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 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: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better handling, dry and treadwear. 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 7
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 97 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 87 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 87 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 89 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart III | Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 90 | 85 |
| Dry | 95 | 88 |
| Wet | 89 | 87 |
| Comfort | 88 | 89 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 83 |
| Handling | 89 | 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
90
/ 100
Tire A
85
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #3/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | 97% #4/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | +2 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | 20% #5/6 · 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test | +30 | Same test |
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 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 III | 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?
90
/ 100
Dunlop
85
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better handling, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 80 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 95 vs 88 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 83 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Michelin Road 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop RoadSmart III 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.