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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Michelin Power 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.

Tire A Dunlop

Dunlop RoadSmart III

Summer Premium Touring tires

Dunlop RoadSmart III tread pattern
Objective (60%)
74/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
89/100
16 owner reviews
Dry
95
Wet
89
Comfort
88
Treadwear
89
Handling
89

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Power 5

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Michelin Power 5 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
79/100
15 owner reviews
Dry
86
Wet
81
Comfort
85
Treadwear
72
Handling
81

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better treadwear, dry and wet. 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) RoadSmart III leads by 9
A — Dunlop RoadSmart III
95
B — Michelin Power 5
86
Why this score
SourceRoadSmart IIIPower 5
Professional tests (TWG score) 97 –
Tyre Reviews owners 91 86

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) RoadSmart III leads by 8
A — Dunlop RoadSmart III
89
B — Michelin Power 5
81
Why this score
SourceRoadSmart IIIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 89 81

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) RoadSmart III leads by 3
A — Dunlop RoadSmart III
88
B — Michelin Power 5
85
Why this score
SourceRoadSmart IIIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 88 85

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) RoadSmart III leads by 17
A — Dunlop RoadSmart III
89
B — Michelin Power 5
72
Why this score
SourceRoadSmart IIIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 89 72

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) RoadSmart III leads by 8
A — Dunlop RoadSmart III
89
B — Michelin Power 5
81
Why this score
SourceRoadSmart IIIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 89 81

Scores at a glance

Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Michelin Power 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop RoadSmart IIIMichelin Power 5
Relative Score 90 80
Dry 95 86
Wet 89 81
Comfort 88 85
Treadwear 89 72
Handling 89 81

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

Tire A

Tire B

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Dunlop RoadSmart III

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.
Tire B Michelin Power 5

The Michelin Power 5 is widely regarded as a high-performing street sport tire that excels in rapid warm-up, wet-weather confidence, and agile handling. While most riders praise its real-world versatility and grip, opinions on longevity and high-lean-angle stability are polarized, with some users preferring competitors like the Bridgestone S22 for track-oriented or aggressive riding.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet-weather grip and stability in standing water
  • Rapid warm-up times, even in cooler ambient temperatures
  • Agile handling and predictable cornering behavior on public roads
  • Strong confidence-inspiring feedback during braking

Cons

  • Tendency for the rear tire to square off prematurely
  • Inconsistent performance and grip degradation as the tire reaches the end of its life
  • Lack of confidence at maximum lean angles compared to dedicated track tires
  • Mixed reports on overall mileage, with some users experiencing rapid wear under heavy engine braking

Observations

  • Users on middleweight naked bikes like the KTM Duke 790 report excellent synergy and traction control performance.
  • Riders with high-torque bikes featuring strong engine braking noted a 'sketchy' front-end feel and accelerated rear tire wear.
  • Mileage reports vary significantly, ranging from 2,500 miles to over 8,000 miles depending on riding style and bike weight.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop RoadSmart III B · Michelin Power 5
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typeMotorcycleMotorcycle
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Michelin

Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better treadwear, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 72 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 95 vs 86 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 81 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 81 on handling.

Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Michelin Power 5

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.