68
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
68/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop RoadSmart II vs Michelin Road 5 — 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
85
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
84/100
24 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Road 5 — better wet, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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)
Road 5 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart II | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 34
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart II | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 87 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart II | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 89 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart II | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart II | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart II | Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 85 |
| Dry | 68 | 88 |
| Wet | 53 | 87 |
| Comfort | 68 | 89 |
| Treadwear | 78 | 83 |
| Handling | 75 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
68
/ 100
Tire A
85
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop RoadSmart II receives highly polarized feedback from riders, with experiences ranging from exceptional confidence to significant safety concerns. While some users praise its precision and grip in both dry and wet conditions, others report severe traction issues, particularly with the rear tire during spirited riding.
Pros
- High levels of dry and wet grip for sport-touring applications
- Excellent steering precision and rider feedback
- Inspires confidence in varied riding conditions for satisfied users
Cons
- Reported lack of rear tire traction during aggressive cornering
- Inconsistent performance leading to safety concerns in wet weather
- Perceived inferiority compared to competing sport-touring brands
Observations
- Positive performance noted on the Yamaha FZ1-S, suggesting suitability for certain naked sport-touring setups.
- Riders of heavier sport-touring motorcycles, such as the BMW R1100RT, reported significant instability and rear-end slippage.
The Michelin Road 5 is widely regarded as a benchmark sport-touring tire, praised for its exceptional wet-weather performance and impressive longevity. While most riders report high confidence in both dry and wet conditions, a significant subset of users has expressed frustration regarding the tire's susceptibility to punctures, which some attribute to its soft carcass and siping design.
Pros
- Class-leading wet weather grip and rider confidence
- Excellent tread life and durability for touring applications
- Dual-compound construction provides a balance of stability and cornering grip
- Strong performance across diverse riding styles, including occasional track use
Cons
- High susceptibility to punctures from road debris
- Soft carcass construction can be prone to structural damage from impacts
- Some users report a lack of feedback compared to dedicated sport tires
- Premium price point compared to competitors
Observations
- Users on torquey middleweight bikes (e.g., 650cc-765cc) report excellent traction and longevity, even under aggressive riding.
- Heavier sport-touring machines (e.g., K1300R, VFR800) benefit from the tire's stability, though some note unique wear patterns on the front tire compared to the rear.
- Commuters on poor-quality tarmac report high mileage but note that the tire's grip can be tested by extreme road surface conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop RoadSmart II | B · Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
Dunlop
85
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Road 5 — better wet, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Road 5 scores 87 vs 53 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Road 5 scores 89 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Road 5 scores 88 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Road 5 scores 83 vs 78 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart II
Tire B · Michelin Road 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop RoadSmart II also compared with
Michelin Road 5 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.