Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR 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.
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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 RR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 98 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier RR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 77 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier RR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 93 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier RR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 83 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax Qualifier RR | Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 95 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR | Michelin Power GP |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 87 |
| Dry | 85 | 98 |
| Wet | 70 | 77 |
| Comfort | 83 | 93 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 83 |
| Handling | 83 | 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 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.
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 RR | 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 dry, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Power GP scores 98 vs 85 on dry.
Michelin Power GP scores 83 vs 70 on treadwear.
Michelin Power GP scores 95 vs 83 on handling.
Michelin Power GP scores 93 vs 83 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.