77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
83/100
9 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
191 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Sport BluResponse vs Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 — 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.
VS
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
80/100
25 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
92 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Dunlop Sport BluResponse and Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Sport BluResponse is stronger on comfort, noise and dry. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is stronger on treadwear.
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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
Score (0–100)
Sport BluResponse leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Sport BluResponse | SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | 74 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 93% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
SportMaxx RT 2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Sport BluResponse | SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 75 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 78 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 83% | 87% |
| Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) | 69% | 95% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sport BluResponse leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Sport BluResponse | SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | 69 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 79 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Sport BluResponse leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Sport BluResponse | SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 71 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SportMaxx RT 2 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Sport BluResponse | SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 75 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SportMaxx RT 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Sport BluResponse | SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 77 |
| DriverReviews owners | 84 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sport BluResponse | Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 76 |
| Dry | 84 | 78 |
| Wet | 78 | 79 |
| Comfort | 93 | 73 |
| Noise | 84 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 61 | 75 |
| Handling | 75 | 77 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 93% #5/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/15 · 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test | -6.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 93% #13/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #3/7 · 2019 NAF Summer Tyre Test | 98% #14/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 96% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 76% #16/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | +20 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 97% #24/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 98% #8/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | -1.7 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 64% #32/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 82% #13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | -18.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #3/7 · 2019 NAF Summer Tyre Test | 98% #14/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | +1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 76% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 86% #12/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | -9.8 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 79% #47/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 57% #7/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | +22.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 70% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 70% #16/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | -0.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 9% #11/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 6% #17/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #7/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2018 EVO UUHP Tyre Test | -4.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 89% #2/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | +11.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 77% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 60% #13/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | +16.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 49% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 84% #12/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | -35 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 0% #12/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 83% #31/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 87% #17/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | -3.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 69% #26/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 95% #9/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | -26.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #5/7 · 2019 NAF Summer Tyre Test | 98% #11/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Sport BluResponse is widely regarded as a high-performance touring tire that excels in wet and dry grip, noise reduction, and ride comfort. While users frequently praise its safety and handling characteristics, the consensus is heavily polarized by its notably short tread life and soft sidewall construction, which some drivers find detrimental to steering precision.
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry traction
- Very low road noise and high comfort levels
- Improved fuel economy and low rolling resistance
- Strong resistance to aquaplaning
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear
- Soft sidewalls leading to 'mushy' or vague handling
- Prone to sidewall damage and punctures
- Performance degradation as the tire nears the end of its life
Observations
- Drivers of heavier vehicles, particularly diesel-powered cars, frequently report faster shoulder wear and increased sidewall flex.
- Users with sportier driving styles or those who frequently navigate tight corners often find the soft sidewalls cause understeer and a lack of steering feedback.
- The tire is highly favored for hybrid and economy vehicles where low rolling resistance and cabin quietness are prioritized over aggressive handling.
The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is generally regarded as a comfortable, quiet, and high-performing tire that excels in daily driving and wet weather conditions. While many users praise its grip and value, a significant segment of the enthusiast community finds the sidewalls too soft for aggressive, high-speed cornering, leading to a 'spongy' or unstable feeling under heavy load.
Pros
- Excellent wet weather traction and aquaplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong value proposition compared to other premium UHP tires
- Effective rim protection features
- Good steering feedback for normal to spirited road driving
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can feel unstable or 'wobbly' during aggressive cornering
- Reports of premature tread cracking or uneven wear in some cases
- Performance can degrade significantly as the tire wears down
- Some users report vibration issues or difficulty balancing the tires
- Not ideal for track use or extremely heavy, high-torque vehicles
Observations
- Users with heavier or high-torque vehicles often report that the soft sidewalls struggle to maintain composure during quick maneuvers.
- Drivers of lighter, sporty hatchbacks generally report higher satisfaction with the tire's responsiveness and weight-saving benefits.
- Several users noted that increasing tire pressure slightly can mitigate the 'spongy' sidewall sensation, though this may come at the cost of some grip.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sport BluResponse | B · Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 4 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 300 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Dunlop
76
/ 100
Dunlop
Too close to call: Dunlop Sport BluResponse and Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Sport BluResponse is stronger on comfort, noise and dry. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is stronger on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Sport BluResponse scores 93 vs 73 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 scores 75 vs 61 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop Sport BluResponse scores 84 vs 71 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Sport BluResponse scores 84 vs 78 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop Sport BluResponse
Tire B · Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Sport BluResponse also compared with
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 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.