Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 - Test Results

Test Statistics

40

Tests Completed

7^th

Average Position

2^nd

Best Result

19^th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Across 40 summer tire tests, the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 shows a clear split personality: consistently excellent aquaplaning resistance (often class-leading in straight and especially curved aquaplaning) and frequently decent ride comfort, but increasingly weak braking performance-most notably in the wet-plus middling-to-poor efficiency and value metrics in newer tests. Its average overall position of 7.3 reflects a tire that can still shine in specific safety-relevant water-dispersion scenarios, yet no longer competes reliably with the best modern UHP options in core wet stopping and overall balanced performance.

Historically the RT2 posted several strong overall finishes (e.g., 2nd/20 in 2017 Auto Bild; 3rd/14 in 2016 GTU; 3rd/6 in 2018 EVO), but recent large-group tests place it in the lower half (13th/20 in 2026 Auto Bild; 14th/20 in 2020 Auto Bild), driven by bottom-tier braking results and weaker eco/value scores. Net: a tire with standout aquaplaning strengths but a modern-performance deficit in wet braking and an inconsistent comfort/efficiency story depending on size/test context.

Performance Strengths

Aquaplaning Resistance (Straight & Curved) Strong Details
• Curved aquaplaning: 1st/20 in 2025 Auto Bild (+ noted as best curved aquaplaning), 1st/18 in 2025 ADAC, 1st/16 in 2024 ADAC, 1st/15 & 1st/15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19" (straight & curved), 1st/18 in 2021 EVO straight aquaplaning, 1st/6 in 2018 EVO straight aquaplaning
• Straight aquaplaning: 1st/15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19", 1st/10 in 2021 Auto Zeitung, 1st/12 in 2019 Gute Fahrt, 1st/7 in 2020 EVO, and still strong in 2026 Auto Bild with 4th/20 (+1.8% from best)
Comfort / Ride Compliance (test-dependent) Moderate Details
• Comfort: 1st/20 in 2026 Auto Bild subjective comfort (rolling comfort highlighted in article mentions)
• Comfort: 1st/20 in 2025 Auto Bild subjective comfort and 2nd/10 in 2021 Auto Zeitung subjective comfort
Dry Handling Capability (occasional high points) Minor Details
• 2nd/9 dry handling in 2021 EVO (+1.1% from best), indicating strong circuit pace/steering capability in that test set
• Near-front running dry performance in 2017 Auto Bild Summer test: 5th/20 dry handling (+0.6% from best) and 3rd/20 dry braking (+0.9% from best)

Performance Weaknesses

Wet Braking (core wet-safety deficit, especially in newer tests) Strong Details
• Wet braking: 16th/20 in 2026 Auto Bild (+15.8% from best), 18th/21 in 2025 Auto Bild (+15% from best), and 12th/16 in 2024 ADAC (+20.7% from best)
• Repeated bottom-tier wet braking results in comparative tests: 8th/9 in 2021 EVO (+19.6% from best), 7th/7 in 2020 EVO (+15.8% from best), and 19th/20 in 2020 Auto Bild (+14.9% from best)
Dry Braking (often lower half / bottom third) Moderate Details
• Dry braking: 19th/20 in 2026 Auto Bild (+7.6% from best) and 19th/21 in 2025 Auto Bild (+8% from best), indicating a consistent deficit versus leaders in recent large-field tests
• Also weak in smaller-group performance tests: 7th/9 in 2021 EVO (+8.3% from best) and 6th/7 in 2020 EVO (+6% from best)
Efficiency / Value (rolling resistance variability and often weak cost-per-km metrics) Moderate Details
• Rolling resistance: 20th/22 in 2022 Auto Bild (+57.5% from best), 17th/22 in 2023 Auto Bild (+18.5% from best), and 16th/20 in 2026 Auto Bild (+31% from best)
• Value metrics frequently poor: 17th/20 value in 2026 Auto Bild (+43.9% from best), 15th/16 value in 2024 ADAC (+101.7% from best), and 13th/18 value in 2025 ADAC (+186.1% from best)

Performance Over Time

Test History

of 20

2026 Autobild Summer Tire Test

2026
Winner: Hankook Ventus Evo

The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 finishes thirteenth. Its strongest area is water dispersal and straight aquaplaning resistance, where it finishes mid-field. Dry braking is competitive and rolling comfort...

Strong:
Subj. Comfort

Weak:
Dry Braking

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