Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 vs Hankook Ventus Evo
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Ventus Evo finished ahead 4 times and the SportMaxx RT 2 not once. The Ventus Evo was stronger in dry, wet, comfort and value.
Performance profile
11 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
SportMaxx RT 2
Ventus Evo
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
SportMaxx RT 2
Not ahead in any category
Ventus Evo
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
SportMaxx RT 2
Not ahead in any category
Ventus Evo
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Ventus Evo 86% from 24. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | SportMaxx RT 2 | Gap | Ventus Evo | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ventus Evo ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 116 | 5.2% | 110 | 0-4 |
| Dry Handling mph | 67.7 | 2% | 69.1 | 0-2 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 49.3% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Ventus Evo ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 127 | 10.2% | 114 | 0-4 |
| Wet Handling mph | 47.8 | 2.1% | 48.8 | 0-2 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 19.2% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle s | 14.98 | 2.8% | 14.56 | 0-2 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 54.2 | 1.8% | 53.2 | 2-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 11.4 | 5.9% | 10.7 | 2-0 |
| Comfort Ventus Evo ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Noise dB | 73 | 0.6 dB | 72.45 | 0-2 |
| Value Ventus Evo ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 26,225 | 15.2% | 30,370 | 0-2 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.08 | 9.9% | 8.19 | 0-2 |
| Abrasion g | 1,656 | 11.2% | 1,470 | 0-1 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2025 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | SportMaxx RT 2 | Field | Ventus Evo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tire Test | P13 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P17 of 50 | P2 of 50 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test | P9 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P19 of 52 | P3 of 52 |
SportMaxx RT 2 vs Ventus Evo: your questions
Is the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 or the Hankook Ventus Evo the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Ventus Evo finished ahead 4 times and the SportMaxx RT 2 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportMaxx RT 2 scores 8.4 and the Ventus Evo 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the SportMaxx RT 2 or the Ventus Evo?
The Ventus Evo led 9 of the 13 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 10.2% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ventus Evo led 7 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.2% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ventus Evo lasted 15.2% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 9.9% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.5/10 for the SportMaxx RT 2 and 7.8/10 for the Ventus Evo.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Ventus Evo was 0.6 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.9/10 for the SportMaxx RT 2 and 7.9/10 for the Ventus Evo.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Ventus Evo 86% from 24. 63% of SportMaxx RT 2 owners would buy it again, against 78% for the Ventus Evo.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the SportMaxx RT 2 was the dearer tire in 1 of them, by 4.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The SportMaxx RT 2 is made in 61 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Ventus Evo in 106 (17 to 22 inch). 43 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the SportMaxx RT 2 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ventus Evo A and C.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.