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 Pirelli Scorpion Trail II — 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
77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
77/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II — better comfort, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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 8
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 69 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 83 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Scorpion Trail II leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Sportmax Qualifier II leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier II | Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II | Pirelli Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 77 |
| Dry | 95 | 87 |
| Wet | 75 | 69 |
| Comfort | 95 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 71 |
| Handling | 95 | 84 |
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
77
/ 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 Pirelli Scorpion Trail II receives a polarized reception, with users praising its dry-weather grip and versatility for light off-road touring, while frequently criticizing its performance in wet conditions. While some riders appreciate its longevity and capability on varied terrain, others report significant concerns regarding wet-weather stability, rapid tread wear, and inconsistent quality control.
Pros
- Excellent grip and confidence on dry pavement
- Strong performance on light off-road trails and varied surfaces like gravel and dirt
- Quick warm-up time in favorable conditions
- Capable handling for long-distance touring
Cons
- Poor wet-weather performance and susceptibility to hydroplaning
- Twitchy or unstable handling characteristics in rain
- Rapid tread wear and premature flattening
- Reports of structural quality issues, such as tread splitting
Observations
- High-performance adventure bikes like the KTM 1290 Adventure exhibit significant issues with wet-weather stability and rapid rear tire wear.
- Users on heavy touring platforms, such as the BMW R1200RT, report better success using the tire for mixed-surface adventure touring.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II | B · Pirelli Scorpion Trail II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Dunlop
77
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II — better comfort, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 83 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 84 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 95 vs 87 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II scores 75 vs 69 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion Trail II
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II also compared with
Pirelli Scorpion Trail II 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.