CO.—Mike Febbo Michael Febbo

      Snow Tire, Winter Tire, All-Season Tire: What Do They Mean?

      To start with the basics, snow tires and winter tires refer to the same category. They’re more accurately called winter tires, as they perform well not only in snow but also in cold temperatures. All-season tires, sometimes labeled as three-season tires, are meant for spring, summer, and fall. Their compounds are generally optimized for temperatures over 45° F. While they provide better traction on snow and ice compared to summer tires, they are not the best option. If you're looking for a truly year-round tire, you should consider an all-weather tire with a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification.

      Mike Febbo

      Both the Blizzak 6 and the A/T Ascent carry a 3PMSF rating. The A/T Ascent is suitable for year-round use on trucks or SUVs, while the Blizzak 6 could technically be used year-round on cars or sedans, though it may not be advisable. This introduces the topic of traction on various surfaces—starting with snow. The rubber compound of a tire provides limited grip in the snow. Traction primarily comes from the numerous small biting edges, known as sipes, within a snow tire's tread. Interestingly, you want the voids in the tread to fill with snow, as the friction created by snow-on-snow is superior to rubber on snow.

      There’s also a common misconception that off-road and all-terrain tires, characterized by their knobby tread patterns and large voids, perform well in snow. However, as mentioned, it’s the edges that provide grip. Those sizable chunked lugs lack adequate biting edges. Moreover, off-road tires tend to eject material rather than accumulating it, meaning you lose the advantage of packing voids with snow.

      On paved roads, maximizing contact with asphalt is desired. This is why race cars prefer slick tires; the tread on road tires exists mainly for water evacuation. If we could assure zero risk of hydroplaning, we would all be using slicks for our daily drives.

      How Does The Blizzak 6 Stack Up Against Its Rivals?

      Mike Febbo Bridgestone

      Bridgestone selected Steamboat, aside from a local eatery known for its amazing truffle fries, because it serves as a venue for its winter driving school. The training is divided into various levels, from basic braking skills to comprehensive multi-day sessions for those aspiring to become rally racers. Bridgestone aimed to ensure that every participant has at least a fundamental understanding of driving on snowy and icy conditions. The morning was dedicated to learning basic skills on different tracks, using older Bridgestone tires mounted on Toyota Highlanders and Camrys (Camrii).

      In my two decades of automotive journalism, I usually partake in two to three tire tests annually. Typically, tire companies choose vehicles that automotive professionals are enthusiastic about; GTIs, Caymans, Camaros, AMGs, and even supercars. Tire manufacturers aim to excite you visually with their test vehicles. While the Highlander is decent, Bridgestone’s selection of the Camry is, well, surprising. If there’s a car currently on the market that makes an enthusiast yearn for the thrill of a bus pass more than a CVT-equipped Camry Hybrid, I have yet to encounter it. But fear not, the experience gets better.

      The new Blizzak 6 incorporates Bridgestone's latest technology and marks the first winter tire to follow the