90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
74/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
89/100
16 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Michelin Pilot Road 3 — 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
88
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
85/100
32 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better treadwear, dry and handling. 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)
RoadSmart III leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 97 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 92 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Road 3 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 92 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 90 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 89 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 86 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart III | Michelin Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 90 | 88 |
| Dry | 95 | 92 |
| Wet | 89 | 90 |
| Comfort | 88 | 87 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 84 |
| Handling | 89 | 86 |
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
90
/ 100
Tire A
88
/ 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 III is highly regarded as a durable, high-performance sport-touring tire that excels in longevity without sacrificing significant grip. Users consistently praise its stability and confidence-inspiring handling across a variety of motorcycles, particularly heavy touring bikes and sportbikes used for long-distance travel.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and mileage compared to dedicated sport tires.
- Sharp, responsive steering and handling characteristics.
- Consistent and reliable grip in both dry and wet road conditions.
- Stable performance under heavy loads, including luggage and pillion passengers.
Cons
- Occasional reports of rear-end slippage during aggressive cornering with power input.
- Front tire wear can be uneven or faster than expected depending on suspension setup.
- Some users noted a firm ride quality due to the stiff carcass construction.
Observations
- BMW K1600GTL owners report the tire is an excellent match for the bike's weight and touring demands.
- Sportbike riders (e.g., GSXR1000) appreciate the tire as a long-lasting alternative to pure sport rubber without losing agility.
- The stiff carcass design is noted to sharpen steering response, which is particularly beneficial for heavier touring motorcycles.
The Michelin Pilot Road 3 is widely regarded as a benchmark sport-touring tire, particularly praised for its exceptional wet-weather performance and confidence-inspiring grip. While most users report a highly favorable balance between longevity and handling, some riders note a trade-off in road noise and a firmer ride quality as the tires age.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather traction and stability
- High level of rider confidence in diverse conditions
- Impressive longevity for a performance-oriented tire
- Predictable handling and steering characteristics
Cons
- Increased road noise as the tire wears
- Firmer ride quality compared to some competitors
- Requires a break-in period to achieve optimal feedback
- Higher price point relative to some alternatives
Observations
- Heavy sport-touring motorcycles, such as the Hayabusa and K1200GT, benefit significantly from the tire's stability and wet-weather grip.
- Users on lighter naked bikes, like the Street Triple, occasionally report that the tire feels less 'sporty' or provides less feedback than dedicated sport rubber.
- Commuters and high-mileage riders consistently report high satisfaction with tread life, often exceeding 10,000 miles.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop RoadSmart III | B · Michelin Pilot Road 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
90
/ 100
Dunlop
88
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better treadwear, dry and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 84 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 95 vs 92 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 86 on handling.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Road 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop RoadSmart III also compared with
Michelin Pilot Road 3 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.