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Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier HR vs Michelin Power GP — 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.
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5 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
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier HR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 98 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier HR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 40 | 77 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier HR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 93 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier HR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 40 | 83 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier HR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 95 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier HR | Michelin Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 87 |
| Dry | 100 | 98 |
| Wet | 40 | 77 |
| Comfort | 90 | 93 |
| Treadwear | 40 | 83 |
| Handling | 90 | 95 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier HR is perceived as a performance-oriented tire best suited for lightweight, lower-horsepower motorcycles in dry conditions. While it offers high levels of confidence and agility, its utility is significantly hampered by poor wet-weather performance and exceptionally short tread life.
Pros
- Excellent dry-weather grip and handling
- High confidence during aggressive cornering
- Reduced rotational inertia suitable for smaller displacement bikes
Cons
- Very poor tread longevity, even on low-power motorcycles
- Significant lack of traction in wet conditions
Observations
- Users note that the H-rated specification is well-matched for smaller displacement bikes (e.g., 60BHP range) to improve acceleration.
- Despite the lower power output of the intended vehicle class, the tire still suffers from rapid tread wear.
The Michelin Power GP is widely regarded as a premier hybrid tire, excelling in both spirited street riding and occasional track use. Users consistently praise its rapid warm-up time, exceptional dry grip, and surprising confidence in damp conditions, positioning it as a significant performance upgrade over its predecessors.
Pros
- Rapid warm-up time providing immediate confidence
- Exceptional dry grip and predictable feedback
- Superior performance in damp or wet conditions compared to competitors
- High agility and ease of turn-in
Cons
- Limited tread life, with some users reporting replacement intervals between 5,000 and 6,000 kilometers
- Potential for uneven wear or cupping on the tire edges
- High performance focus may not suit riders prioritizing maximum longevity
Observations
- Users transitioning from the Michelin Power RS to the Power GP on Yamaha MT-09 platforms report a noticeable step up in handling and stability.
- The tire is frequently compared favorably against dedicated track-focused rubber like the Bridgestone RS10 and Dunlop Sportsmart TT.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier HR | B · Michelin Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
Dunlop
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Power GP — better treadwear, wet and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Power GP scores 83 vs 40 on treadwear.
Michelin Power GP scores 77 vs 40 on wet.
Michelin Power GP scores 95 vs 90 on handling.
Michelin Power GP scores 93 vs 90 on comfort.
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.