Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Pilot Sport 4 is ahead, 80–64

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Tire ADunlop

Sport Maxx RT

Summer

Tests – · none yet Owners 59 · 195 reviews

Best test result: #4 of 44 in 2012 Autobild 50 Tyre Braking Test (overall ranking)

Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 4

Summer

Tests 84 · 21 tests Owners 74 · 12,686 reviews

Best test result: #7 of 9 in 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 (overall ranking)

“Reminder: Tires are the key to this car Just replaced my Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS tires with a new set ahead of the rainy season. Lasted 36K miles. It was the best mod to the car and a fresh set reminded just how good a brand new set is. The car is glued to the road, riding wonderfully smooth and quiet. Spend the money, get the best tires for you. The tune can wait. And it will need it.”

Category by category

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

  1. 67

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 4 +18
    85
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–88
    Reviews found online6781
  2. 68

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 +19
    87
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–91
    Reviews found online6781
  3. 54

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Reviews found online44–
  4. 64

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 4 +14
    78
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–83
    Reviews found online5871
  5. 64

    Noise

    Pilot Sport 4 +10
    74
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–76
    Reviews found online6172
  6. 55

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 4 +15
    70
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–76
    Reviews found online4861
  7. 64

    Handling

    Pilot Sport 4 +14
    78
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4
    Reviews found online6478
Scores at a glance
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop Sport Maxx RTMichelin Pilot Sport 4
Relative Score 64 80
Dry 67 85
Wet 68 87
Snow 54 –
Comfort 64 78
Noise 64 74
Treadwear 55 70
Handling 64 78

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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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Sport Maxx RT

Pilot Sport 4

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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.

DisciplineCategorySport Maxx RTPilot Sport 4ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 25% #4/44 · 2012 Autobild 50 Tyre Braking Test 33% #7/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 −8.3 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Sport Maxx RT

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and traction in both dry and wet conditions
  • High level of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Predictable and progressive handling at limits

Cons

  • Fast tread wear leading to short tire lifespan
  • Prone to developing cracks in the tread blocks or sidewalls prematurely
  • Subpar performance in freezing temperatures, snow, or slush
All owner themes in the Sport Maxx RT review

Tire B Pilot Sport 4

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction with outstanding resistance to aquaplaning
  • Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and a reduction in cabin noise compared to standard run-flat tires
  • Progressive and predictable breakaway limits during spirited driving

Cons

  • Faster-than-average treadwear, particularly under aggressive driving or on rear-wheel-drive performance cars
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to a slight lack of initial steering precision and a vague feel at the limit for hardcore enthusiasts
  • Performance drops off significantly in cold, freezing, or snowy winter conditions
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 4 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Positive

The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 line as a premium upgrade offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise handling, and superior ride comfort compared to OEM or run-flat tires. While celebrated for performance, users frequently discuss its high price tag, faster treadwear, and noticeable drop in EV efficiency. Some drivers also note increased road noise and reduced traction when temperatures drop near freezing.

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Run-flat replacement upgrade#Treadwear and longevity#Cold weather performance#Road noise and comfort#EV range and efficiency#Comparison to Continental tires

Based on 246 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available2762
Rim diameters16″ – 22″16″ – 20″
Tread depth9/32″—
UTQG240 A A—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 — better wet, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 87 vs 68 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 85 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 70 vs 55 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 78 vs 64 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4

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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.

80

Leads

Pilot Sport 4

Amazon