83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
87/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II vs Michelin Pilot Power — 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
78/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Michelin Pilot Power if wet matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
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
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 85 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Power leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 82 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 66 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 67 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II | Michelin Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 75 |
| Dry | 95 | 85 |
| Wet | 75 | 82 |
| Comfort | 95 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 66 |
| Handling | 95 | 67 |
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
83
/ 100
Tire A
75
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II is regarded as a responsive and confidence-inspiring tire that offers excellent feedback and predictable handling characteristics. While it performs well in spirited riding conditions, users note that it requires a brief warm-up period to reach optimal operating temperatures in colder weather.
Pros
- Quick and agile turn-in response
- High levels of grip and tactile feedback
- Predictable behavior when approaching the limit of traction
- Reliable performance in wet conditions
Cons
- Requires significant warm-up time in cold temperatures
- Performance is sensitive to ambient temperature fluctuations
Observations
- Sportbike riders, specifically those on middleweight machines like the Kawasaki ZX6R, report a noticeable improvement in agility compared to competing brands.
The Michelin Pilot Power is widely regarded as a versatile, high-performance tire that excels in both dry and wet road conditions. While it offers impressive grip and quick warm-up times for everyday riders, some users report concerns regarding inconsistent feedback at the limit and accelerated tread wear compared to touring-oriented alternatives.
Pros
- Excellent dry weather grip and confidence
- Strong performance in wet conditions
- Quick warm-up time suitable for road use
- Predictable handling and quick steering characteristics
Cons
- Limited tread life compared to sport-touring tires
- Lack of tactile feedback at extreme lean angles for some riders
- Tendency for the front tire to deform or lose its profile over time
- Inconsistent grip behavior when pushed to the absolute limit
Observations
- Users noted that the tire performs well on heavier sport-touring bikes like the Aprilia Futura, though longevity varies significantly with load.
- Riders on high-performance sportbikes like the ZX-10R appreciate the quick warm-up and stability for road use, though some suggest track-focused riders may prefer softer compounds.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II | B · Michelin Pilot Power |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Dunlop
75
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Michelin Pilot Power if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 67 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 78 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 85 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Power scores 82 vs 75 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Power
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II also compared with
Michelin Pilot Power 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.