69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
67/100
180 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx vs Hankook Ventus K104 — 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.
VS
53
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
52/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 68 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 42 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 61 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 55 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 44 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | Hankook Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 53 |
| Dry | 80 | 68 |
| Wet | 70 | 42 |
| Snow | 70 | – |
| Comfort | 66 | 61 |
| Noise | 95 | – |
| Treadwear | 64 | 55 |
| Handling | 67 | 44 |
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
69
/ 100
Tire A
53
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Hankook Ventus K104 is generally regarded as a budget-oriented performance tire that offers acceptable dry-weather handling for enthusiasts with specific suspension setups, but it suffers from significant deficiencies in wet-weather traction. While some users appreciate its responsiveness and longevity, the consensus points toward inconsistent performance, high road noise, and a lack of confidence-inspiring grip in damp or rainy conditions.
Pros
- Responsive and crisp handling characteristics in dry conditions
- Competitive price point for budget-conscious buyers
- Good tread life for users who maintain proper suspension geometry
- Aesthetically pleasing tread pattern
Cons
- Poor and unpredictable wet-weather traction
- High levels of road noise
- Inconsistent tread wear performance across different vehicle types
- Lack of progressive grip during cornering
Observations
- Users noted that the tire's performance is highly dependent on precise suspension tuning, with some suggesting it is better suited for performance-oriented setups than standard passenger vehicles.
- Drivers of luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes-Benz, reported that the tire's high noise levels negatively impacted the overall refinement of the vehicle.
- Light commercial vehicle users reported premature tread wear, suggesting the tire is not well-suited for heavier loads or utility applications.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | B · Hankook Ventus K104 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Dunlop
53
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 70 vs 42 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 67 vs 44 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 80 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 64 vs 55 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
Tire B · Hankook Ventus K104
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx also compared with
Hankook Ventus K104 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.