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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx vs Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ — 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 Maxx

Summer Max Performance tires

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
67/100
180 owner reviews
Dry
80
Wet
70
Snow
70
Comfort
66
Noise
95
Treadwear
64
Handling
67
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Dunlop

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
60/100
44 owner reviews
Dry
77
Wet
67
Snow
90
Comfort
59
Noise
90
Treadwear
74
Handling
78
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ — better snow, handling and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if comfort, noise and dry matter most to you.
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Category breakdown

7 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 Maxx leads by 3
A
80
B
77
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
Tyre Reviews owners 79 80
SimpleTire owners 100 –

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) SP Sport Maxx leads by 3
A
70
B
67
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
Tyre Reviews owners 69 69
SimpleTire owners 60 –

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 20
A
70
B
90
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
SimpleTire owners 60 –

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Sport Maxx leads by 7
A
66
B
59
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
Tyre Reviews owners 64 62
SimpleTire owners 100 –

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Sport Maxx leads by 5
A
95
B
90
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
SimpleTire owners 80 –

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 10
A
64
B
74
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
Tyre Reviews owners 63 81
SimpleTire owners 80 –

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 11
A
67
B
78
Why this score
SourceSP Sport MaxxSport Maxx 050+
Tyre Reviews owners 67 78

Scores at a glance

CategoryDunlop SP Sport MaxxDunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Relative Score 72 75
Dry 80 77
Wet 70 67
Snow 70 90
Comfort 66 59
Noise 95 90
Treadwear 64 74
Handling 67 78

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 Maxx

The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is a polarizing ultra-high-performance tire that excels in dry-weather handling and steering responsiveness but faces significant criticism regarding tread longevity and noise levels. While many users praise its initial grip and stability, a substantial portion of the user base reports inconsistent performance in wet conditions and premature wear, leading to a mixed overall consensus.

Pros

  • Strong dry-weather grip and cornering stability
  • High level of steering feedback and precision
  • Effective rim protection design
  • Good aquaplaning resistance in straight lines

Cons

  • Rapid and often uneven tread wear
  • High levels of road noise, particularly as the tire ages
  • Inconsistent or poor wet-weather traction
  • Susceptibility to sidewall cracking and bubbling

Observations

  • Owners of high-torque, rear-wheel-drive vehicles frequently report excessive wheel spin and poor traction off the line.
  • Drivers of heavier luxury sedans and SUVs often note that the tire's stiff sidewall provides good handling but can lead to a harsh ride and increased cabin noise.
  • Users with high-performance hatchbacks frequently report 'sawtoothing' wear patterns, resulting in significant humming noises.
Tire B Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+

The Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ receives a polarized reception, often serving as a divisive Original Equipment (OE) choice for premium vehicles. While many users praise its dry-weather handling and value-for-money proposition, a significant portion of owners report severe dissatisfaction regarding cabin noise, ride harshness, and unpredictable wet-weather performance.

Pros

  • Strong dry-weather grip and cornering stability
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium European rivals
  • Good tread longevity for a performance-oriented tire
  • Responsive steering feedback

Cons

  • High levels of road and cabin noise
  • Harsh ride quality and lack of comfort
  • Poor wet-weather traction and susceptibility to hydroplaning
  • Inconsistent performance on uneven road surfaces

Observations

  • Owners of Lexus and Infiniti models frequently cite this tire as a major detractor from the vehicle's intended luxury and comfort experience.
  • Users transitioning from Run-Flat tires to the 050+ often report an improvement in ride comfort, whereas those moving from premium touring tires report a significant increase in noise.
  • Performance-oriented drivers on high-power sedans generally report higher satisfaction with grip levels than those using the tire for daily commuting on standard passenger vehicles.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx B · Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth10/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Dunlop

Winner: Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ — better snow, handling and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if comfort, noise and dry matter most to you.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 90 vs 70 on snow.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 78 vs 67 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 74 vs 64 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 66 vs 59 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Check price on Amazon

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.