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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max vs Kumho Solus TA31 — 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 SportSmart 2 Max

Summer Max Performance tires

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
81/100
2 owner reviews
Dry
80
Wet
80
Snow
–
Comfort
85
Treadwear
–
Handling
75

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Kumho

Kumho Solus TA31

All Season Premium Touring tires

Kumho Solus TA31 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
59/100
9 owner reviews
Dry
75
Wet
64
Snow
44
Comfort
74
Treadwear
63
Handling
64

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max — better wet, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SportSmart 2 Max leads by 5
A — Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
80
B — Kumho Solus TA31
75
Why this score
SourceSportSmart 2 MaxSolus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 85
Tyre Reviews owners 80 74

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) SportSmart 2 Max leads by 16
A — Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
80
B — Kumho Solus TA31
64
Why this score
SourceSportSmart 2 MaxSolus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 77
Tyre Reviews owners 80 63

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
–
B — Kumho Solus TA31
44
Why this score
SourceSportSmart 2 MaxSolus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 57
Tyre Reviews owners – 43

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SportSmart 2 Max leads by 11
A — Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
85
B — Kumho Solus TA31
74
Why this score
SourceSportSmart 2 MaxSolus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 78
Tyre Reviews owners 85 73

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100)
A — Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
–
B — Kumho Solus TA31
63
Why this score
SourceSportSmart 2 MaxSolus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 78
Tyre Reviews owners – 61

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SportSmart 2 Max leads by 11
A — Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
75
B — Kumho Solus TA31
64
Why this score
SourceSportSmart 2 MaxSolus TA31
Tyre Reviews owners 75 64

Scores at a glance

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max vs Kumho Solus TA31: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop SportSmart 2 MaxKumho Solus TA31
Relative Score 80 68
Dry 80 75
Wet 80 64
Snow – 44
Comfort 85 74
Treadwear – 63
Handling 75 64

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.

Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max

The Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max is widely regarded as a highly capable street-focused tire that excels in wet conditions and offers superior stability compared to its competitors. Users appreciate its predictable handling and confidence-inspiring front-end feel, making it a strong choice for daily riders who prioritize safety and versatility over pure track-day performance.

Pros

  • Rapid warm-up time on public roads
  • Excellent wet weather grip and predictability
  • High levels of front-end confidence and stability
  • Improved carcass rigidity compared to entry-level sport tires

Cons

  • Less aggressive dry-weather cornering performance than dedicated supersport tires
  • Not optimized for high-intensity track use
  • Potential for a firmer ride due to the stiff carcass construction

Observations

  • Recommended primarily for daily riders and lighter motorcycles rather than dedicated track machines.
  • Users transitioning from entry-level sport tires report a significant improvement in stability and feedback.
Tire B Kumho Solus TA31

The Kumho Solus TA31 receives a polarized reception, with users divided between those who value its quiet ride and affordability and those who find its handling and longevity lacking. While some drivers report excellent value and high mileage, others express significant concerns regarding stability during emergency maneuvers and premature tread wear.

Pros

  • Low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Strong value for money
  • Attractive aesthetic design
  • Reliable performance for conservative, daily driving

Cons

  • Unpredictable handling during emergency maneuvers
  • Concerns regarding premature or uneven tread wear
  • Poor stability control compared to premium competitors
  • Reports of inconsistent tire pressure retention

Observations

  • Users noted that low-profile versions of this tire appear more susceptible to accelerated wear.
  • Front-wheel-drive vehicle owners reported higher-than-average wear rates on the front axle.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max B · Kumho Solus TA31
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresAll Season Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typeMotorcyclePassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—19
Rim diameters—15″ – 20″
Tread depth—9.5/32″
UTQG—500 A A
Treadwear warranty—60,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—44 psi
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Kumho

Winner: Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max — better wet, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max scores 80 vs 64 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max scores 85 vs 74 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max scores 75 vs 64 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max scores 80 vs 75 on dry.

Tire A · Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
Tire B · Kumho Solus TA31

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.