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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse vs Dunlop Sport Maxx RT — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 0 road tests and 726 + 195 owner reviews. How we score

SP Sport FastResponse is ahead, 72–65

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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.

  1. 72

    Dry

    SP Sport FastResponse +5
    67
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online7567

    SP Sport FastResponse: 60% × 70.7 (est.) + 40% × 75 = 72

    Sport Maxx RT: 60% × 67.2 (est.) + 40% × 66.5 = 67

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

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

  2. 75

    Wet

    SP Sport FastResponse +7
    68
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 73 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online7667

    SP Sport FastResponse: 60% × 73.4 (est.) + 40% × 76.2 = 75

    Sport Maxx RT: 60% × 68.3 (est.) + 40% × 67.2 = 68

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

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

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    54
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online–43

    Sport Maxx RT: 60% × 61 (est.) + 40% × 43.1 = 54

    No road tests of snow for Sport Maxx RT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).

  4. 70

    Comfort

    SP Sport FastResponse +7
    63
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online7158

    SP Sport FastResponse: 60% × 69.4 (est.) + 40% × 70.6 = 70

    Sport Maxx RT: 60% × 67.1 (est.) + 40% × 57.6 = 63

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

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    65
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online–62

    Sport Maxx RT: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 62.1 = 65

    No road tests of noise for Sport Maxx RT. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 66

    Treadwear

    SP Sport FastResponse +11
    55
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 60 (est.)
    Reviews found online6648

    SP Sport FastResponse: 60% × 65.6 (est.) + 40% × 65.7 = 66

    Sport Maxx RT: 60% × 60.2 (est.) + 40% × 48 = 55

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

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

  7. 72

    Handling (owners)

    SP Sport FastResponse +8
    64
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RT
    Reviews found online7264
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop SP Sport FastResponseDunlop Sport Maxx RT
Relative Score 72 65
Dry 72 67
Wet 75 68
Snow – 54
Comfort 70 63
Noise – 65
Treadwear 66 55
Handling (owners) 72 64

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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

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

SP Sport FastResponse

Sport Maxx RT

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.

DisciplineCategorySP Sport FastResponseSport Maxx RTΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/14 2012 ACE Touring Summer Tyre Test #4/14 2015 AZ 225/40 R18 Summer Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A SP Sport FastResponse

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
  • Low road noise and high initial ride comfort
  • Precise steering response and solid dry cornering grip

Cons

  • Faster tread wear reported by some spirited drivers
  • Softer sidewalls can introduce slight flex or floatiness during high-speed maneuvers
  • Road noise can increase noticeably as the tires near the end of their lifespan
All owner themes in the SP Sport FastResponse review

Tire B Sport Maxx RT

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and traction in both dry and wet conditions
  • High level of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Predictable and progressive handling at limits

Cons

  • Fast tread wear leading to short tire lifespan
  • Prone to developing cracks in the tread blocks or sidewalls prematurely
  • Subpar performance in freezing temperatures, snow, or slush
All owner themes in the Sport Maxx RT review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse B · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available727
Rim diameters15″ – 17″16″ – 22″
Tread depth—9/32″
UTQG—240 A A
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure—50 psi
Sizes in common11

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT

Winner: Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse — better treadwear, handling and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse scores 66 vs 55 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse scores 72 vs 64 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse scores 75 vs 68 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse scores 70 vs 63 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse
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Tire B · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
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SP Sport FastResponse or Sport Maxx RT?

Which is better in the wet, SP Sport FastResponse or Sport Maxx RT?

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse, 75 vs 68 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport FastResponse or Sport Maxx RT?

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse, 72 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, SP Sport FastResponse or Sport Maxx RT?

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse, 70 vs 63 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, SP Sport FastResponse or Sport Maxx RT?

Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse, 66 vs 55 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