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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV vs Pirelli Powergy — 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 1 + 1 road tests and 119 + 1,813 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV and Powergy are level at 68.

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Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
Tire ADunlop

Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV

Summer

± 7

Tests 74 · 1 test Owners 62 · 119 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)

Pirelli Powergy
Tire BPirelli

Powergy

Summer

± 6

Tests 76 · 1 test Owners 60 · 1,813 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test (noise)

“Pirelli cinturato P7 and Pirelli Powergy Hi all 👋🏼 So I had 4 Pirelli Cinturato P7’s on my Ford Focus ST. I got a flat tire (front left) while I was on vacation so I decided to get 2 new tires at the front. I asked the guy at the tire shop to get the same tires (so the Pirelli Cinturato’s). He got me Pirelli Powergy’s instead… He didn’t really speak English and there was not time as I was driving home the next day. So I just accepted it. Now my question is what’s the main difference between these tires? And does it matter I got 2 different tires now? (2 powergy’s at the front and 2 Cinturato’s at the back) Thanks!🙏🏼”

Category by category

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

  1. 71

    Dry

    Level
    71
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7477
    Reviews found online6862

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV: 60% × 73.8 + 40% × 67.5 = 71

    Powergy: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 62 = 71

  2. 72

    Wet

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV +1
    71
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7576
    Reviews found online6765

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV: 60% × 75.2 + 40% × 66.6 = 72

    Powergy: 60% × 75.7 + 40% × 64.9 = 71

  3. 66

    Comfort

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV +3
    63
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 68 (est.)74
    Reviews found online6556

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 64.9 = 66

    Powergy: 40% × 73.6 + 60% × 55.9 = 63

    No road tests of comfort for Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. 68

    Noise

    Powergy +6
    74
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7079
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV: 60% × 69.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 68

    Powergy: 60% × 79.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  5. 55

    Treadwear

    Powergy +3
    58
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 60 (est.)≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online4752

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV: 60% × 59.6 (est.) + 40% × 47.3 = 55

    Powergy: 60% × 61.3 (est.) + 40% × 52 = 58

    No road tests of treadwear for Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Powergy. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  6. 69

    Handling (owners)

    Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV +7
    62
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Reviews found online6962
  7. 61

    Efficiency

    Powergy +13
    74
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests6174
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUVPirelli Powergy
Relative Score 68 68
Dry 71 71
Wet 72 71
Comfort 66 63
Noise 68 74
Treadwear 55 58
Handling (owners) 69 62
Efficiency 61 74

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV

± 6

Powergy

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.

DisciplineCategorySport Maxx RT 2 SUVPowergyΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 94% #4/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 96% #8/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 92% #4/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 96% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 96% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 97% #2/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #6/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 80% #10/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 81% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/9 2020 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Summer Tire Test R18 #5/10 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – 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
All owner themes in the Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV review

Tire B Powergy

Pros

  • Significantly reduced road noise and quiet highway ride
  • Strong dry and wet grip for daily commuting
  • Comfortable and smooth ride quality compared to run-flats

Cons

  • Faster than average tread wear or shallow initial tread depth
  • Negative impact on fuel economy (MPG) for some users
  • Soft sidewalls leading to muted steering feedback and less precise handling at the limit
All owner themes in the Powergy review

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

Pirelli Powergy

Mixed

Community opinion on the Pirelli Powergy is largely mixed, with the tire frequently viewed as an eco/budget, mid-tier option suitable for daily driving rather than high-performance use. While some users consider it a cost-effective, fuel-efficient choice from a reputable brand, others report negative experiences including excessive highway vibrations and potential sidewall defects. A significant number of discussions also revolve around general inquiries regarding safety, longevity, and whether it can be mixed with other Pirelli models.

r/tires ·1 upvote ·2025-05-18

“Pirelli cinturato P7 and Pirelli Powergy Hi all 👋🏼 So I had 4 Pirelli Cinturato P7’s on my Ford Focus ST. I got a flat tire (front left) while I was on vacation so I decided to get 2 new tires at the front. I asked the guy at the tire shop to get the same tires (so the Pirelli Cinturato’s). He got me Pirelli Powergy’s instead… He didn’t really speak English and there was not time as I was driving home the next day. So I just accepted it. Now my question is what’s the main difference between these tires? And does it matter I got 2 different tires now? (2 powergy’s at the front and 2 Cinturato’s at the back) Thanks!🙏🏼”
r/mazda3 ·1 upvote ·2026-10-05

“Avg 29mpg on a 2015 Mazda 3 Sport Nav 2L 165bhp, any ideas? I've had this car for about 3-4 weeks now, posted it here on this subreddit too. So far, I've done about 800 miles and my average fuel consumtion seems to be around 29mpg - 10.2L/100km. The car doesn't have its original rims, its on **MAM RS3** 18" rims with Pirelli Powergy tires 215/45/R18 (internet says these tires provide good fuel economy). On longer trips the average is about 40mpg-45mpg which still seems a bit high. My work commute is about 2 miles, and I do occasionally drive in a spirited manner. Is this okay? Thank you all!”
r/tires ·1 upvote ·2026-08-31

“Ripples in side wall Just been washing the car and found what I can only describe as ripples in the side wall of my front-right tyre. Had these fitted in June, only just noticed the ripples. The other tyres are perfect. I’ve probably done around 2,000 miles on them. Should I be concerned, and do they look like a manufacturing defect, or as a result of damage? (I’ve not hit any serious potholes that I’m aware of). These tyres are Pirelli Powergy, fitted to a Volvo XC60. Date code is 3325. Any help gratefully received. Read more”
Top themes
#budget eco tire line#highway vibrations and comfort#sidewall damage and defects#mixing with other tires#daily driver suitability#fuel economy and mileage

Based on 15 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV B · Pirelli Powergy
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4—
Sizes available2587
Rim diameters17″ – 21″15″ – 21″
Sizes in common1212

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV

Pirelli Powergy

Too close to call: Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV and Pirelli Powergy are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV is stronger on handling and comfort. Pirelli Powergy is stronger on efficiency, noise and treadwear.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Pirelli Powergy scores 74 vs 61 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV scores 69 vs 62 on handling.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Pirelli Powergy scores 74 vs 68 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV scores 66 vs 63 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Pirelli Powergy
Check price on Amazon

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Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Which is better in the wet, Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 71 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 71 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Pirelli Powergy, 74 vs 68 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV, 66 vs 63 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Pirelli Powergy, 58 vs 55 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Sport Maxx RT 2 SUV or Powergy?

Pirelli Powergy, 74 vs 61 on our efficiency 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