Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Avon Storm 3D XM — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 0 road tests and 16 + 12 owner reviews. How we score

RoadSmart III is ahead, 80–64

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Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire ADunlop

RoadSmart III

Summer

± 7Provisional

Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 85 · 16 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 6 in 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test (dry braking)

Avon Storm 3D XM
Tire BAvon

Storm 3D XM

Summer

± 8Provisional

Tests – · none yet Owners 63 · 12 reviews

Category by category

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

  1. 77

    Dry

    RoadSmart III +12
    65
    Why this score
    SourceRoadSmart IIIStorm 3D XM
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests72≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online8563

    RoadSmart III: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 85.3 = 77

    Storm 3D XM: 60% × 65.8 (est.) + 40% × 62.7 = 65

    No road tests of dry for Storm 3D XM. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 83

    Wet

    RoadSmart III +20
    63
    Why this score
    SourceRoadSmart IIIStorm 3D XM
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 80 (est.)≈ 65 (est.)
    Reviews found online8760

    RoadSmart III: 60% × 79.9 (est.) + 40% × 87.4 = 83

    Storm 3D XM: 60% × 64.9 (est.) + 40% × 60.1 = 63

    No road tests of wet for RoadSmart III. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for Storm 3D XM. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 78

    Comfort

    RoadSmart III +14
    64
    Why this score
    SourceRoadSmart IIIStorm 3D XM
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online8262

    RoadSmart III: 40% × 71.4 (est.) + 60% × 81.8 = 78

    Storm 3D XM: 40% × 67.4 (est.) + 60% × 62.1 = 64

    No road tests of comfort for RoadSmart III. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for Storm 3D XM. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  4. 76

    Treadwear

    RoadSmart III +8
    68
    Why this score
    SourceRoadSmart IIIStorm 3D XM
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 72 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online8368

    RoadSmart III: 60% × 72.3 (est.) + 40% × 82.5 = 76

    Storm 3D XM: 60% × 67.2 (est.) + 40% × 68.3 = 68

    No road tests of treadwear for RoadSmart III. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Storm 3D XM. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  5. 86

    Handling (owners)

    RoadSmart III +27
    59
    Why this score
    SourceRoadSmart IIIStorm 3D XM
    Reviews found online8659
Scores at a glance
Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Avon Storm 3D XM: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop RoadSmart IIIAvon Storm 3D XM
Relative Score 80 64
Dry 77 65
Wet 83 63
Comfort 78 64
Treadwear 76 68
Handling (owners) 86 59

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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

RoadSmart III

± 8

Storm 3D XM

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.

DisciplineCategoryRoadSmart IIIStorm 3D XMΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/6 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test #7/7 2014 Motorrad Premium Touring Motorcycle Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A RoadSmart III

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and mileage compared to dedicated sport tires.
  • Sharp, responsive steering and handling characteristics.
  • Consistent and reliable grip in both dry and wet road conditions.

Cons

  • Occasional reports of rear-end slippage during aggressive cornering with power input.
  • Front tire wear can be uneven or faster than expected depending on suspension setup.
  • Some users noted a firm ride quality due to the stiff carcass construction.
All owner themes in the RoadSmart III review

Tire B Storm 3D XM

Pros

  • High mileage and tread longevity
  • Strong dry-weather grip and stability
  • Excellent value for money compared to premium alternatives

Cons

  • Inconsistent wet-weather performance and lack of confidence
  • Vague front-end feedback and 'squirming' sensation
  • Tendency to track road grooves and imperfections
All owner themes in the Storm 3D XM review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop RoadSmart III B · Avon Storm 3D XM
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typeMotorcycleMotorcycle

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop RoadSmart III

Avon Storm 3D XM

Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better handling, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score. Dunlop RoadSmart III rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 16 reviews), so read this result as provisional. Avon Storm 3D XM rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 12 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 86 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 83 vs 63 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 78 vs 64 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 77 vs 65 on dry.

Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Avon Storm 3D XM

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RoadSmart III or Storm 3D XM?

Which is better in the wet, RoadSmart III or Storm 3D XM?

Dunlop RoadSmart III, 83 vs 63 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, RoadSmart III or Storm 3D XM?

Dunlop RoadSmart III, 77 vs 65 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, RoadSmart III or Storm 3D XM?

Dunlop RoadSmart III, 78 vs 64 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, RoadSmart III or Storm 3D XM?

Dunlop RoadSmart III, 76 vs 68 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