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Dunlop SP Sport 270 vs Kumho Solus KL21 — 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.
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7 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 | SP Sport 270 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 73 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 27 | 67 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 45 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 65 |
Noise
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 63 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 35 | 73 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 49 | 61 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport 270 | Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 59 | 76 |
| Dry | 78 | 83 |
| Wet | 54 | 76 |
| Snow | – | 72 |
| Comfort | 68 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 86 |
| Treadwear | 53 | 81 |
| Handling | 49 | 61 |
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
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop SP Sport 270 receives a polarized reception, often serving as polarizing original equipment (OE) on various luxury and performance vehicles. While some users appreciate its quiet ride and stiff-walled handling characteristics, a significant portion of the user base reports severe safety concerns regarding wet-weather traction and rapid, uneven tread wear.
Pros
- Quiet and smooth ride quality
- Stiff sidewall construction provides predictable handling for specific vehicle architectures
- Solid dry-weather performance and cornering stability
- Competitive longevity compared to certain ultra-high-performance alternatives
Cons
- Poor wet-weather traction and high risk of hydroplaning
- Rapid and premature tread wear
- Inadequate grip for high-horsepower applications
- Vague steering feedback in certain conditions
Observations
- Lexus RX450h owners frequently report significant understeer and dangerous handling characteristics in wet conditions.
- High-performance vehicle owners (e.g., C63s AMG) note that the tire struggles to manage high torque, leading to excessive wheel spin.
- Users of larger SUVs like the Chevy Captiva report premature tread depletion, often requiring replacement before 30,000 km.
The Kumho Solus KL21 is a polarizing tire that frequently serves as original equipment on SUVs and crossovers. While many owners report exceptional tread life and value, a significant subset of users expresses concerns regarding road noise, inconsistent grip in adverse weather, and premature structural degradation.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability, with some users reporting over 60,000 miles of use.
- Strong value proposition as a cost-effective alternative to premium tire brands.
- Generally reliable performance in dry, warm-weather conditions.
- Consistent ride comfort for daily commuting and long-distance driving.
Cons
- Reports of excessive road noise and a harsh ride quality.
- Poor traction and braking performance in snow, ice, or cold conditions.
- Inconsistent quality control, with isolated reports of tire deformation or premature wear.
- Lack of confidence-inspiring grip during emergency braking maneuvers.
Observations
- Users with mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento report highly variable experiences, ranging from extreme longevity to early failure.
- The tire is frequently noted as a standard OEM fitment for Korean-manufactured SUVs, which influences user expectations regarding replacement intervals.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport 270 | B · Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Dunlop
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Solus KL21 — better treadwear, wet and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 81 vs 53 on treadwear.
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 76 vs 54 on wet.
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 61 vs 49 on handling.
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 76 vs 68 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.