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Dunlop Direzza DZ03 vs Dunlop SP Touring R1 — 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | Direzza DZ03 | SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 94 | 84 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Direzza DZ03 | SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 66 | 75 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Direzza DZ03 | SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 47 | 76 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Direzza DZ03 | SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 82 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Direzza DZ03 | SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Direzza DZ03 | Dunlop SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 79 |
| Dry | 94 | 84 |
| Wet | 66 | 75 |
| Comfort | 47 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 82 |
| Handling | 89 | 81 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Direzza DZ03G is widely regarded as a high-performance competition tire that excels in dry track and tarmac rally environments. While it offers exceptional grip and lap time improvements over competitors, users note significant trade-offs in road noise and rapid tread wear, making it better suited for dedicated track use than daily driving.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and cornering confidence
- Significant lap time improvements compared to entry-level semi-slicks
- High durability and consistent performance under intense heat cycles
- Predictable handling characteristics on track
Cons
- Extremely high road noise, often compared to failing wheel bearings
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- Poor performance in standing water with high risk of aquaplaning
- Not recommended for daily driving due to comfort and noise levels
Observations
- Users on lightweight platforms like the MR2 and MX-5 report excellent handling improvements, though rear tire wear is a common concern.
- High-horsepower AWD vehicles like the Mitsubishi EVO 9 benefit from the tire's grip but emphasize the extreme noise levels during road use.
- Users noted that the tire's performance remains consistent even when pushed to the limit in competitive tarmac rally settings.
The Dunlop SP Touring R1 is generally regarded as a reliable, budget-friendly touring tire that excels in longevity and comfort for daily family driving. While many users praise its dry-weather performance and value, there is a significant polarization regarding wet-weather safety, with some users reporting excellent traction and others describing it as inadequate.
Pros
- High tread longevity and durability
- Excellent value for money
- Comfortable and quiet ride quality
- Reliable dry-weather grip and braking
Cons
- Inconsistent wet-weather performance
- Reports of sidewall vulnerability
- Occasional road noise feedback
- Variability in actual tire width compared to specifications
Observations
- Users driving standard family vehicles and sedans (e.g., Toyota Corolla, Honda City) report high satisfaction for daily commuting.
- Some users noted that the physical width of the tire may measure narrower than the stated nominal size.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03 | B · Dunlop SP Touring R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Trackday and Competition tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Dunlop
Dunlop
Winner: Dunlop SP Touring R1 — better comfort, treadwear and wet. Pick the Dunlop Direzza DZ03 if dry and handling matter most to you.
Dunlop SP Touring R1 scores 76 vs 47 on comfort.
Dunlop SP Touring R1 scores 82 vs 71 on treadwear.
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 94 vs 84 on dry.
Dunlop SP Touring R1 scores 75 vs 66 on wet.
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.