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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II vs Michelin Power 5 — 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.

Tire A Dunlop

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
87/100
2 owner reviews
Dry
95
Wet
75
Comfort
95
Treadwear
70
Handling
95

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Power 5

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Michelin Power 5 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
79/100
15 owner reviews
Dry
86
Wet
81
Comfort
85
Treadwear
72
Handling
81

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Michelin Power 5 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 9
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
95
B — Michelin Power 5
86
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier IIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 95 86

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Power 5 leads by 6
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
75
B — Michelin Power 5
81
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier IIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 75 81

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 10
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
95
B — Michelin Power 5
85
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier IIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 95 85

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Power 5 leads by 2
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
70
B — Michelin Power 5
72
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier IIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 70 72

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 14
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
95
B — Michelin Power 5
81
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier IIPower 5
Tyre Reviews owners 95 81

Scores at a glance

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II vs Michelin Power 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop Sportmax Qualifier IIMichelin Power 5
Relative Score 83 80
Dry 95 86
Wet 75 81
Comfort 95 85
Treadwear 70 72
Handling 95 81

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.

Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II

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.
Tire B Michelin Power 5

The Michelin Power 5 is widely regarded as a high-performing street sport tire that excels in rapid warm-up, wet-weather confidence, and agile handling. While most riders praise its real-world versatility and grip, opinions on longevity and high-lean-angle stability are polarized, with some users preferring competitors like the Bridgestone S22 for track-oriented or aggressive riding.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet-weather grip and stability in standing water
  • Rapid warm-up times, even in cooler ambient temperatures
  • Agile handling and predictable cornering behavior on public roads
  • Strong confidence-inspiring feedback during braking

Cons

  • Tendency for the rear tire to square off prematurely
  • Inconsistent performance and grip degradation as the tire reaches the end of its life
  • Lack of confidence at maximum lean angles compared to dedicated track tires
  • Mixed reports on overall mileage, with some users experiencing rapid wear under heavy engine braking

Observations

  • Users on middleweight naked bikes like the KTM Duke 790 report excellent synergy and traction control performance.
  • Riders with high-torque bikes featuring strong engine braking noted a 'sketchy' front-end feel and accelerated rear tire wear.
  • Mileage reports vary significantly, ranging from 2,500 miles to over 8,000 miles depending on riding style and bike weight.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II B · Michelin Power 5
CategorySummer Ultra High Performance tiresSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typeMotorcycleMotorcycle
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Michelin

Winner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Michelin Power 5 if wet matters most to you.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 81 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 85 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 86 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Power 5 scores 81 vs 75 on wet.

Tire A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
Tire B · Michelin Power 5

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.