Tests 74 · 1 test Owners 60 · 118 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ventus S1 evo3 leads, 69–65 Narrow edge
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Tests 76 · 19 tests Owners 59 · 3,355 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 48 in 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview (overall ranking)
“Small tire size change having different ratings? (Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3) Hi all, I'm looking for a good all round tire for my MX5 (I'm in the non snowy regions of the UK so summer tires) and a pretty popular recommendation are the Ventus S1 Evo 3s. At the MX5's stock size of 205/45/R17 they are rated at A for fuel and wet performance, and 68db of noise, which is great! However I'd like to size up to 215/45/R17, and for whatever reason the ratings drop to B for fuel and wet performance, and most importantly to me, 71db of noise. I was just wondering how such a small difference in size changes things quite drastically? I know these ratings aren't that important, but it seems strange to me they'd change at all Thanks! Read more”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
71
Dry
Ventus S1 evo3 +576Why this score
Source Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 84 Reviews found online 67 63 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 97% -
71
Wet
Ventus S1 evo3 +1081Why this score
Source Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 75 88 Reviews found online 64 69 Wet Braking (% of best) 96% 94% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 99% -
67
Comfort
Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV +562Why this score
Source Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 65 Reviews found online 65 59 -
68
Noise
Ventus S1 evo3 +371Why this score
Source Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 74 -
51
Treadwear
Ventus S1 evo3 +455Why this score
Source Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 61 Reviews found online 41 46 -
69
Handling
Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV +960Why this score
Source Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV Ventus S1 evo3 Reviews found online 69 60
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV | Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 69 |
| Dry | 71 | 76 |
| Wet | 71 | 81 |
| Comfort | 67 | 62 |
| Noise | 68 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 51 | 55 |
| Handling | 69 | 60 |
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.
Important
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
65
/ 100
Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
69
/ 100
Ventus S1 evo3
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 | Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV | Ventus S1 evo3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 97% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 97% #6/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 80% #10/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 88% #7/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | −8.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #6/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 99% #6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 65% #9/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 68% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/8 · 2019 Auto Express SUV Tyre Test | 100% #1/48 · 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview | −75.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #8/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 95% #11/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 94% #6/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 99% #6/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence-inspiring handling in both wet and dry conditions
- Significantly lower road noise and quieter ride compared to predecessor or competing brands
- Good tread wear longevity and durability, offering strong value for money
Cons
- Potential for tire deformation and subsequent vibrations after periods of non-use or normal driving
- Stiff or taut ride quality reported by some users
- Limited effectiveness on ice and snow compared to dedicated all-season tyres
Tire B Ventus S1 evo3
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and dry conditions
- Low road noise and high ride comfort
- Competitive pricing compared to premium tier-one brands
Cons
- Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on rear axles or heavy vehicles
- Soft sidewalls leading to reduced steering feedback and precision
- Vulnerability to sidewall damage or bubbling from potholes
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Community sentiment toward the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 is mixed, with users frequently praising its strong dry and wet grip, comfort, and competitive pricing. However, notable drawbacks include relatively fast tread wear, reports of increasing road noise over time, and mixed experiences with OEM specs versus premium competitors like Michelin.
r/Golf_R
·6 upvotes ·2026-04-29
“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”
teslamotorsclub.com
·1 upvote ·2023-01-26
“Nice. I'm in Texas, so I'm not sure if those (as all seasons) would be the best choice for me. I will never drive in snow/ice, and have been leaning towards the Hankook Ventus S1 EVO3 for my Model 3 AWD with 19" wheels. Those are the only Tesla OEM (I prefer the Tesla specs like acoustic lining, tread width, extra sidewall stability, etc.) summer tires in the 19" size.”
jaguarforums.com
“I had Hankook tires on my XKR, and thought they were the noisiest tires I had ever heard on a car, and I had to get rid of them as I couldn't stand it.”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Road noise levels#Tread wear and longevity#OEM fitments and EV variants#Run-flat identification confusion#Ride comfort
Based on 33 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV | B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 25 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | 17″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
65
/ 100
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
69
/ 100
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Winner: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — better wet, dry and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV if handling and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 81 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV scores 69 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV scores 67 vs 62 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 76 vs 71 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
Tire B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
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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.