81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
78/100
53 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV vs Dunlop SP Sport Maxx — Compared (September 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
72
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
67/100
180 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV — better snow, wet and dry. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if noise matters most to you.
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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
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 70 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 69 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 60 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | – | 60 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 63 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 64 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 46 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 42 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 54 | 63 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 67 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 72 |
| Dry | 95 | 80 |
| Wet | 91 | 70 |
| Snow | 93 | 70 |
| Comfort | 78 | 66 |
| Noise | 67 | 95 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 64 |
| Handling | 81 | 67 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
72
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV is widely praised for its high-performance handling, superior wet and dry grip, and refined ride comfort. However, a significant portion of the user base reports dissatisfaction regarding rapid tread wear, with many owners of mid-to-large SUVs experiencing premature replacement intervals.
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry braking performance
- High levels of steering precision and handling confidence
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong traction and stability during spirited driving
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly on heavier SUV models
- High price point relative to the total mileage achieved
- Increased road noise as the tread wears down
- Soft rubber compound prone to puncture damage
Observations
- Owners of mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan, and Ford Edge frequently report premature wear, often requiring replacement under 15,000 miles.
- High-performance vehicle owners (e.g., BMW X5) report better longevity and satisfaction, suggesting the tire performs best when matched with specific high-performance chassis tuning.
- Run-flat variants are noted for a firmer ride and increased noise compared to standard versions.
The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is a polarizing ultra-high-performance tire that excels in dry-weather handling and steering responsiveness but faces significant criticism regarding tread longevity and noise levels. While many users praise its initial grip and stability, a substantial portion of the user base reports inconsistent performance in wet conditions and premature wear, leading to a mixed overall consensus.
Pros
- Strong dry-weather grip and cornering stability
- High level of steering feedback and precision
- Effective rim protection design
- Good aquaplaning resistance in straight lines
Cons
- Rapid and often uneven tread wear
- High levels of road noise, particularly as the tire ages
- Inconsistent or poor wet-weather traction
- Susceptibility to sidewall cracking and bubbling
Observations
- Owners of high-torque, rear-wheel-drive vehicles frequently report excessive wheel spin and poor traction off the line.
- Drivers of heavier luxury sedans and SUVs often note that the tire's stiff sidewall provides good handling but can lead to a harsh ride and increased cabin noise.
- Users with high-performance hatchbacks frequently report 'sawtoothing' wear patterns, resulting in significant humming noises.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental
72
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV — better snow, wet and dry. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 95 vs 67 on noise.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 93 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 91 vs 70 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 95 vs 80 on dry.
Tire A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
More comparisons
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Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 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.