Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — Compared

“My thoughts with the Hankooks on my '25R vs the Bridgestones on my '23R. Hankooks WAY louder but better ride quality & traction. As far as rotating - I rotate at least every two weeks (off before AutoX and on immediately after - I have dedicated AutoX tires ). I don't even pay attention to what position they're in. Zero issues.”

“For BMW-approved run flat tires, you should see a symbol that has the letters "RSC" in a circle next to the star symbol. (The "RSC" stands for "Run-flat System Component".) I don't see that symbol on the tire pictured, so it isn't a run flat. Hankook's model number for non-run flat S1 evo 3 tires is K127 whereas the run flat variant is K127B, sometimes referred to as the "SUV version". I only know this because of my quest earlier this year for efficient (yet still sporty) 225/45 R17 summer tires for my aftermarket wheels. In this size, the run flat variant actually has a better rating (B) for rolling resistance than the non-run flat (C) per the Euro tyre labels. This is a rare exception, as run flats are usually less efficient. Note that the non-run flat 205/45 R17 S1 evo 3 has an A rating, which is the most efficient. I haven't seen Euro tyre labels for the run flat variant in that size, but it seems unlikely to me they would have an A rating. As such, I would be surprised if MINI installed them at the factory due to the impact to range--unless they had no other option available due to supply chain constraints.”

“Which tire should I choose? I’m currently looking for new summer tires, but this time I’m finding it surprisingly difficult to choose. My previous set were Bridgestone T005s, which honestly didn’t impress me much. On my earlier car I’ve driven on Michelin PS4S, Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3, and Pirelli (don’t remember the exact model). The Michelins were by far my favorite — excellent grip and overall a fantastic tire. The Hankooks were above average and perfectly fine, but the Pirellis were a big disappointment. This time I’m considering the following three options: • Michelin Pilot Sport 5 • Continental SportContact 7 • Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72 If I hadn’t done any research, I would have gone for the Michelins without hesitation. However, after digging a bit deeper, I added the Continentals as a strong competitor, and the Kumhos because they’re significantly cheaper while still getting quite positive reviews. I drive a Cupra Formentor 2.0 AWD with around 430 hp. I never take the car to the track, but I do enjoy sporty driving and quick launches at traffic lights. Now I’m finding the final decision harder than expected. Taking both price and performance into account, which of these three would you recommend? Read more”