71
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
60/100
44 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ vs Firestone TZ100 — 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
60
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
58/100
8 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ — better treadwear, handling and comfort. 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)
Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Sport Maxx 050+ | TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 71 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Sport Maxx 050+ | TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 60 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Sport Maxx 050+ | TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 62 | 49 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Sport Maxx 050+ | TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 59 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Sport Maxx 050+ leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Sport Maxx 050+ | TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 63 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ | Firestone TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 60 |
| Dry | 77 | 71 |
| Wet | 67 | 60 |
| Snow | 90 | – |
| Comfort | 59 | 49 |
| Noise | 90 | – |
| Treadwear | 74 | 59 |
| Handling | 78 | 63 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
71
/ 100
Tire A
60
/ 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 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.
The Firestone TZ100 receives a mixed reception from users, often criticized for premature side-wall wear and inconsistent noise levels. While some drivers appreciate the reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions, many find the ride quality harsh and suggest that better performance alternatives exist at a similar price point.
Pros
- Reliable grip in both wet and dry road conditions
- Affordable price point
- Consistent performance for daily commuting
Cons
- Premature side-wall tread wear
- Harsh ride quality
- Excessive road noise on certain surfaces
- Lack of steering feedback
Observations
- Subaru Liberty RX owners reported consistent issues with side-wall wear despite maintaining proper tire pressure.
- Users noted that road noise can be misdiagnosed as tire-related when it may actually stem from mechanical issues like wheel bearings.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ | B · Firestone TZ100 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Dunlop
60
/ 100
Firestone
Winner: Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 74 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 78 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 59 vs 49 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ scores 67 vs 60 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Tire B · Firestone TZ100
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+ also compared with
Firestone TZ100 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.