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Dunlop Direzza DZ03 vs Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Direzza DZ03 leads, 68–67 Narrow edge

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Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 74

    Dry

    Direzza DZ03 +7
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Sport Maxx 050+
    Reviews found online7766
  2. 65

    Wet

    Sport Maxx 050+ +1
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Sport Maxx 050+
    Reviews found online6465
  3. 60

    Comfort

    Sport Maxx 050+ +4
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Sport Maxx 050+
    Reviews found online5159
  4. 64

    Treadwear

    Sport Maxx 050+ +3
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Sport Maxx 050+
    Reviews found online6267
  5. 75

    Handling

    Direzza DZ03 +7
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Sport Maxx 050+
    Reviews found online7568
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Direzza DZ03Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Relative Score 68 67
Dry 74 67
Wet 65 66
Comfort 60 64
Treadwear 64 67
Handling 75 68

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Direzza DZ03

Sport Maxx 050+

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Direzza DZ03

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

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
All owner themes in the Direzza DZ03 review

Tire B Sport Maxx 050+

Pros

  • Reliable and confident dry grip for high-speed cornering and handling
  • Impressive tread wear and long-lasting durability over tens of thousands of kilometers
  • Good value for money relative to premium European brands

Cons

  • Excessive road and cabin noise, particularly at motorway speeds
  • Stiff and harsh ride quality over bumps and rough surfaces
  • Mediocre to poor wet-weather traction with tendencies to slip or aquaplane
All owner themes in the Sport Maxx 050+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03 B · Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Direzza DZ03

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+

Too close to call: Dunlop Direzza DZ03 and Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Direzza DZ03 is stronger on dry and handling. Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ is stronger on comfort and treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 74 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 75 vs 68 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 64 vs 60 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 67 vs 64 on treadwear.

Tire A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Check price on Amazon

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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), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

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

68

Narrow edge

Direzza DZ03

Amazon