85
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
91/100
1 owner review
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 vs Dunlop SportSmart 2 — 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
84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
85/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 and Dunlop SportSmart 2 are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 is stronger on dry and comfort. Dunlop SportSmart 2 is stronger on handling, wet and treadwear.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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
Score (0–100)
Battlax Racing R11 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Racing R11 | SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
SportSmart 2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Racing R11 | SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 73 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Battlax Racing R11 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Racing R11 | SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 90 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SportSmart 2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Racing R11 | SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SportSmart 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Racing R11 | SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 97 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 | Dunlop SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 85 | 84 |
| Dry | 100 | 87 |
| Wet | 70 | 73 |
| Comfort | 100 | 90 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 83 |
| Handling | 90 | 97 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
85
/ 100
Tire A
84
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 is highly regarded by track-focused riders as a significant performance upgrade over OEM-fitted tires. Users consistently report improved handling characteristics and confidence when transitioning to this dedicated racing compound.
Pros
- Superior grip levels compared to standard OEM tires
- Enhanced handling and cornering confidence
- Strong performance pedigree for track-day applications
Cons
- Limited longevity due to the soft racing compound
- Requires specific tire warmers for optimal performance
- Not suitable for street-only commuting or wet weather conditions
Observations
- Users transitioning from sport-touring or OEM-specific tires (such as the Dunlop D214) report a transformative improvement in track-day agility.
The Dunlop SportSmart 2 is generally regarded as a capable sport-oriented tire that offers a strong balance of dry grip, quick warm-up times, and excellent feedback. While users appreciate its neutral handling and stable carcass, some riders note that its wet-weather performance, particularly regarding rear-end traction, may lag behind premium competitors like Michelin.
Pros
- Excellent dry grip and cornering stability
- Rapid warm-up time
- High level of road feedback and communication
- Neutral and predictable turn-in behavior
Cons
- Rear tire traction can be inconsistent in wet conditions
- Performance is perceived as only a marginal upgrade over lower-cost alternatives
- Outperformed in all-weather versatility by some rival brands
Observations
- Riders on high-torque sportbikes like the Honda SP1 and ZX10R report high confidence in the tire's carcass stability during aggressive cornering.
- Users on middleweight commuters like the F800R find the tire suitable for a mix of daily riding and spirited mountain canyon carving.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 | B · Dunlop SportSmart 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Trackday and Competition tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
85
/ 100
Bridgestone
84
/ 100
Dunlop
Too close to call: Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 and Dunlop SportSmart 2 are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 is stronger on dry and comfort. Dunlop SportSmart 2 is stronger on handling, wet and treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 scores 100 vs 87 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 scores 100 vs 90 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SportSmart 2 scores 97 vs 90 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop SportSmart 2 scores 73 vs 70 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11
Tire B · Dunlop SportSmart 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 also compared with
Dunlop SportSmart 2 also compared with
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.