70
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
65/100
20 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R — Compared (September 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
90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
84/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
94/100
1,988 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R — better handling, treadwear and comfort. 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
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx ROF | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 100 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx ROF | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 76 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 45 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx ROF | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 95 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx ROF | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 44 | 60 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R leads by 37
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport Maxx ROF | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 95 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 90 |
| Dry | 84 | 94 |
| Wet | 76 | 83 |
| Comfort | 74 | 94 |
| Noise | – | 92 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 90 |
| Handling | 59 | 96 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
70
/ 100
Tire A
90
/ 100
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.
The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF is widely regarded as a high-performance tire that excels in ride comfort, cabin quietness, and dry-weather handling. However, these benefits are frequently offset by significant concerns regarding rapid tread wear and inconsistent traction in wet or cold conditions, leading to a polarized user experience.
Pros
- Excellent dry-weather grip and handling performance
- Superior ride comfort and low road noise levels
- Stiff sidewall construction provides stable steering feedback
- Aesthetically pleasing, aggressive tread design
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear
- Poor traction and safety concerns in wet or cold weather
- High replacement costs relative to longevity
- Susceptibility to road debris and sidewall damage
Observations
- High-horsepower vehicles, such as the C63s AMG, struggle with off-the-line traction, suggesting the tire is ill-suited for high-torque applications.
- Users with 20-inch and larger wheels frequently report issues with tramlining and tracking on uneven road surfaces.
- Owners of luxury SUVs like the BMW X5 and Audi SQ5 appreciate the ride quality but express frustration over the short lifespan of the tires in these heavier applications.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R is a specialized, track-focused tire that offers exceptional dry-weather grip and steering precision for high-performance vehicles. While it excels in competitive driving and track-day environments, users emphasize that it is not suitable for daily driving, particularly due to its rapid tread wear, poor wet-weather performance, and lack of cold-temperature capability.
Pros
- Unrivaled dry-weather traction and cornering grip
- Precise steering response and communicative feedback
- Excellent performance consistency during track sessions
- Superior stability at high speeds
Cons
- Extremely short tread life and rapid wear
- Significant safety risks in wet or cold conditions
- High purchase price and high cost-per-mile
- Increased road noise and harsh ride quality
Observations
- Performance is highly dependent on vehicle-specific alignment settings; improper camber can lead to premature shoulder wear.
- Users note that the tire requires significant heat to reach optimal operating temperatures, making it feel 'sketchy' or stiff during short street trips.
- The tire is frequently cited as a 'one-trick pony' for track-day enthusiasts, with many users recommending the Pilot Sport 4S as a more practical alternative for street-driven vehicles.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF | B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Trackday and Competition tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
70
/ 100
Dunlop
90
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R — better handling, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 96 vs 59 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 90 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 94 vs 74 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 94 vs 84 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ROF also compared with
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R 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.