Tests – · none yet Owners 76 · 11 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Sportsmart vs Michelin Pilot Road 4 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Sportsmart leads, 74–72 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 74 · 18 reviews
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
78
Dry
Sportsmart +672Why this score
Source Sportsmart Pilot Road 4 Reviews found online 83 74 -
74
Wet
Pilot Road 4 +276Why this score
Source Sportsmart Pilot Road 4 Reviews found online 75 78 -
72
Comfort
Sportsmart +171Why this score
Source Sportsmart Pilot Road 4 Reviews found online 75 73 -
67
Treadwear
Pilot Road 4 +168Why this score
Source Sportsmart Pilot Road 4 Reviews found online 68 69 -
83
Handling
Sportsmart +974Why this score
Source Sportsmart Pilot Road 4 Reviews found online 83 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportsmart | Michelin Pilot Road 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 72 |
| Dry | 78 | 72 |
| Wet | 74 | 76 |
| Comfort | 72 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 68 |
| Handling | 83 | 74 |
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.
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Less important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Sportsmart
72
/ 100
Pilot Road 4
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Sportsmart
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip that inspires rider confidence
- Predictable feedback and handling, especially when approaching the limit
- Fast warm-up times suitable for both road and occasional track use
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 miles depending on usage
- Stiff N-TEC construction can feel harsh over road imperfections
- Occasional reports of air pressure retention issues on specific rear units
Tire B Pilot Road 4
Pros
- Outstanding wet weather grip and performance
- Impressive tread life and mileage longevity for touring and commuting
- Predictable and confident handling in everyday dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Slippery when brand new, requiring a cautious break-in period
- Tread pattern can cause movement or a vague front-end feel in warmer weather
- Some riders experienced uneven wear or quicker wear on the front tire
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sportsmart | B · Michelin Pilot Road 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Dunlop Sportsmart
72
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Road 4
Winner: Dunlop Sportsmart — better handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Sportsmart scores 83 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Sportsmart scores 78 vs 72 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop Sportsmart
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Road 4
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.