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 Michelin Pilot Road 4 — 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 + 19 owner reviews. How we score
RoadSmart III is ahead, 80–74
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Tests – · none yet Owners 76 · 19 reviews
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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77
Dry
RoadSmart III +473Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Pilot Road 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 ≈ 71 (est.) Reviews found online 85 76 RoadSmart III: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 85.3 = 77
Pilot Road 4: 60% × 71.3 (est.) + 40% × 76.1 = 73
No road tests of dry for Pilot Road 4. 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 +578Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Pilot Road 4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 80 (est.) ≈ 76 (est.) Reviews found online 87 81 RoadSmart III: 60% × 79.8 (est.) + 40% × 87.4 = 83
Pilot Road 4: 60% × 76.1 (est.) + 40% × 80.5 = 78
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 Pilot Road 4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
78
Comfort
RoadSmart III +573Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Pilot Road 4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 82 75 RoadSmart III: 40% × 71.3 (est.) + 60% × 81.9 = 78
Pilot Road 4: 40% × 69.9 (est.) + 60% × 74.8 = 73
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 Pilot Road 4. 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 +670Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Pilot Road 4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 72 (est.) ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 83 73 RoadSmart III: 60% × 72.3 (est.) + 40% × 82.5 = 76
Pilot Road 4: 60% × 68.8 (est.) + 40% × 72.7 = 70
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 Pilot Road 4. 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 +1175Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Pilot Road 4 Reviews found online 86 75
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart III | Michelin Pilot Road 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 74 |
| Dry | 77 | 73 |
| Wet | 83 | 78 |
| Comfort | 78 | 73 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 70 |
| Handling (owners) | 86 | 75 |
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
74
/ 100
Pilot Road 4
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.
| Discipline | Category | RoadSmart III | Pilot Road 4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/6 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | #1/7 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.
Tire B Pilot Road 4
Pros
- Outstanding wet weather grip and performance
- Impressive tread life and mileage longevity for touring and commuting
- Predictable and confident handling in everyday dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Slippery when brand new, requiring a cautious break-in period
- Tread pattern can cause movement or a vague front-end feel in warmer weather
- Some riders experienced uneven wear or quicker wear on the front tire
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop RoadSmart III | B · Michelin Pilot Road 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Dunlop RoadSmart III
74
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Road 4
Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better handling, treadwear and wet. 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. Michelin Pilot Road 4 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 19 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 86 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 76 vs 70 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 83 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 78 vs 73 on comfort.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Road 4
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RoadSmart III or Pilot Road 4?
Which is better in the wet, RoadSmart III or Pilot Road 4?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 83 vs 78 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, RoadSmart III or Pilot Road 4?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 77 vs 73 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, RoadSmart III or Pilot Road 4?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 78 vs 73 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, RoadSmart III or Pilot Road 4?
Dunlop RoadSmart III, 76 vs 70 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