Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — Compared

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

Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 82–73

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Tire ADunlop

Sport Maxx RT2

Summer

Tests 75 · 32 tests Owners 70 · 3,504 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (curved aquaplaning)

“Everybody is right. The tyre is available in both a RF and a non-RF versions - so it will simply depend on what you buy. e.g. the rears for my F31 are not RF”

Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 5

Summer

Tests 84 · 23 tests Owners 82 · 6,414 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 18 in 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (abrasion)

“Great tires, used to run the stock Pirellis but the ride comfort was atrocious and there was really no performance benefit so I switched them for some PS5.”

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 5 +13
    88
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT2Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)7891
    Reviews found online7084
    Dry Braking (% of best)97%98%
    Dry Handling (% of best)98%99%
  2. 78

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 5 +12
    90
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT2Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)8392
    Reviews found online7287
    Wet Braking (% of best)87%97%
    Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best)84%97%
    Wet Circle (% of best)97%98%
    Wet Handling (% of best)98%98%
  3. 70

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 5 +5
    75
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT2Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)7071
    Reviews found online7080
  4. 67

    Noise

    Sport Maxx RT2 +22
    45
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT2Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)6430
    Reviews found online72–
  5. 69

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 5 +13
    82
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT2Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)7087
    Reviews found online6675
  6. 70

    Handling

    Pilot Sport 5 +13
    83
    Why this score
    SourceSport Maxx RT2Pilot Sport 5
    Reviews found online7083
Scores at a glance
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop Sport Maxx RT2Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Relative Score 73 82
Dry 75 88
Wet 78 90
Comfort 70 75
Noise 67 45
Treadwear 69 82
Handling 70 83

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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Sport Maxx RT2

Pilot Sport 5

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 RT2Pilot Sport 5ΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 100% #1/15 · 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test 92% #5/6 · 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test +8.0 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 97% #11/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 98% #2/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test −1.6 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #7/10 · 2021 Motor Summer Tyre Test 99% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test −0.5 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 99% #2/6 · 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test 94% #3/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test +5.0 Different tests
Fuel Consumption Fuel 97% #8/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 95% #8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +2.0 Different tests
Abrasion Other 48% #16/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 78% #2/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −30.0 Same test
Noise Other 98% #13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 96% #17/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test +1.6 Different tests
Price Other 75% #8/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test 90% #2/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres −15.0 Different tests
Value Other 71% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 70% #10/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test +0.9 Different tests
Wear Other 63% #9/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 76% #2/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −12.7 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 20% #5/6 · 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test 33% #3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −13.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 97% #3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 99% #8/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test −1.9 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 22% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 80% #5/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test −57.8 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 93% #6/10 · 2021 Motor Summer Tyre Test 92% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 +1.2 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 95% #3/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test 89% #4/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 +6.1 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #12/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test 0% #8/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test 0.0 Same test
Wet Braking Wet 87% #17/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? 97% #3/6 · 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test −10.4 Different tests
Wet Braking - Concrete Wet 84% #9/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 97% #3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −13.1 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #13/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test 98% #6/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test −1.0 Same test
Wet Handling Wet 98% #5/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test 98% #5/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test +0.2 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Sport Maxx RT2

Pros

  • Excellent grip and stability in both wet and dry conditions
  • Significantly lower road noise and high ride comfort compared to competitors
  • Competitive pricing offering great value for a premium-tier brand

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can cause a spongy feel and lack of precision during fast cornering
  • Some reports of premature cracking in the tread valleys or sidewalls
  • Performance and noise levels can degrade noticeably as the tread wears down
All owner themes in the Sport Maxx RT2 review

Tire B Pilot Sport 5

Pros

  • Outstanding wet and dry traction with high resistance to aquaplaning
  • Superior tread life and longevity compared to competitors and previous generations
  • Noticeable improvements in ride comfort and a quieter cabin over rough road surfaces

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can lead to initial steering vagueness or understeer during hard cornering
  • Higher price point compared to some tier-one competitors
  • Performance and grip degrade significantly under intense track heat or heavy circuit use
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 5 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2

Positive

Community opinion portrays the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 as a solid, quiet, and good-value performance tire that performs well in all weather conditions. While some drivers note it is an older design compared to newer flagship releases and point out its 'B' wet rating in certain sizes, it is generally considered capable and competitively priced. There is also frequent discussion clarifying the availability of both run-flat and non-run-flat variants across different dimensions.

Top themes
#Run-flat availability confusion#Low road noise#Value for money#All-weather grip#Older tire generation#Wet performance rating

Based on 19 community posts

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Positive

Community opinion on the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is overwhelmingly positive for daily street driving, praising its exceptional wet grip, tread longevity, and quiet comfort compared to run-flats and older performance tires. However, several enthusiasts note downsides for aggressive or track use, specifically citing softer sidewalls, muted steering feedback, and poor heat resistance leading to delamination under track conditions. Most drivers consider it an outstanding premium all-rounder for sporty street cars rather than a dedicated track or extreme-performance tire.

r/kereta ·9 upvotes ·2025-12-15

“Have to replace my tyres soon, MC7 or PS5? Hi guys, I need to replace the tyres on my civic soon and I’m stuck between the MC7 and the PS5. I not a guy who will driving 180km/h in raining day so i think both performance is good enough for me. I did some research, it seems like MC7 have better performance overall. Also found that MC7 is cheaper than PS5 in my country (around RM600-700 cheaper for 4 tyres). I prefer tread life > noise/ comfort > performance (rarely drive over 120). Any feedback on the 2 brands would be super helpful. Thanks! === UPDATED === Thank you all for suggestions and opinions. So at the end i pick the MC7. Reasons: It’s possibly quieter compared to the PS5 The price is cheaper and come with 1 year premium (or what name i forgot) warranty There’s a Continental authorized dealer near my place I’ve never tried Continental before, so I decided to give it a try At the moment, the driving experience is a bit quieter than the previous PS4 (which is expected since it’s a new tire). As for performance, I haven’t really pushed it to the limit, but it’s more than sufficient for me, didn’t experience any wheel spin or loss of traction so far. One thing I do notice is that I can constantly hear small stones sticking to the tire and hitting the wheel arch which is very annoying. Also, on a personal note, I still prefer the sidewall shape of the PS5, so it took me some time to get used to the rounded sidewall of the MC7 Read more”

r/CarTrackDays ·17 upvotes ·2025-05-25

“Michelin PS5 Delaminating Near new PS5, running a low speed track, and the fronts basically fell apart after 2 sessions. I know these aren't track-focussed tires, but is this really expected for them? Looks like the tires got too hot, but I'm just shocked how poorly they performed on a stock car (Golf R). Not sure if it's worth contacting Michelin over this or not. Read more”

r/saab ·90 upvotes ·2026-03-28

“Put some 235/45 R17 ps5’s on my 9-5 They fill up the arches quite nice!”

Top themes
#wet grip performance#tread wear longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#soft sidewall steering feedback#road noise levels#comparison with ps4s

Based on 174 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available5666
Rim diameters17″ – 21″16″ – 22″
Tread depth10/32″—
UTQG300 A A—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better dry, treadwear and handling. Pick the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 scores 67 vs 45 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 88 vs 75 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 82 vs 69 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 83 vs 70 on handling.

Tire A · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5

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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.

82

Leads

Pilot Sport 5

Amazon