80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
84/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Dunlop Trailmax Meridian vs Dunlop TrailSmart Max — 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.
VS
95
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
93/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop TrailSmart Max — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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
Score (0–100)
TrailSmart Max leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Trailmax Meridian | TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 93 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
TrailSmart Max leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Trailmax Meridian | TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 93 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
TrailSmart Max leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Trailmax Meridian | TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 100 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
TrailSmart Max leads by 30
Why this score
| Source | Trailmax Meridian | TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 100 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
TrailSmart Max leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Trailmax Meridian | TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Trailmax Meridian | Dunlop TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 95 |
| Dry | 85 | 93 |
| Wet | 80 | 93 |
| Comfort | 85 | 100 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 100 |
| Handling | 85 | 87 |
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
80
/ 100
Tire A
95
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Trailmax Meridian is highly regarded by adventure motorcycle riders, particularly those transitioning from premium competitors like the Michelin Road 5 Trail. Users report that the tire offers performance parity or superiority, making it a strong contender for high-performance adventure touring bikes.
Pros
- Excellent handling characteristics comparable to top-tier competitors
- Strong performance on heavy adventure motorcycles
- High level of rider confidence and reliability
Observations
- Users specifically noted high satisfaction when fitted to the BMW R1250GS platform.
The Dunlop TrailSmart Max is highly regarded by adventure motorcycle riders for its exceptional balance between sport-touring road performance and light off-road capability. Users consistently praise its handling, wet-weather confidence, and comfort, positioning it as a superior upgrade over many original equipment tires.
Pros
- Excellent handling and turn-in precision on tarmac
- Strong wet-weather grip and stability
- High levels of rider comfort and low noise output
- Versatile performance across varying road conditions
Cons
- Limited performance in deep mud or technical off-road terrain
- Tendency to power slide under aggressive acceleration in heavy rain
- Perceived as less capable in off-road environments compared to dedicated dual-sport tires
Observations
- Riders of large-displacement adventure bikes like the BMW R1200 GSA report high satisfaction with longevity and road-biased performance.
- Users of mid-weight adventure bikes like the V-Strom 650 appreciate the high grip levels on tarmac but note the tire's limitations on loose gravel surfaces.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Trailmax Meridian | B · Dunlop TrailSmart Max |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season All Terrain and Off Road tires | All Season All Terrain and Off Road tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Dunlop
95
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Dunlop TrailSmart Max — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop TrailSmart Max scores 100 vs 70 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop TrailSmart Max scores 100 vs 85 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop TrailSmart Max scores 93 vs 80 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop TrailSmart Max scores 93 vs 85 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop Trailmax Meridian
Tire B · Dunlop TrailSmart Max
More comparisons
Also compared with
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Dunlop TrailSmart Max 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.