Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT vs Nitto NT555 G2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 2 road tests and 300 + 411 owner reviews. How we score

SP Sport Maxx TT leads, 64–60 Narrow edge

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Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
Tire ADunlop

SP Sport Maxx TT

Summer

Tests – · none yet Owners 60 · 300 reviews

“I have the Maxx TT on my car for about 1000 Km which included two slalom sessions. I am very pleased with the ride quality and dry traction. It is much quieter than the OEM tires. I have not had a chance to drive in wet road yet.”

Nitto NT555 G2
Tire BNitto

NT555 G2

Summer

Tests 59 · 2 tests Owners 61 · 411 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))

“Update! I ended up going with the Nitto NT555 G2’s, thanks for all the suggestions. They are amazing tires! They ride smooth for an ultra performance, the price was friendly, and they grip extremely well!”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 66

    Dry

    SP Sport Maxx TT +10
    56
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 66 (est.)49
    Reviews found online6567

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 64.6 = 66

    NT555 G2: 60% × 49.4 + 40% × 67.2 = 56

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

  2. 66

    Wet

    SP Sport Maxx TT +14
    52
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 67 (est.)48
    Reviews found online6459

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 64 = 66

    NT555 G2: 60% × 47.7 + 40% × 59 = 52

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

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    47
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 57 (est.)
    Reviews found online–32

    NT555 G2: 60% × 57.4 (est.) + 40% × 32 = 47

    No road tests of snow for NT555 G2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).

  4. 61

    Comfort

    NT555 G2 +7
    68
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online5367

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 53.3 = 61

    NT555 G2: 60% × 68.7 (est.) + 40% × 66.7 = 68

    No road tests of comfort for SP Sport Maxx TT or NT555 G2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    67
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online–66

    NT555 G2: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 65.9 = 67

    No road tests of noise for NT555 G2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 58

    Treadwear

    NT555 G2 +17
    75
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 62 (est.)81
    Reviews found online5367

    SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 61.8 (est.) + 40% × 53.2 = 58

    NT555 G2: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.9 = 75

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

  7. 61

    Handling (owners)

    NT555 G2 +6
    67
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport Maxx TTNT555 G2
    Reviews found online6167
Scores at a glance
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT vs Nitto NT555 G2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop SP Sport Maxx TTNitto NT555 G2
Relative Score 64 60
Dry 66 56
Wet 66 52
Snow – 47
Comfort 61 68
Noise – 67
Treadwear 58 75
Handling (owners) 61 67

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 Maxx TT

NT555 G2

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 Maxx TTNT555 G2ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #3/14 2011 Auto Zeitung Max Performance Tyre Test #10/10 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A SP Sport Maxx TT

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and precise cornering stability
  • Stiff sidewalls providing sharp steering feedback and confidence
  • Better-than-average tread life and mileage for many everyday drivers

Cons

  • High levels of road noise and cabin hum at speeds above 50 mph
  • Stiff, harsh ride quality, particularly with run-flat variants
  • Inconsistent or poor grip in wet, damp, or cold weather conditions
All owner themes in the SP Sport Maxx TT review

Tire B NT555 G2

Pros

  • Aggressive, visually appealing tread pattern and sidewall design
  • Exceptional value and lower price point compared to premium brands like Michelin or Pirelli
  • Long-lasting tread life and slow wear rates for a summer performance tire

Cons

  • Poor wet-weather traction, with multiple users reporting hydroplaning and a slippery feel in the rain
  • Lack of straight-line traction and wheel spin under heavy acceleration, especially on high-horsepower RWD vehicles
  • Subpar performance in cooler temperatures or cold conditions, requiring heat to grip properly
All owner themes in the NT555 G2 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT

Positive

Community members generally praise the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT for its quiet road manners, respectable dry and wet grip, and solid track and cold-weather road performance compared to stock competition-oriented tires. Some drivers note relatively soft sidewalls during aggressive slalom events on heavier vehicles or limited grip before coming up to temperature. Overall, drivers find it to be a capable, comfortable summer tire that balances performance and daily drivability.

Top themes
#quiet ride quality#track and slalom handling#wet and dry traction#cold weather performance#sidewall stiffness concerns#replacement for OEM tires

Based on 19 community posts

Tire B

Nitto NT555 G2

Mixed

Community sentiment regarding the Nitto NT555 G2 is divided, with many owners appreciating its affordable price point, quiet street ride, good tread life, and availability in hard-to-find wide sizes. However, numerous drivers express frustration over poor straight-line traction on higher-horsepower vehicles, significant loss of grip in cold temperatures, and dangerous handling or hydroplaning in wet weather. Additionally, several users report persistent issues with flat-spotting when vehicles are parked for extended periods.

Top themes
#Wet traction issues#Cold weather performance#Affordable budget option#Straight line grip#Temporary flat spotting#Wide size availability#Michelin tire comparisons

Based on 84 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT B · Nitto NT555 G2
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available588
Rim diameters16″ – 18″15″ – 22″
Tread depth—10.2/32″
UTQG—320 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi
Sizes in common22

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT

Nitto NT555 G2

Narrow edge: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT — better wet and dry. Pick the Nitto NT555 G2 if treadwear, comfort and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 75 vs 58 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT scores 66 vs 52 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT scores 66 vs 56 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 68 vs 61 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
Tire B · Nitto NT555 G2

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SP Sport Maxx TT or NT555 G2?

Which is better in the wet, SP Sport Maxx TT or NT555 G2?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT, 66 vs 52 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport Maxx TT or NT555 G2?

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT, 66 vs 56 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, SP Sport Maxx TT or NT555 G2?

Nitto NT555 G2, 68 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, SP Sport Maxx TT or NT555 G2?

Nitto NT555 G2, 75 vs 58 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