Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 28 + 0 road tests and 724 + 300 owner reviews. How we score

Potenza Sport is ahead, 78–64

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Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Potenza Sport

Summer

Tests 80 · 28 tests Owners 65 · 724 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 52 in 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout (dry braking)

“Replacement tires. Bridgestone Potenza Sport. 8k miles. Fronts/Rears. WTF Bridgestone? Or is it me? No burnouts!”

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
Tire BDunlop

SP Sport Maxx TT

Summer

Tests – · none yet Owners 60 · 300 reviews

“I have the Maxx TT on my car for about 1000 Km which included two slalom sessions. I am very pleased with the ride quality and dry traction. It is much quieter than the OEM tires. I have not had a chance to drive in wet road yet.”

Category by category

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

  1. 87

    Dry

    Potenza Sport +21
    66
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TT
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / – tests95≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7565

    Potenza Sport: 60% × 95.2 + 40% × 75.1 = 87

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 64.6 = 66

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

  2. 85

    Wet

    Potenza Sport +19
    66
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TT
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / – tests94≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online7264

    Potenza Sport: 60% × 93.6 + 40% × 72.1 = 85

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 64 = 66

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

  3. 58

    Comfort

    SP Sport Maxx TT +3
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TT
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / – tests55≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online6453

    Potenza Sport: 60% × 54.7 + 40% × 63.5 = 58

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 53.3 = 61

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

  4. 44

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TT
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / – tests30–
    Reviews found online65–

    Potenza Sport: 60% × 30 + 40% × 64.6 = 44

  5. 61

    Treadwear

    Potenza Sport +3
    58
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TT
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / – tests71≈ 62 (est.)
    Reviews found online4553

    Potenza Sport: 60% × 71.1 + 40% × 44.9 = 61

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 61.8 (est.) + 40% × 53.2 = 58

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

  6. 73

    Handling (owners)

    Potenza Sport +12
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TT
    Reviews found online7361
Scores at a glance
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryBridgestone Potenza SportDunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
Relative Score 78 64
Dry 87 66
Wet 85 66
Comfort 58 61
Noise 44 –
Treadwear 61 58
Handling (owners) 73 61

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
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 Sport

SP Sport Maxx TT

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

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryPotenza SportSP Sport Maxx TTΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #6/7 Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers #3/14 2011 Auto Zeitung Max Performance Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Potenza Sport

Pros

  • Outstanding dry and wet grip
  • Precise, telepathic steering response and feedback
  • Excellent braking performance

Cons

  • Fast tread wear and short lifespan
  • High road noise
  • Firm, sometimes harsh ride quality over bumps
All owner themes in the Potenza Sport review

Tire B SP Sport Maxx TT

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and precise cornering stability
  • Stiff sidewalls providing sharp steering feedback and confidence
  • Better-than-average tread life and mileage for many everyday drivers

Cons

  • High levels of road noise and cabin hum at speeds above 50 mph
  • Stiff, harsh ride quality, particularly with run-flat variants
  • Inconsistent or poor grip in wet, damp, or cold weather conditions
All owner themes in the SP Sport Maxx TT review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Mixed

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport is widely praised for its sharp steering response, strong dry and wet grip, and attractive pricing compared to competitors. However, community feedback frequently highlights significant drawbacks, including rapid tread wear, poor track durability, high rolling resistance, and a firm ride. While viewed favorably for enthusiastic street driving, drivers caution against heavy track use due to accelerated wear.

rennlist.com

“Due to rain later in the week I’ve only been able to put ~50 miles on them. Other tires I’ve run are the Bridgestone S02 and S03. I preferred the S02’s over the S03. PS4’s, PS Cup’s and Hankook V12’s. And Hoosier R6 at track. So far, the New Potenza Sports are outstanding. Low road noise, fantastic dry traction, turn in and braking. No wet experience yet, and hopefully never as I don’t typically drive this car in the rain. I’m going to play around with tire pressure, so if anyone has any recommendations for 997 C2 I’d love to hear.”

forum.miata.net

“I used 2 sets of 4 Potenza Sport on my daily in 225/45r17, excellent tires I don't think it can be beaten in terms of feeling (the Sport Contact 7 seems very good too but not tested), rigid sidewalls, progressive, very very easy to drive, fast even in the wet. Yes very soft rubber not for track but on the other hand in the wet close to 0°C it's incredible, much better than mid-range 4 seasons. On the rear axle (FWD daily) I did several winters with snowy days and -5/-10°C, the following year and even worn to 100% there is only aquaplaning that it can fear (be careful I didn't say it was good on snow lol, with its continuous rubber bands it's a disaster.).”

grassrootsmotorsports.com

“Darn, no 255/45R18, so I won't get to try these on the E38 for my next set of summers (it'll probably be the Kumho Ecsta Sport or Bridgestone Potenza Sport instead, but Tire Rack no longer has the Bridgestones in 255/45 even though they're still listed on the Bridgestone site). It seems like tire availability in that size is dropping way off. Conti dropped it in the ECS02 and discontinued the General G-Max RS in that size, now it's gone in the Indy 500 V2. So to run either of those tires I'd have to buy different front wheels and move to square 275s instead of the 255/275 stagger I'm running now. PS4S comes in a 255/45, but I'd have to move up to 285/40 in the rear (from 275/40) and they're rather expensive.”

Top themes
#sharp steering response#rapid tread wear#poor track durability#wet and dry grip#competitive pricing#rolling resistance hit

Based on 90 community posts

Tire B

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT

Positive

Community members generally praise the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT for its quiet road manners, respectable dry and wet grip, and solid track and cold-weather road performance compared to stock competition-oriented tires. Some drivers note relatively soft sidewalls during aggressive slalom events on heavier vehicles or limited grip before coming up to temperature. Overall, drivers find it to be a capable, comfortable summer tire that balances performance and daily drivability.

Top themes
#quiet ride quality#track and slalom handling#wet and dry traction#cold weather performance#sidewall stiffness concerns#replacement for OEM tires

Based on 19 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza Sport B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1285
Rim diameters16″ – 24″16″ – 18″
Tread depth7 - 10/32″—
UTQG200 - 320 A - AA A—
SidewallBlack Side Wall - Raised Black Lettering—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common33

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT

Winner: Bridgestone Potenza Sport — better dry, wet and handling. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT if comfort matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 87 vs 66 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 85 vs 66 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 73 vs 61 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 61 vs 58 on treadwear.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT

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Potenza Sport or SP Sport Maxx TT?

Which is better in the wet, Potenza Sport or SP Sport Maxx TT?

Bridgestone Potenza Sport, 85 vs 66 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza Sport or SP Sport Maxx TT?

Bridgestone Potenza Sport, 87 vs 66 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Potenza Sport or SP Sport Maxx TT?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT, 61 vs 58 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Potenza Sport or SP Sport Maxx TT?

Bridgestone Potenza Sport, 61 vs 58 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