Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 vs Firestone Firehawk Sport
- TR Score
- 8.4/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 94
- TR Score
- 8.6/10
- Owners say
- 79% · 6
The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 and the Firestone Firehawk Sport have met in 4 independent tests and the record is level at 2-2. The SportMaxx RT 2 lasted 29% longer in the wear tests; the Firehawk Sport stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is the better all-round buy: bigger winning margins, a clean sweep of aquaplaning and longer tread life at a lower cost per 1000km. Choose the Firestone Firehawk Sport if fuel economy and low noise lead your list, where its 19 percent rolling resistance advantage is worth real money.
Where the SportMaxx RT 2 is stronger
- Won its two tests emphatically, 9th of 21 against 20th and 17th of 50 against 23rd
- Better aquaplaning in all four measurements, by 25 percent through the curve at ADAC
- Longer life in both wear tests and cheaper per 1000km in both calculations
Where the Firehawk Sport is stronger
- Shorter braking in three of four tests, in the dry and the wet
- 19 percent lower rolling resistance, 7.62 against 9.41 kg/t at Auto Bild
- Less abrasion at ADAC, 81.1 against 91mg/km/t, and the quieter tire
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
SportMaxx RT 2 vs Firehawk Sport at a glance
| Category | SportMaxx RT 2 | Gap | Firehawk Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 2 | 2 | |
| Dry5 measurements | 2 | The Firehawk Sport stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 3 |
| Wet11 measurements | 7 | The SportMaxx RT 2 held 18.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning (2 tests) | 4 |
| Comfort3 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Value5 measurements | 2 | 3 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.4/10 | The Firehawk Sport by 0.2 | 8.6/10 |
| Owner rating94 and 6 reviews | 77% | The Firehawk Sport by 2 points | 79% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 63% | The Firehawk Sport by 4 points | 67% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +9% | The SportMaxx RT 2 was dearer in 2 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 61 | 26 sizes made in both | 35 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
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 | Firehawk Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P17 of 50 | P23 of 50 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test | P9 of 20 | P20 of 20 | |
| 2025 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P9 of 18 | P7 of 18 | |
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P19 of 52 | P15 of 52 |
Performance profile
6 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
Firehawk Sport
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. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 8 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
Firehawk Sport
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
Firehawk Sport
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Firehawk Sport 79% from 6. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | SportMaxx RT 2 | Gap | Firehawk Sport | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 1.4% | 116 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 73.4 | 1.1% | 72.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 116 | 0.3% | 115 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 125 | 0.3% | 125 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 44.6 | 0.6% | 44.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 14.98 | 0.7% | 15.08 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 50.4 | 3.3% | 48.8 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 11.4 | 18.1% | 9.7 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 16.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 73.2 | 0.3 dB | 72.95 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 25,256 | 29% | 19,685 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 9.41 | 19% | 7.62 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 91 | 10.9% | 81.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportMaxx RT 2 scores 8.4 and the Firehawk Sport 8.6 out of 10.
| SportMaxx RT 2 | Category | Firehawk Sport | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 83 | Wet | 66 | ||
| 33 | Comfort | 54 | ||
| 37 | Value | 56 | ||
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.
What owners say
| SportMaxx RT 2 | Category | Firehawk Sport | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3 | Dry Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 7.8 | Wet Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 7.7 | Road Feedback | 7.8 | ||
| 7.6 | Handling | 8.4 | ||
| 7.5 | Wear | 5 | ||
| 7.9 | Comfort | 8 | ||
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Firehawk Sport 79% from 6. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- 77%from 94 reviews
- 63%would buy again
- 788,854 milesdriven by reviewers
Across reviews, the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is most often described as a quiet, comfortable UHP tire with strong all-round grip-especially in the wet-and good aquaplaning resistance, giving many drivers high confidence in everyday and motorway use. Wear is frequently reported as good to very good versus several competing premium tires, and many consider it strong value for money. A notable minority, however, report overly soft or inconsistent sidewalls leading to vague/“wobbly” steering and reduced precision when cornering hard, and some users say grip (particularly in wet conditions) can fall off as the tire wears.
- Strong wet grip and reassuring stability in heavy rain
- Good resistance to aquaplaning
- Good dry grip/traction for normal to spirited road driving
- Low road noise and generally comfortable ride
- Soft sidewalls causing vague steering, squirm, or reduced precision under hard cornering/load changes
- Some reports of poor wet grip or reduced confidence (often as the tire wears)
- Noise can increase as the tire wears or on rough road surfaces
Summarised by AI from 81 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 94 SportMaxx RT 2 reviewsI've had several sets of these on my car now as they have proven to be reliable and confidence inspiring in the wet. They've survived pot holes, debris, and the odd curb. I've never found myself wishing for more grip in the dry. The response is perhaps slightly muted compared to more expensive tires, but personally don't have an issue as my driving is 90% motorway/major A roads.
In the wet the car feels stable in the rain at motorway speeds up until about 3mm tread depth, at which point the front started to feel nervous. Braking has been fine in the wet but pulling away briskly in anything other than a straight line will set off the traction control. Hard to say if this would be reduced with a more expensive tire.
Front tires have lasted about 11k miles before reaching the wear line after. Rears are over 20k and still have a while to go.
Firestone Firehawk Sport
- 79%from 6 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 18,510 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally report the Firestone Firehawk Sport delivers strong wet and dry grip with confident aquaplaning resistance, making it feel secure in heavy rain. Many also highlight low road noise and improved fuel economy/MPG versus prior tires, with stable handling and reduced tramlining. A smaller share of reviews raise concerns about faster-than-expected wear or durability on rough/potholed roads, though most feedback remains clearly positive.
- Excellent wet grip and rain confidence (including aquaplaning resistance)
- Strong dry grip/traction and stable handling
- Low road noise/quiet ride
- Improved fuel economy/MPG
- Some reports of faster wear or reduced durability on rough/potholed roads
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 6 Firehawk Sport reviewsI came from a hankook ventus s1 evo3 . But they had pretty bad dry cracks even before the tire ran out of life . I have 245/35/20 tires . the comfort on the firestones are a little bit worse then the hankooks . i could run the hankooks on 2.5 bar , these on 2.3 for the same comfort . i think the firestones are a bit more fuel efficient , even when they are on a lower tire pressure . Dry grip is very good , never lost any traction , even in the rain . aquaplanning is also very good , never had any feel of losing controle .
So far i ran the tires around 15.000 km and lost 1.5mm out of the 5.5mm tread on the front , and only lost 0.5 on the back . so i think ill get aroud 60.000km out of it if i switch them every year . Found out they have like 0 traction on snow , keep that in mind .
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 61 sizes of the SportMaxx RT 2 and 35 of the Firehawk Sport, 26 of them made in both.
| Category | SportMaxx RT 2 | Firehawk Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 61 sizes, 17 to 21 inch | 35 sizes, 18 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 26 sizes 225/40 R18225/45 R18235/40 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18255/35 R18255/40 R18265/35 R18225/35 R19225/45 R19235/35 R19245/35 R19and 14 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A85%B15% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C79%D19%B3% | B77%C20%A3% |
| EU label noise | 69-73 dB B93%A7% | 70 dB B54%A46% |
| On the market since | 2021 | 2023 |
| Replaced | Dunlop SportMaxx RT (2014) | Firestone Firehawk SZ90 |
| Awards | Winner: Ultra High Performance Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2021) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The SportMaxx RT 2 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 9% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Four shared tests split two apiece, but they do not split evenly. The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2's win at Auto Bild in 2025 was by eleven places, 9th of 21 against 20th, and it was 17th of 50 against 23rd in the 2026 braking super test. The Firestone Firehawk Sport's two wins were narrow, 7th of 18 against 9th at ADAC and 15th of 52 against 19th in Auto Bild's 2025 shootout.
The Firestone is the better brake in three of the four tests, in the dry and the wet alike, though the margins are small: 34.6m against 35.2m dry and 31.1m against 31.5m wet in the shootout, 35.9m against 37.3m dry at ADAC. It also rolls with 19 percent less resistance, 7.62 against 9.41 kg/t, and abrades less.
The Dunlop owns standing water and tread life. It resisted aquaplaning better in all four measurements, by 25 percent through the curve at ADAC, 3.5 against 2.8 m/sec2, and it wore longer in both tests, 39,590km against 28,860km at Auto Bild.
Conclusion
On balance the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is the more complete tire, even though the head to head reads two-all. Its wins are the emphatic ones: 9th of 21 against the Firestone's 20th at Auto Bild in 2025, an eleven place gap, and 17th of 50 against 23rd in the 2026 braking test. It swept aquaplaning, winning both straight runs and both curved runs, by 25 percent at ADAC, 3.5 against 2.8 m/sec2, and by 11.3 percent at Auto Bild. It lasted longer in both wear tests, 39,590km against 28,860km and 41,700km against 34,500km, which made it cheaper per 1000km in both calculations, 9.09 against 11.64 and 2.92 against 3.19, and Auto Bild's panel rated it more comfortable, 5 points against 4.3. It also won the only dry handling, wet handling and wet circle comparisons on record.
The Firestone Firehawk Sport is the better brake and the cheaper tire to fuel. It stopped shorter in the dry in three of four tests and in the wet in three of four, though the margins are all under 4 percent. Its real advantage is efficiency: 7.62 against 9.41 kg/t of rolling resistance at Auto Bild, 19 percent less, with less abrasion at ADAC, 81.1 against 91mg/km/t, and it was the quieter tire.
Note the Firestone has only 6 owner reviews on the site against 86 for the Dunlop, so there is far less long-term experience behind it. Unless fuel economy is the deciding factor, the Dunlop's aquaplaning and wear advantages outweigh the Firestone's small braking edge.
SportMaxx RT 2 vs Firehawk Sport: your questions
Is the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 or the Firestone Firehawk Sport the better tire?
The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 and the Firestone Firehawk Sport have met in 4 independent tests and the record is level at 2-2. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportMaxx RT 2 scores 8.4 and the Firehawk Sport 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the SportMaxx RT 2 or the Firehawk Sport?
The SportMaxx RT 2 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 18.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Firehawk Sport led 3 of the 5 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The SportMaxx RT 2 lasted 29% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.5/10 for the SportMaxx RT 2 and 5/10 for the Firehawk Sport.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.9/10 for the SportMaxx RT 2 and 8/10 for the Firehawk Sport.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Firehawk Sport 79% from 6. 63% of SportMaxx RT 2 owners would buy it again, against 67% for the Firehawk Sport.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the SportMaxx RT 2 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 9% 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 Firehawk Sport in 35 (18 to 20 inch). 26 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 Firehawk Sport A and B.
Which is the newer tire?
The Firehawk Sport is the newer design: it reached the market in 2023, the SportMaxx RT 2 in 2021. The SportMaxx RT 2 replaced the Dunlop SportMaxx RT. The Firehawk Sport replaced the Firestone Firehawk SZ90.
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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.
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