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 P Zero PZ4 — 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
74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
90/100
24 professional tests
User signal (40%)
74/100
99 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if noise and treadwear 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
Score (0–100)
P Zero PZ4 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
P Zero PZ4 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 75 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
P Zero PZ4 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 70 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 69 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SP Sport Maxx leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 64 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 58 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
P Zero PZ4 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | Pirelli P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 74 |
| Dry | 80 | 87 |
| Wet | 70 | 81 |
| Snow | 70 | – |
| Comfort | 66 | 70 |
| Noise | 95 | 73 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 59 |
| Handling | 67 | 82 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Tire A
74
/ 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 P Zero PZ4 is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that excels in dry handling, steering precision, and feedback. While many users praise its sporty character and comfort, consensus is divided regarding its longevity and wet-weather performance, with several reports indicating that grip levels drop significantly as the tread wears or temperatures fall.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and handling precision
- Excellent steering feedback and road communication
- High level of acoustic comfort and ride refinement for a UHP tire
- Effective rim protection design
- Strong performance when at optimal operating temperature
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- Reduced performance and increased noise as tread depth decreases
- Poor grip and potential for aquaplaning in cold or wet conditions
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage or bulging from road hazards
- High price point relative to durability
Observations
- Users with high-torque EVs and performance sedans (e.g., BMW M-series, Audi RS) report significantly faster rear-axle tread wear.
- OEM-specific versions (e.g., HN for Hyundai, MO for Mercedes) show varied performance characteristics, with some users finding specific manufacturer-tuned compounds to be harsher or more temperature-sensitive.
- Drivers of heavy vehicles noted that the tire's performance is highly dependent on maintaining proper heat, which can be difficult to achieve in daily driving conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx | B · Pirelli P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Dunlop
74
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx if noise and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx scores 95 vs 73 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 scores 82 vs 67 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 scores 81 vs 70 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 scores 87 vs 80 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
Tire B · Pirelli P Zero PZ4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx also compared with
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 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.