Skip to content
Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT vs Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF — 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.

Tire A Bridgestone

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

Summer Max Performance tires

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
65/100
79 owner reviews
Dry
76
Wet
63
Snow
50
Comfort
54
Noise
85
Treadwear
74
Handling
66

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Dunlop

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF

Summer Max Performance tires

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
65/100
20 owner reviews
Dry
84
Wet
76
Snow
–
Comfort
74
Noise
–
Treadwear
59
Handling
59

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF — better comfort, wet and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT if treadwear and handling matter most to you.
Read full

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.

Category breakdown

7 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) SP Sport Maxx ROF leads by 8
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
76
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
84
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001 RFTSP Sport Maxx ROF
Tire Rack owners 91 –
Tyre Reviews owners 73 79

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) SP Sport Maxx ROF leads by 13
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
63
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
76
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001 RFTSP Sport Maxx ROF
Tire Rack owners 85 –
Tyre Reviews owners 59 69

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
50
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
–

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Sport Maxx ROF leads by 20
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
54
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
74
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001 RFTSP Sport Maxx ROF
Tire Rack owners 79 –
Tyre Reviews owners 49 65

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
85
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
–

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Potenza S001 RFT leads by 15
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
74
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
59
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001 RFTSP Sport Maxx ROF
Tire Rack owners 73 –
Tyre Reviews owners 74 44

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Potenza S001 RFT leads by 7
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
66
B — Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
59
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001 RFTSP Sport Maxx ROF
Tyre Reviews owners 66 59

Scores at a glance

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT vs Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryBridgestone Potenza S001 RFTDunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
Relative Score 67 70
Dry 76 84
Wet 63 76
Snow 50 –
Comfort 54 74
Noise 85 –
Treadwear 74 59
Handling 66 59

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
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

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

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

The Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT is a polarizing run-flat tire that excels in longevity and dry-road steering feedback but frequently draws criticism for its harsh ride quality and inconsistent wet-weather performance. While many users appreciate its durability and ability to handle road hazards, a significant portion of owners report high noise levels and a lack of confidence in damp or wet conditions.

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and durability
  • Precise steering feedback and handling responsiveness
  • Strong dry-road grip
  • Reliable run-flat safety performance

Cons

  • Poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
  • High levels of road noise and cabin vibration
  • Harsh, stiff ride quality over road imperfections
  • Tendency to tramline on uneven surfaces

Observations

  • Users with BMW M-performance models frequently report that the tire's stiff sidewall compromises the vehicle's intended handling balance and comfort.
  • Drivers of 18-inch and 19-inch low-profile setups report the most significant complaints regarding ride harshness and vulnerability to pothole damage.
  • Owners of vehicles with S-Line or M-Sport suspension setups sometimes find the tire's stiffness acceptable, as it aligns with the vehicle's inherently firm factory tuning.
Tire B Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF

The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF is widely regarded as a high-performance tire that excels in ride comfort, cabin quietness, and dry-weather handling. However, these benefits are frequently offset by significant concerns regarding rapid tread wear and inconsistent traction in wet or cold conditions, leading to a polarized user experience.

Pros

  • Excellent dry-weather grip and handling performance
  • Superior ride comfort and low road noise levels
  • Stiff sidewall construction provides stable steering feedback
  • Aesthetically pleasing, aggressive tread design

Cons

  • Rapid and premature tread wear
  • Poor traction and safety concerns in wet or cold weather
  • High replacement costs relative to longevity
  • Susceptibility to road debris and sidewall damage

Observations

  • High-horsepower vehicles, such as the C63s AMG, struggle with off-the-line traction, suggesting the tire is ill-suited for high-torque applications.
  • Users with 20-inch and larger wheels frequently report issues with tramlining and tracking on uneven road surfaces.
  • Owners of luxury SUVs like the BMW X5 and Audi SQ5 appreciate the ride quality but express frustration over the short lifespan of the tires in these heavier applications.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresSummer Max Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available14—
Rim diameters17″ – 21″—
Tread depth9/32″—
UTQG280 A A—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure51 psi—
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone

Dunlop

Winner: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF — better comfort, wet and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT if treadwear and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF scores 74 vs 54 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT scores 74 vs 59 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF scores 76 vs 63 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF scores 84 vs 76 on dry.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF

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.