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 Michelin Primacy MXM4 — 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
69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
63/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and Michelin Primacy MXM4 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is stronger on snow, dry and handling. Michelin Primacy MXM4 is stronger on treadwear.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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 3
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 76 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 68 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 60 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 50 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 64 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Primacy MXM4 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 64 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | Michelin Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 69 |
| Dry | 80 | 77 |
| Wet | 70 | 70 |
| Snow | 70 | 51 |
| Comfort | 66 | 66 |
| Noise | 95 | – |
| Treadwear | 64 | 79 |
| Handling | 67 | 64 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Tire A
69
/ 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 Michelin Primacy MXM4 is generally regarded as a comfort-oriented grand touring tire that excels in ride quality and tread longevity but falls short for performance-minded drivers. While users praise its ability to dampen road vibrations and maintain durability, many report lackluster handling, significant understeer, and underwhelming wet-weather traction when pushed.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and vibration dampening
- Strong tread life and durability
- High fuel efficiency
- Effective resistance to aquaplaning in heavy rain
Cons
- Mediocre dry grip and handling precision
- Noticeable understeer when cornering
- Soft sidewalls that lack steering feedback
- Increased road noise on certain surfaces
Observations
- Drivers of high-torque FWD vehicles report significant wheelspin and traction issues in wet conditions.
- Tesla Model 3 owners noted a decline in handling performance compared to dedicated summer tires, suggesting the tire is better suited for comfort than spirited driving.
- The tire's run-flat variants are noted for maintaining a surprisingly soft and compliant ride despite their reinforced construction.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | B · Michelin Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | All Season Premium Touring 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
69
/ 100
Michelin
Too close to call: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and Michelin Primacy MXM4 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is stronger on snow, dry and handling. Michelin Primacy MXM4 is stronger on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 70 vs 51 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Primacy MXM4 scores 79 vs 64 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 80 vs 77 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 67 vs 64 on handling.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
Tire B · Michelin Primacy MXM4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx also compared with
Michelin Primacy MXM4 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.