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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Avon ZV7 vs Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR — Compared (September 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 Avon

Avon ZV7

Summer Premium Touring tires

Avon ZV7 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
69/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
70/100
142 owner reviews
Dry
75
Wet
70
Comfort
77
Noise
50
Treadwear
56
Handling
71

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Dunlop

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
79/100
4 owner reviews
Dry
85
Wet
70
Comfort
83
Noise
–
Treadwear
70
Handling
83

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR — better treadwear, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown

6 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 RR leads by 10
A — Avon ZV7
75
B — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
85
Why this score
SourceZV7Sportmax Qualifier RR
Professional tests (TWG score) 71 –
Tyre Reviews owners 81 85

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100)
A — Avon ZV7
70
B — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
70
Why this score
SourceZV7Sportmax Qualifier RR
Professional tests (TWG score) 66 –
Tyre Reviews owners 76 70

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sportmax Qualifier RR leads by 6
A — Avon ZV7
77
B — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
83
Why this score
SourceZV7Sportmax Qualifier RR
Tyre Reviews owners 77 83

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Avon ZV7
50
B — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
–
Why this score
SourceZV7Sportmax Qualifier RR
Professional tests (TWG score) 50 –

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Sportmax Qualifier RR leads by 14
A — Avon ZV7
56
B — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
70
Why this score
SourceZV7Sportmax Qualifier RR
Tyre Reviews owners 56 70

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Sportmax Qualifier RR leads by 12
A — Avon ZV7
71
B — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
83
Why this score
SourceZV7Sportmax Qualifier RR
Tyre Reviews owners 71 83

Scores at a glance

Avon ZV7 vs Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryAvon ZV7Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
Relative Score 68 76
Dry 75 85
Wet 70 70
Comfort 77 83
Noise 50 –
Treadwear 56 70
Handling 71 83

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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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.

Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

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.

Tire A Avon ZV7

The Avon ZV7 is a polarizing mid-range tire that receives high praise for its initial wet and dry grip, quiet ride, and value-for-money proposition. However, a significant number of users report severe, premature structural issues, specifically cracking within the tread grooves, which often necessitates replacement long before the tread depth is exhausted.

Pros

  • Excellent wet and dry traction when new
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality
  • High value-for-money compared to premium brands
  • Strong performance as a daily touring tire

Cons

  • Widespread reports of premature tread cracking and perishing
  • Inconsistent and often rapid tread wear
  • Soft sidewalls leading to vague steering feedback
  • Difficult and unhelpful manufacturer warranty/claims process

Observations

  • Users with heavier vehicles (e.g., Ford S-Max, Volvo V70, Mondeo) frequently report faster, uneven center-tread wear.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented or modified vehicles often find the sidewalls too soft, resulting in a lack of precision during spirited driving.
  • Owners of smaller, lighter vehicles generally report higher satisfaction with longevity and comfort compared to those with larger, heavier saloons.
Tire B Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR

The Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR is generally regarded as a competent, budget-friendly tire suitable for daily commuting and intermediate riding. While it offers reliable performance in dry conditions, users note limitations in confidence at extreme lean angles and reduced traction in wet weather.

Pros

  • Solid performance for daily commuting and intermediate canyon riding
  • Good value proposition as an affordable, stock-tier option
  • Respectable tread longevity for a sport-oriented tire

Cons

  • Noticeable lack of traction and slippage on wet road surfaces
  • Limited confidence and feedback when pushing to aggressive lean angles
  • Performance falls short of dedicated track-focused tires like the GP Racer

Observations

  • Users reported achieving approximately 8,000 miles of service life, suggesting a balance between sport performance and durability for mixed-use riders.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Avon ZV7 B · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverMotorcycle
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Avon

Dunlop

Winner: Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR — better treadwear, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR scores 70 vs 56 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR scores 83 vs 71 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR scores 85 vs 75 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR scores 83 vs 77 on comfort.

Tire A · Avon ZV7
Tire B · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR

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.