Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 85 · 16 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 6 in 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Dunlop Sportsmart — 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 + 11 owner reviews. How we score
RoadSmart III leads, 80–76 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 78 · 11 reviews
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
77
Dry
Sportsmart +178Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Sportsmart Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 ≈ 75 (est.) Reviews found online 85 84 RoadSmart III: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 85.3 = 77
Sportsmart: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 84.1 = 78
No road tests of dry for Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
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83
Wet
RoadSmart III +776Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Sportsmart Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 80 (est.) ≈ 75 (est.) Reviews found online 87 78 RoadSmart III: 60% × 79.8 (est.) + 40% × 87.4 = 83
Sportsmart: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 77.8 = 76
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 Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
78
Comfort
RoadSmart III +375Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Sportsmart Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 82 77 RoadSmart III: 40% × 71.3 (est.) + 60% × 81.9 = 78
Sportsmart: 40% × 70.4 (est.) + 60% × 77.3 = 75
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 Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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76
Treadwear
RoadSmart III +769Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Sportsmart Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 72 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 83 71 RoadSmart III: 60% × 72.3 (est.) + 40% × 82.5 = 76
Sportsmart: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 70.8 = 69
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 Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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86
Handling (owners)
RoadSmart III +284Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Sportsmart Reviews found online 86 84
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart III | Dunlop Sportsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 76 |
| Dry | 77 | 78 |
| Wet | 83 | 76 |
| Comfort | 78 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 69 |
| Handling (owners) | 86 | 84 |
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
80
/ 100
RoadSmart III
76
/ 100
Sportsmart
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.
Tire B Sportsmart
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip that inspires rider confidence
- Predictable feedback and handling, especially when approaching the limit
- Fast warm-up times suitable for both road and occasional track use
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 miles depending on usage
- Stiff N-TEC construction can feel harsh over road imperfections
- Occasional reports of air pressure retention issues on specific rear units
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop RoadSmart III | B · Dunlop Sportsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Dunlop RoadSmart III
76
/ 100
Dunlop Sportsmart
Narrow edge: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better wet, treadwear and comfort. Where the Dunlop Sportsmart is ahead, it is by less than 3 points. Dunlop RoadSmart III rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 16 reviews), so read this result as provisional. Dunlop Sportsmart rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 11 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 83 vs 76 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 76 vs 69 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 78 vs 75 on comfort.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Dunlop Sportsmart
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RoadSmart III or Sportsmart?
Which is better in the wet, RoadSmart III or Sportsmart?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 83 vs 76 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, RoadSmart III or Sportsmart?
Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 78 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, RoadSmart III or Sportsmart?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 78 vs 75 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, RoadSmart III or Sportsmart?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 76 vs 69 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