80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Direzza ZIII vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — 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
85
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
8 professional tests
User signal (40%)
94/100
2,005 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — better handling, wet 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 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Direzza ZIII | Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 94 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Direzza ZIII | Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 55 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 60 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Direzza ZIII | Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 50 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 76 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 74 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Direzza ZIII | Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 56 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Direzza ZIII | Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 65 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 59 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Direzza ZIII | Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 93 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Direzza ZIII | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 85 |
| Dry | 85 | 86 |
| Wet | 75 | 83 |
| Comfort | 60 | 67 |
| Noise | – | 70 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 90 |
| Handling | 85 | 96 |
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
85
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/8 · 2021 Track Day 200TW Tyre Test | 50% #2/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test | -30 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Direzza ZIII is widely regarded as a reliable, predictable 200tw tire that excels in consistency and ease of use rather than outright competitive speed. It serves as a versatile option for drivers who prioritize longevity and manageable handling characteristics over peak performance in specialized environments like autocross.
Pros
- High level of predictability and ease of handling
- Consistent performance during extended track sessions
- Good durability and tread life for a 200tw tire
- Reliable wet and dry grip characteristics
Cons
- Lacks the peak grip required for top-tier competitive autocross
- Tendency to 'grease up' or lose optimal grip after prolonged hard driving
- Not the fastest option in its category for pure lap times
Observations
- Proven durability in endurance racing environments, specifically noted on heavier platforms like the Lexus LS400.
- Performance remains consistent across varied track conditions, making it a suitable 'baseline' tire for endurance racing teams.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is widely regarded as a premier track-focused tire that offers exceptional dry-weather grip and steering precision for high-performance vehicles. While it provides surprising levels of feedback and stability for a semi-slick, users emphasize that it is not a traditional daily driver tire, as it requires significant heat to reach optimal performance and suffers from rapid tread wear and compromised wet-weather safety.
Pros
- Exceptional dry-weather traction and cornering grip
- High levels of steering feedback and communicative handling
- Predictable and progressive breakaway characteristics at the limit
- Strong, stiff sidewalls that enhance stability during spirited driving
- Surprisingly capable on track for a street-legal tire
Cons
- Very short tread life and rapid wear
- Poor performance in cold temperatures and standing water
- Requires significant heat to reach optimal operating grip
- High price point relative to longevity
- Tendency to pick up and throw road debris due to sticky compound
Observations
- Users with high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive sports cars (e.g., Corvette, M2, GT3) report the most significant benefits in traction, though they also experience the fastest wear.
- Drivers of lighter vehicles (e.g., Mazda MX-5) note that the tire's stiff sidewall significantly improves steering precision compared to standard performance tires.
- Some users on AWD platforms noted that the tire's performance is highly dependent on proper tire pressure management to avoid overheating during track sessions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Direzza ZIII | B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Extreme Performance tires | Summer Trackday and Competition tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Dunlop
85
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — better handling, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 96 vs 85 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 83 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 67 vs 60 on comfort.
Tire A · Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Direzza ZIII also compared with
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 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.