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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

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.

Tire A 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
Treadwear
70
Handling
83

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Power GP

Summer Max Performance tires

Michelin Power GP tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
91/100
6 owner reviews
Dry
98
Wet
77
Comfort
93
Treadwear
83
Handling
95

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Power GP — better dry, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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) Power GP leads by 13
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
85
B — Michelin Power GP
98
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier RRPower GP
Tyre Reviews owners 85 98

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Power GP leads by 7
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
70
B — Michelin Power GP
77
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier RRPower GP
Tyre Reviews owners 70 77

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Power GP leads by 10
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
83
B — Michelin Power GP
93
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier RRPower GP
Tyre Reviews owners 83 93

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Power GP leads by 13
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
70
B — Michelin Power GP
83
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier RRPower GP
Tyre Reviews owners 70 83

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Power GP leads by 12
A — Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
83
B — Michelin Power GP
95
Why this score
SourceSportmax Qualifier RRPower GP
Tyre Reviews owners 83 95

Scores at a glance

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR vs Michelin Power GP: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop Sportmax Qualifier RRMichelin 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.

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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

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 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.
Tire B Michelin Power GP

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.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR B · Michelin Power GP
CategorySummer Ultra High Performance tiresSummer Max Performance tires
Vehicle typeMotorcycleMotorcycle
Final verdict

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.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Power GP scores 98 vs 85 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Power GP scores 83 vs 70 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Power GP scores 95 vs 83 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Power GP scores 93 vs 83 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier RR
Tire B · Michelin Power GP

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.