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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Dunlop SP Sport 01 vs Dunlop SP Sport 2050 — Compared (May 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 SP Sport 01

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Dunlop SP Sport 01 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
68/100
134 owner reviews
Dry
79
Wet
68
Comfort
66
Treadwear
69
Handling
69

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Dunlop

Dunlop SP Sport 2050

Summer Premium Touring tires

Dunlop SP Sport 2050 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
67/100
14 owner reviews
Dry
85
Wet
74
Comfort
79
Treadwear
69
Handling
63

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop SP Sport 2050 — better comfort, dry and wet. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport 01 if handling matters most to you.
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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) SP Sport 2050 leads by 6
A — Dunlop SP Sport 01
79
B — Dunlop SP Sport 2050
85
Why this score
SourceSP Sport 01SP Sport 2050
Tyre Reviews owners 78 75

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) SP Sport 2050 leads by 6
A — Dunlop SP Sport 01
68
B — Dunlop SP Sport 2050
74
Why this score
SourceSP Sport 01SP Sport 2050
Tyre Reviews owners 67 50

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Sport 2050 leads by 13
A — Dunlop SP Sport 01
66
B — Dunlop SP Sport 2050
79
Why this score
SourceSP Sport 01SP Sport 2050
Tyre Reviews owners 65 73

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100)
A — Dunlop SP Sport 01
69
B — Dunlop SP Sport 2050
69
Why this score
SourceSP Sport 01SP Sport 2050
Tyre Reviews owners 69 58

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Sport 01 leads by 6
A — Dunlop SP Sport 01
69
B — Dunlop SP Sport 2050
63
Why this score
SourceSP Sport 01SP Sport 2050
Tyre Reviews owners 69 63
DriverReviews owners 84 –

Scores at a glance

Dunlop SP Sport 01 vs Dunlop SP Sport 2050: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop SP Sport 01Dunlop SP Sport 2050
Relative Score 70 73
Dry 79 85
Wet 68 74
Comfort 66 79
Treadwear 69 69
Handling 69 63

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 SP Sport 01

The Dunlop SP Sport 01 receives highly polarized feedback, with users divided between those who value its predictable handling and longevity and those frustrated by significant road noise and inconsistent wet-weather performance. While many owners appreciate the tire's stiff sidewall for steering precision and cornering stability, a substantial number of reviewers report that noise levels increase dramatically as the tread wears down. Overall, it is viewed as a capable, long-lasting summer tire for daily driving, though it often falls short of expectations for high-performance vehicles.

Pros

  • Excellent tread longevity and durability for many users
  • Predictable, progressive handling and steering feedback
  • Strong dry-weather grip and cornering stability
  • Stiff sidewall construction provides a precise, 'on-rails' feel

Cons

  • Significant and increasing road noise as the tire wears
  • Inconsistent or poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
  • Harsh ride quality due to stiff sidewalls
  • Performance drop-off once tread depth reaches 3-4mm

Observations

  • Users with heavy SUVs (e.g., Audi Q5, Skoda Yeti) often report high satisfaction with longevity and stability, though noise remains a common complaint.
  • Owners of high-horsepower performance sedans (e.g., C63 AMG) frequently report that the tire struggles to manage torque, leading to excessive wheel spin and poor traction.
  • BMW owners specifically noted that 'Star Rated' versions of this tire are essential for preventing drivetrain shuddering issues on certain X3 models.
Tire B Dunlop SP Sport 2050

The Dunlop SP Sport 2050 is generally regarded as a high-performance tire that excels in ride comfort, cabin quietness, and dry-road handling. While many users appreciate its refined road manners, the consensus is heavily polarized by concerns regarding rapid tread wear and inconsistent wet-weather traction, particularly on high-horsepower vehicles.

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and low cabin noise levels
  • Strong dry-weather grip and responsive handling
  • Superior longevity compared to some premium factory-fitted alternatives
  • Stable sidewall construction providing predictable steering feedback

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, especially on performance-oriented vehicles
  • Inconsistent or poor traction in wet and cold conditions
  • High cost-to-mileage ratio for aggressive drivers
  • Lack of sufficient grip for high-horsepower, high-torque applications

Observations

  • High-performance luxury sedans (e.g., C63s AMG) struggle with traction, suggesting the tire is ill-suited for high-torque outputs.
  • Owners of larger vehicles like the Audi SQ5 report excellent handling characteristics but note that the tire's tread life is significantly compromised by the vehicle's weight and performance demands.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport 01 B · Dunlop SP Sport 2050
CategorySummer Ultra High Performance tiresSummer Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Dunlop

Winner: Dunlop SP Sport 2050 — better comfort, dry and wet. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport 01 if handling matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport 2050 scores 79 vs 66 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Sport 01 scores 69 vs 63 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SP Sport 2050 scores 85 vs 79 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport 2050 scores 74 vs 68 on wet.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport 01
Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport 2050

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.