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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 vs Dunlop Sportsmart — Compared (May 2026)

Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.

VS
Tire B Dunlop

Dunlop Sportsmart

Summer Max Performance tires

Dunlop Sportsmart tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
87/100
11 owner reviews
Dry
94
Wet
76
Comfort
85
Treadwear
77
Handling
91
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Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sportsmart — better treadwear. Pick the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 if wet and handling matter most to you.
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Category breakdown

5 categories, side by side

Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.

Dry

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Battlax Hypersport S21 leads by 1
A
95
B
94
Why this score
SourceBattlax Hypersport S21Sportsmart
Tyre Reviews owners 95 94

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Battlax Hypersport S21 leads by 4
A
80
B
76
Why this score
SourceBattlax Hypersport S21Sportsmart
Tyre Reviews owners 80 76

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sportsmart leads by 2
A
83
B
85
Why this score
SourceBattlax Hypersport S21Sportsmart
Tyre Reviews owners 83 85

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Sportsmart leads by 14
A
63
B
77
Why this score
SourceBattlax Hypersport S21Sportsmart
Tyre Reviews owners 63 77

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Battlax Hypersport S21 leads by 4
A
95
B
91
Why this score
SourceBattlax Hypersport S21Sportsmart
Tyre Reviews owners 95 91

Scores at a glance

CategoryBridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21Dunlop Sportsmart
Relative Score 81 83
Dry 95 94
Wet 80 76
Comfort 83 85
Treadwear 63 77
Handling 95 91

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21

The Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 is widely regarded as a high-performance tire that excels in grip and handling, making it a favorite for aggressive street riding and occasional track use. While users praise its quick warm-up and confidence-inspiring cornering, the trade-off is a relatively short tread life, particularly for riders who spend significant time on straight roads.

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and cornering stability
  • Rapid warm-up time
  • High performance capability suitable for track days
  • Predictable and communicative road feel

Cons

  • Limited tread longevity
  • Rapid wear on the center compound during straight-line riding
  • Reduced traction on painted road markings and pedestrian crossings

Observations

  • Riders transitioning from 190/50 to 190/55 profiles on sportbikes like the Yamaha R1 report improved handling characteristics.
  • The tire is specifically noted for its suitability on high-demand, high-horsepower sportbikes.
Tire B Dunlop Sportsmart

The Dunlop Sportsmart is widely regarded as a high-performance, confidence-inspiring tire that excels in both dry and wet conditions. While users frequently praise its exceptional grip and predictable handling, longevity remains a polarizing topic, with mileage heavily dependent on riding style and road conditions.

Pros

  • Exceptional dry and wet grip that inspires rider confidence
  • Predictable feedback and handling, especially when approaching the limit
  • Fast warm-up times suitable for both road and occasional track use
  • Strong performance stability at high speeds

Cons

  • Inconsistent tread life, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 miles depending on usage
  • Stiff N-TEC construction can feel harsh over road imperfections
  • Occasional reports of air pressure retention issues on specific rear units

Observations

  • Users on high-torque, heavy motorcycles like the Suzuki B-King noted the stiff carcass construction transmits more road feedback, requiring pressure adjustments for optimal feel.
  • Commuters reported that the tire maintains even wear patterns despite mixed-use riding, provided pressures are managed correctly.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 B · Dunlop Sportsmart
CategorySummer Extreme Performance tiresSummer Max Performance tires
Vehicle typeMotorcycleMotorcycle
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone

Dunlop

Winner: Dunlop Sportsmart — better treadwear. Pick the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 if wet and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Sportsmart scores 77 vs 63 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 scores 80 vs 76 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 scores 95 vs 91 on handling.

Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21
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Tire B · Dunlop Sportsmart
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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) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.