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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat vs Dunlop SP Sport Maxx — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 0 road tests and 146 + 173 owner reviews. How we score

SP Sport Maxx is ahead, 59–45

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Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 46

    Dry

    SP Sport Maxx +15
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 54 (est.)≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online3558

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 54.4 (est.) + 40% × 34.5 = 46

    SP Sport Maxx: 60% × 63.7 (est.) + 40% × 57.7 = 61

    No road tests of dry for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

    No road tests of dry for SP Sport Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

  2. 47

    Wet

    SP Sport Maxx +14
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 52 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online3957

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 52.4 (est.) + 40% × 38.7 = 47

    SP Sport Maxx: 60% × 62.9 (est.) + 40% × 57.4 = 61

    No road tests of wet for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

    No road tests of wet for SP Sport Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    54
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online–43

    SP Sport Maxx: 60% × 61 (est.) + 40% × 43 = 54

    No road tests of snow for SP Sport Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).

  4. 42

    Comfort

    SP Sport Maxx +18
    60
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 60 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online1551

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 59.7 (est.) + 40% × 14.8 = 42

    SP Sport Maxx: 60% × 66 (est.) + 40% × 51.1 = 60

    No road tests of comfort for Potenza RE050A Run Flat or SP Sport Maxx. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    63
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online–57

    SP Sport Maxx: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 56.7 = 63

    No road tests of noise for SP Sport Maxx. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 48

    Treadwear

    SP Sport Maxx +8
    56
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 56 (est.)≈ 60 (est.)
    Reviews found online3549

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 56.3 (est.) + 40% × 35.3 = 48

    SP Sport Maxx: 60% × 60.4 (est.) + 40% × 48.7 = 56

    No road tests of treadwear for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

    No road tests of treadwear for SP Sport Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

  7. 29

    Handling (owners)

    SP Sport Maxx +26
    55
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatSP Sport Maxx
    Reviews found online2955
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Potenza RE050A Run FlatDunlop SP Sport Maxx
Relative Score 45 59
Dry 46 61
Wet 47 61
Snow – 54
Comfort 42 60
Noise – 63
Treadwear 48 56
Handling (owners) 29 55

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Potenza RE050A Run Flat

SP Sport Maxx

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Potenza RE050A Run Flat

Pros

  • Strong grip and predictable handling in dry conditions
  • Precise steering response and high-speed cornering stability
  • Good overall longevity and mileage for certain drivers on smooth highways

Cons

  • Extremely harsh, rigid, and uncomfortable ride quality
  • Severe tramlining and tendency to follow ruts or road imperfections
  • Poor grip, reduced traction, and nervous handling in wet weather
All owner themes in the Potenza RE050A Run Flat review

Tire B SP Sport Maxx

Pros

  • Strong dry and wet grip when brand new
  • Responsive handling and sharp cornering precision
  • Low initial road noise and good ride comfort on smooth surfaces

Cons

  • Rapid and uneven tread wear (often wearing out in under 10,000–15,000 miles)
  • High road noise and 'sawtoothing' issues as the tires age
  • Noticeable drop in wet-weather traction and sudden loss of grip near the end of their lifespan
All owner themes in the SP Sport Maxx review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle type—Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—8
Rim diameters—16″ – 21″
Tread depth—10/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx

Winner: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx — better handling, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 55 vs 29 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 60 vs 42 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 61 vs 46 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 61 vs 47 on wet.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat
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Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
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Potenza RE050A Run Flat or SP Sport Maxx?

Which is better in the wet, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or SP Sport Maxx?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, 61 vs 47 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or SP Sport Maxx?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, 61 vs 46 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or SP Sport Maxx?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, 60 vs 42 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or SP Sport Maxx?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, 56 vs 48 on our treadwear score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology