Tests – · none yet Owners 59 · 1,564 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — 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 0 + 9 road tests and 1,564 + 1,371 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 SUV is ahead, 81–64
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Tests 80 · 9 tests Owners 79 · 1,371 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 12 in 2023 Best SUV Tyres Tested (wet braking)
“Loving my new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires and Enkei Raijin wheels”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
69
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +1786Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests ≈ 68 (est.) 86 Reviews found online 69 86 SP Sport Maxx GT: 60% × 68.4 (est.) + 40% × 68.9 = 69
Pilot Sport 4 SUV: 60% × 86 + 40% × 86.4 = 86
No road tests of dry for SP Sport Maxx GT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
-
66
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +2591Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 94 Reviews found online 65 87 SP Sport Maxx GT: 60% × 67.5 (est.) + 40% × 64.8 = 66
Pilot Sport 4 SUV: 60% × 94 + 40% × 86.7 = 91
No road tests of wet for SP Sport Maxx GT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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55
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 61 (est.) – Reviews found online 45 – SP Sport Maxx GT: 60% × 61.1 (est.) + 40% × 44.8 = 55
No road tests of snow for SP Sport Maxx GT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).
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62
Comfort
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +264Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 54 Reviews found online 59 71 SP Sport Maxx GT: 40% × 67.2 (est.) + 60% × 58.8 = 62
Pilot Sport 4 SUV: 40% × 54.2 + 60% × 71.2 = 64
No road tests of comfort for SP Sport Maxx GT. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
67
Noise
SP Sport Maxx GT +958Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 53 Reviews found online 68 ≈ 67 (est.) SP Sport Maxx GT: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 68.1 = 67
Pilot Sport 4 SUV: 60% × 52.5 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 58
No road tests of noise for SP Sport Maxx GT. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 SUV. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
-
54
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +1872Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 59 (est.) 77 Reviews found online 46 65 SP Sport Maxx GT: 60% × 59.2 (est.) + 40% × 46.3 = 54
Pilot Sport 4 SUV: 60% × 77.1 + 40% × 65.3 = 72
No road tests of treadwear for SP Sport Maxx GT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
-
62
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +2183Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Reviews found online 62 83 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison64Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx GT Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests – 64
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 64 | 81 |
| Dry | 69 | 86 |
| Wet | 66 | 91 |
| Snow | 55 | – |
| Comfort | 62 | 64 |
| Noise | 67 | 58 |
| Treadwear | 54 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 62 | 83 |
| Efficiency | – | 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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Recomputed
Headline score
64
/ 100
SP Sport Maxx GT
81
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 SUV
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.
| Discipline | Category | SP Sport Maxx GT | Pilot Sport 4 SUV | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #6/6 2016 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | #5/9 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A SP Sport Maxx GT
Pros
- Outstanding dry grip and precise cornering handling
- Quiet and refined ride comfort, especially for a high-performance tire
- Strong initial steering response and predictable road feedback
Cons
- Rapid and often uneven tread wear resulting in short lifespan
- Poor traction and confidence in cold temperatures, snow, and ice
- Susceptibility to aquaplaning or slipping in heavy wet conditions
Tire B Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Pros
- Outstanding grip and safety in both wet and dry conditions
- Precise steering response and enhanced cornering stability for heavy SUVs
- Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and overall handling
Cons
- Higher-than-average purchase price
- Increased road noise reported by some users as the tread wears down
- Faster tread wear and shorter mileage lifespan under aggressive driving or heavy vehicle loads
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Community sentiment toward the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is generally very positive, with owners highlighting its strong grip, handling precision, and suitability for heavy performance SUVs. Users frequently compare it favorably to older Latitude Sport 3 and standard passenger tires, though they emphasize its summer-only limitation below 40°F and note trade-offs in price and tread life.
bobistheoilguy.com
·2022-02-01
“From 3 model you mention, only Alenza is designed for heavy vehicle/SUV, so longevity is better than other 2 for your Envoy even though the traction may not be the best. If you can find Pilot Sport 4 SUV, then it may be the best to replace Latitude Sport 3. I like Latitude Sport 3, the best in wet weather and great in dry, but it is true it is only 25000 miles lifetime.”
rennlist.com
“Quote: Originally Posted by robtr8 I like to use the tire size calculator on 1010Tires.com. Shows 285/40's as being almost 3% bigger than the OE size. Generally speaking you want no more than a 1% different. The PS 4 SUV's are available in a 295/35. Rocketcar - if you had P-Zero's then yup. They suck. Took them off the F Type immediately if not sooner. Quote: Originally Posted by RAudi Driver That's why they are called P-Zeros. If they were good Pirelli would have named them P-10's. Quote: Originally Posted by BrettIsAwesomer Not a fan of the LS3 on my Cayenne. They came on the car when I bought it but will replace with Pilot Sport 4 SUV later this year. There are some stretches of road where the surface conditions change and I get a terrible droning noise in the cabin with the LS3. However, in my Cayman with PS4S in the same areas you can barely tell the road surface changed. The wear on both sets is about the same. 2016 Cayenne S e-Hybrid with 21" Latitude Sport 3 (295/35) 2014 Cayman with 20" Pilot Sport 4S (235-265/35) I am putting an OPC warranty on the Cayenne, so for me the LS3 is is best N rated tyre available...”
r/CX5
·103 upvotes ·2021-05-15
“Loving my new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires and Enkei Raijin wheels”
Top themes
#Summer temperature limitations#Grip and handling performance#Tread life and wear#Comparison with Latitude Sport 3#Ride comfort and firmness#SUV-specific load design
Based on 37 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 21 | 65 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 22″ | 17″ – 23″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 240 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 6 | 6 |
Which one should you actually buy?
64
/ 100
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT
81
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — better wet, handling and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 91 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 83 vs 62 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 72 vs 54 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 86 vs 69 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
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SP Sport Maxx GT or Pilot Sport 4 SUV?
Which is better in the wet, SP Sport Maxx GT or Pilot Sport 4 SUV?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, 91 vs 66 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport Maxx GT or Pilot Sport 4 SUV?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, 86 vs 69 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, SP Sport Maxx GT or Pilot Sport 4 SUV?
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT, 67 vs 58 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, SP Sport Maxx GT or Pilot Sport 4 SUV?
Neither, by our numbers: 62 vs 64 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, SP Sport Maxx GT or Pilot Sport 4 SUV?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, 72 vs 54 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