Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 81 · 16 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 6 in 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Michelin Road 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
RoadSmart III leads, 77–73 Narrow edge
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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.
-
76
Dry
RoadSmart III +670Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Road 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 67 Reviews found online 82 75 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 97% -
79
Wet
RoadSmart III +277Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Road 5 Reviews found online 83 79 -
74
Comfort
RoadSmart III +173Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Road 5 Reviews found online 79 77 -
72
Treadwear
RoadSmart III +369Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Road 5 Reviews found online 77 71 -
83
Handling
RoadSmart III +875Why this score
Source RoadSmart III Road 5 Reviews found online 83 75
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart III | Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 73 |
| Dry | 76 | 70 |
| Wet | 79 | 77 |
| Comfort | 74 | 73 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 69 |
| Handling | 83 | 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 and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
RoadSmart III
73
/ 100
Road 5
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | RoadSmart III | Road 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #3/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | 97% #4/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | +2.0 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | 20% #5/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | +30.0 | Same test |
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 Road 5
Pros
- Class-leading wet weather grip and rider confidence
- Excellent tread life and durability for touring applications
- Dual-compound construction provides a balance of stability and cornering grip
Cons
- High susceptibility to punctures from road debris
- Soft carcass construction can be prone to structural damage from impacts
- Some users report a lack of feedback compared to dedicated sport tires
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop RoadSmart III | B · Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Dunlop RoadSmart III
73
/ 100
Michelin Road 5
Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better handling, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 83 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 76 vs 70 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 72 vs 69 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Michelin Road 5
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.