77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
74/100
46 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 vs Michelin Energy XM2 — 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
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
55 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 and Michelin Energy XM2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 is stronger on comfort. Michelin Energy XM2 is stronger on wet and treadwear.
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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)
SP Sport LM 705 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport LM 705 | Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 81 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Energy XM2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport LM 705 | Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 62 | 74 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
SP Sport LM 705 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport LM 705 | Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 72 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Energy XM2 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport LM 705 | Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 86 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport LM 705 | Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 74 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 | Michelin Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 78 |
| Dry | 83 | 81 |
| Wet | 67 | 74 |
| Comfort | 88 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 86 |
| Handling | 74 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
78
/ 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 SP Sport LM 705 is widely regarded as a dedicated touring tire that excels in ride comfort, noise reduction, and value. While it receives high praise for its ability to absorb road imperfections and provide a quiet cabin, users frequently note that its soft sidewall construction results in compromised handling precision and significant limitations in wet-weather traction.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and vibration absorption
- Very low road noise levels
- High value-for-money proposition
- Good dry-weather handling for daily commuting
Cons
- Poor wet-weather grip and high risk of hydroplaning
- Soft sidewalls lead to 'mushy' steering response
- Inconsistent tread life reports
- Not suitable for high-performance or spirited driving
Observations
- Users with high-horsepower vehicles (e.g., C63s AMG) report that the tire is incapable of handling high torque, leading to significant traction loss.
- Owners of luxury sedans and daily commuters appreciate the comfort benefits, whereas performance-oriented drivers find the soft sidewalls detrimental to cornering stability.
- The tire is frequently noted as an effective, budget-friendly alternative to premium OEM tires for standard passenger vehicles.
The Michelin Energy XM2 is widely regarded as a durable, long-lasting touring tire that excels in tread life and reliability for daily commuting. While many users praise its comfort and consistent performance, opinions are polarized regarding noise levels and wet-weather grip, with some drivers finding them exceptionally quiet and others reporting significant road noise as the tire ages.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability
- Strong puncture resistance
- Reliable dry and wet grip for daily driving
- High levels of ride comfort
Cons
- Increased road noise as the tire wears
- Soft sidewalls can feel less responsive during spirited driving
- Premium price point compared to competitors
- Inconsistent performance feedback regarding wet-weather traction
Observations
- Users with smaller hatchbacks and sedans frequently report high satisfaction with comfort and fuel efficiency.
- Drivers of heavier or higher-torque vehicles occasionally noted that the soft sidewalls lead to noticeable body roll and less precise handling.
- Owners of vehicles with smaller wheel diameters (15-16 inch) often view the tire as a significant upgrade over budget stock options.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 | B · Michelin Energy XM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 6 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 19″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Dunlop
78
/ 100
Michelin
Too close to call: Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 and Michelin Energy XM2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 is stronger on comfort. Michelin Energy XM2 is stronger on wet and treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 scores 88 vs 72 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Energy XM2 scores 74 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Energy XM2 scores 86 vs 80 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport LM 705
Tire B · Michelin Energy XM2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport LM 705 also compared with
Michelin Energy XM2 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.