Tests – · none yet Owners 59 · 1,956 reviews
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx RT vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
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Tests 80 · 27 tests Owners 82 · 6,570 reviews
“The Michelin tyres you're thinking of that might be dicey in rain are the pilot sport cup 2, which are effectively street legal 'track' tyres. The pilot sport 4 s has great rain + dry performance, however if you have a Honda Accord its probably overkill - consider going down a tier towards the pilot sport 5 (non s) (The ps4s has been great for me in the wet but they're realistically more tyre than I need)”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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Dry
No comparison90Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx RT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) – 91 Reviews found online – 89 -
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Wet
No comparison85Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx RT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) – 85 Reviews found online – 85 -
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Comfort
No comparison75Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx RT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online – 81 -
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Noise
No comparison68Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx RT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) – 69 -
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Treadwear
No comparison71Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx RT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online – 72 -
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Handling
No comparison86Why this score
Source SP Sport Maxx RT Pilot Sport 4 S Reviews found online – 86
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx RT | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | – | 81 |
| Dry | – | 90 |
| Wet | – | 85 |
| Comfort | – | 75 |
| Noise | – | 68 |
| Treadwear | – | 71 |
| Handling | – | 86 |
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.
SP Sport Maxx RT
Pilot Sport 4 S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A SP Sport Maxx RT
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Tire B Pilot Sport 4 S
Pros
- Exceptional grip and predictable handling in both dry and wet conditions
- Noticeable reduction in road noise and improved ride comfort compared to competitors and run-flats
- Sharper steering response and improved cornering stability
Cons
- High initial purchase price
- Rapid tread wear reported by some aggressive drivers and track users
- Soft sidewalls can cause a slightly vague or laggy initial response during rapid steering transitions
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx RT
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is widely praised by the community as a premier max performance summer tire, offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise steering feel, and refined road manners for daily driving and spirited street use. While some users note higher pricing and relatively quick wear on heavier vehicles or hot tracks, it remains a benchmark choice that many enthusiasts gladly return to despite alternatives like Continental or Kumho.
“The Pilot Sport 4's are great tires for dual duty use. You'll want to keep hot pressures below 37-38 PSI. Anything above that they get very greasy, very fast. In the cars I've driven with them (a few BMW M cars, a 911 I think if I remember), you'll usually set your best laps in the first 4-5 laps of a session depending on temps. Once they over heat heat, as with any street tire, you have to park them for an hour to get the temps down again (downside to steel radials). I'd also recommend Hankook RS4s if you want a more durable track tire. That's what I run. Very long lasting, but not as great in the wet as the PS4s would be. Road noise would also be an issue for street use.”
“Best alternative to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Time for some new tires and it seems like the pilot sport 4s is backordered everywhere in 235/45-17 or similar sizes. Been using the pilot super sport for a few summers and love them so just wanted to get basically the same thing. What other tire in that size is the next closest thing? Some of the competitors aren't made in that size or a close enough one. As far as the tirerack test results for a max performance summer tire the Continental extreme contact sport is available in that size but the other 2 in the test aren't. I'm not set on buying from them just using it to check availability.”
“I tried conti’s and took them off the car after 2 days and went back to ps4s. Obviously on a closed course they feel very floaty around 130 and I’ve had the Michelin’s up to 165-170 and they stay planted. Depends if you drive those speeds, but like Watkins glen you’ll legally notice the difference. It was shocking at first.”
Based on 104 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx RT | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Max Performance Summer tire | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 110 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx RT
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Only Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S has enough test and review data for a Relative Score, so there is no head-to-head winner yet.
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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.