90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
88/100
13 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Avon Spirit ST vs Pirelli Dragon Sport — 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
75/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Avon Spirit ST — better wet, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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)
Spirit ST leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Spirit ST | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 94 | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Spirit ST leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Spirit ST | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 98 | 78 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Spirit ST leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Spirit ST | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 69 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Spirit ST leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Spirit ST | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Spirit ST leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Spirit ST | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 76 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Avon Spirit ST | Pirelli Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 90 | 75 |
| Dry | 94 | 80 |
| Wet | 98 | 78 |
| Comfort | 85 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 71 |
| Handling | 87 | 76 |
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
90
/ 100
Tire A
75
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Avon Spirit ST is widely regarded as a high-performance sport-touring tire that offers exceptional grip and stability across diverse weather conditions. While most users praise its longevity and value, experiences are polarized, with some riders reporting significant issues regarding handling feedback and high-speed vibrations on specific heavy motorcycles.
Pros
- Excellent wet and dry weather grip
- High durability and resistance to squaring off
- Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors
- High stability under heavy loads and two-up riding
Cons
- Reports of vague steering feedback and reluctance to turn on certain bikes
- Inconsistent quality control leading to high-speed vibrations for some users
- Poor customer support resolution for warranty claims
- Extremely short tread life reported by a minority of users
Observations
- Users on heavy touring bikes like the BMW K1600GT reported significant high-speed vibration issues.
- Riders of mid-sized motorcycles like the Yamaha 700 noted improved stability and predictability compared to previous tires.
- Heavy-duty touring and two-up riding configurations consistently reported positive results regarding tire longevity and load stability.
The Pirelli Dragon Sport is generally perceived as a capable, budget-friendly entry-level performance tire that excels in longevity and daily comfort rather than track-focused handling. While many users praise its value and durability, there is a clear divide in opinion regarding its 'sport' classification, with some enthusiasts finding the sidewalls too soft and the grip limits lower than premium performance alternatives.
Pros
- Excellent tread life and durability for the price point
- High value-for-money compared to premium performance tires
- Strong dry grip and reliable wet weather performance for daily driving
- Comfortable ride quality with relatively low road noise
Cons
- Soft sidewalls leading to vague steering feedback and understeer
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and punctures from road hazards
- Performance limits fall short of true enthusiast-grade tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport series
- Inconsistent noise levels depending on road surface quality
Observations
- Users with high-torque or performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., Mazda 3 MPS, Corolla Altis) report impressive mileage, often exceeding 50,000 km.
- Drivers on coarse-chip road surfaces report higher-than-average cabin noise, suggesting the tire is better suited for smoother urban environments.
- Some users noted that the tire's performance characteristics are more aligned with a premium touring tire (like the Cinturato P1) than a dedicated sports tire.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Avon Spirit ST | B · Pirelli Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Extreme Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
90
/ 100
Avon
75
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Avon Spirit ST — better wet, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Avon Spirit ST scores 98 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Avon Spirit ST scores 85 vs 69 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Avon Spirit ST scores 94 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Avon Spirit ST scores 85 vs 71 on treadwear.
Tire A · Avon Spirit ST
Tire B · Pirelli Dragon Sport
More comparisons
Also compared with
Avon Spirit ST also compared with
Pirelli Dragon Sport 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.