72
/ 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 September 2026
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx vs Pirelli Cinturato P7 — 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
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
81/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
73/100
188 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Cinturato P7 — better comfort, wet and handling. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if noise matters most to you.
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 1
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 76 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 83 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | 93 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Cinturato P7 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | 93 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | 83 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Cinturato P7 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 92 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 74 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | 94 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 72 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | 90 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Cinturato P7 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 75 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 69 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | 86 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Cinturato P7 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | Pirelli Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 76 |
| Dry | 80 | 79 |
| Wet | 70 | 81 |
| Snow | 70 | – |
| Comfort | 66 | 85 |
| Noise | 95 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 69 |
| Handling | 67 | 75 |
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
72
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 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 Pirelli Cinturato P7 is widely regarded as a competent, comfort-oriented touring tire that excels in dry weather conditions and offers a quiet, refined ride. While many users praise its longevity and road manners, a significant portion of the user base reports inconsistent performance in wet conditions, rapid tread wear, and susceptibility to sidewall damage, particularly with run-flat variants.
Pros
- Excellent dry weather grip and predictable handling
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance
- Good overall durability for long-distance touring
Cons
- Inconsistent or poor wet weather traction
- Premature tread wear and rapid performance degradation over time
- Weak sidewall construction prone to bulges and punctures
- Noticeable drop in performance as the tire ages
Observations
- Users with run-flat versions frequently report a harsh, noisy ride and increased susceptibility to pothole damage compared to non-run-flat alternatives.
- Drivers of performance-oriented compacts (e.g., Mini Cooper, VW Golf) often find the sidewalls too soft for spirited driving, leading to excessive roll and lack of feedback.
- Owners of heavy SUVs and high-torque vehicles report significantly faster tread wear and occasional tire deformation.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | B · Pirelli Cinturato P7 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Premium Touring Summer tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 1 | 48 |
| Rim diameters | 20″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 11/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 260 A A |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 44 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Dunlop
76
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato P7 — better comfort, wet and handling. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 95 vs 72 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Cinturato P7 scores 85 vs 66 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Cinturato P7 scores 81 vs 70 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Cinturato P7 scores 75 vs 67 on handling.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
Tire B · Pirelli Cinturato P7
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx also compared with
Pirelli Cinturato P7 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.