Drivers of the Dunlop SportMaxx RT largely praise its strong dry and confident wet grip, stable high-speed manners, and generally quiet, comfortable ride with good aquaplaning resistance. Many note predictable handling and strong braking, often comparing it favorably to OE or budget tires. The most consistent drawback is very fast wear, with several owners reporting short lifespans and rising noise as the tread diminishes; a minority also mention softer sidewalls that dull initial steering response. Overall, it's a high-performing summer tire best for those prioritizing grip over longevity.
What owners mention most counted across 157 reviews
These are a very good tire. Dry and wet grip is very good, comparable to the top end tires from other brands. Tire noise is vastly reduced over my previous tires (some cheap Nexens which came with the car).
My favorite aspect of these is the progressiveness - you can really feel what they are doing and the levels of grip available to you in the bends.
Grip does seem to drop off slightly when the temperatures are sub 5 degrees, but this is the case with any summer tire and the feedback means you can feel it happening readily.
I can't comment on tire wear yet as have only had them on for ~1000 miles, but they feel like a fairly soft compound so wouldn't expect them to be super long lasting.
I will definitely be buying these again if available in my size. In some sizes they are a verifiable bargain when compared with the competition.
Previously had bridgestone ER33 which still had loads of tread left on them but i hated the ride quality they offered. These Dunlops have literally transformed the ride- so smooth and more cushioned. A little less road noise too. Not sure how to describe this but you do notice little rolling resistance. The car seems less sticky and when in DRIVE without even accelerating it now moves quicker- this has resulted in slightly better MPG. MY only negative is that they are advertised as having RIM PROTECTOR but to me they don't. Unlike the Bridgestones the wall does not overhang the alloy rim so it's easy to kerb the wheels. I spoke to Dunlop who insist it does have a rim protector so if this is the case then Dunlop's MFS (rim protector) is a complete joke!
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
Excelent tires for my Fiat Stilo. To be honest, I still didn't find the limit of the car with these tires, it just keep going and going, without losing the grip.
It wears quickly, but what do you expect ? It is a sports tire.
Road feedback is also very good.
I highly recommend these tires.
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I shod my last car (Mazda6 2.3 Sport) with Goodyear F1 Eagle Assymetric 2 - and I was amazed at the transformation they made. A change of car and a need for better tires leaned me toward the same tire, albeit wider.
I was swayed by reviews of the Dunlop Sportmaxx RT. The Saab 9-3 Aero V6, with Hirsch upgrade, now handles and brakes like the car I wanted it to be. A little more road rumble than I had hoped - but, on every road condition thrown at the car so far, the new Dunlops are totally confidence-inspiring and, on dual carriageway, are returning better MPG than the old tires did.
I will report back after the cold, wet months. That's where the Goodyears were truly superb for a summer tire.
I would not recommend the SportMaxx RT.
Performance on country roads and grip in dry and wet conditions not as good as it should be. Tire life has only been half that of the previous front tires on this car.
After 20.000 km these tires are oval!
No recommended!!!
Replaced my ContiSport 5s with these new Dunlops 5 months ago after much research. A great tire and very affordable price. Dry grip and breaking are top notch with very good feedback and low noise. Wet performance is also very safe and predictable. Wear a lot less then what i was expecting, with over 10,000 miles done and still at leat 6mm tread left fornt and rear.
A very good tire and highly recommended.
I think it is a good tire but can't say a lot because I only have an old set of yokohama to compare them with. I would like to inform any future buyer that un till they bed in (400 miles) they can be quite slippery
After reserching for an age I decided to put these on my 09 Volvo V70 R-Design, and with 125 mile drive through rural highlands roads mix of single track, duel carriageways, and B roads back home from the fitting center I am delighted.
Grippy, quiet, rapid, comfortable, fantastic hard breaking capacity on uneven surfaces, no wet roads to test it on but I have a feeling they will continue to excel.
