Tested 40 times by independent publications, the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 averages a finish of 7th. Its strongest discipline is Straight Aqua, beating 84% of the field across 18 tests; its weakest is Wet Braking, at 42% across 31 tests.
40Independent tests
0Test wins
6Podium finishes
7thAverage finish
55%Field beaten on average
13Publications
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40 tests, 2016 to 2026
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
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 is rated positively. However, it loses ground in the cost tests, with higher tread wear and above-average price-per-km, which drags down the overall result.
Strong: Subj. Comfort ·Weak: Dry Braking ·Winner: Hankook Ventus Evo
Record by discipline
Where the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tyres. Field beaten is the share of the other tyres it outranked in that measurement.
Record by discipline
Discipline
Tests
Avg finish
Field beaten
Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking
30
P8.7 of 20.3
51%
-
Dry Handling
20
P8 of 13
43%
-
Subj. Dry Handling
8
P6.4 of 10.6
45%
-
Wet
Wet Braking Weak
31
P10.3 of 20.2
42%
1
Wet Braking - Concrete
2
P10 of 17
44%
-
Wet Handling
20
P7.1 of 13.4
53%
2
Subj. Wet Handling
7
P5 of 10.7
63%
-
Wet Circle
6
P7.7 of 14.2
45%
-
Straight Aqua Strong
18
P3.6 of 14.2
84%
6
Curved Aquaplaning
10
P3.2 of 15.7
86%
4
Comfort
Subj. Comfort
6
P5.7 of 14
59%
2
Noise
14
P9.5 of 15.9
47%
-
Value
Wear
9
P8 of 19.4
61%
-
Value
8
P12.3 of 19.4
38%
-
Rolling Resistance
15
P7.5 of 13.5
59%
3
Fuel Consumption
2
P7.5 of 17
59%
-
Abrasion
3
P13.3 of 18
27%
-
Head-to-head record
Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
Across 40 summer tyre 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 tyre 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 tyre with standout aquaplaning strengths but a modern-performance deficit in wet braking and an inconsistent comfort/efficiency story depending on size/test context.
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)
Wet Braking (core wet-safety deficit, especially in newer tests)StrongDetails
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: 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)ModerateDetails
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)
Every tester write-up on the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 (28 tests) and 80 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Where owners and testers agree
AspectTestersOwners
Aquaplaning resistance strength in 19 of 28 tests 7 praise, 2 criticise of 80 reviews · Read those reviews
Ride comfort strength in 8 of 28 tests 18 praise, 6 criticise of 80 reviews · Read those reviews
Dry braking strength in 11 of 28 tests 3 praise, 1 criticise of 80 reviews · Read those reviews
Value for money strength in 1 of 28 tests 6 praise, 0 criticise of 80 reviews · Read those reviews
Where they disagree
AspectTestersOwners
Behaviour at the limit weakness in 4 of 28 tests 9 praise, 2 criticise of 80 reviews · Read those reviews
Raised by owners, not by any test of this tyre
AspectTestersOwners
Sidewall stiffnessno test mentions it 1 praise, 14 criticise of 80 reviews · Read those reviews
Every test, newest first 40
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
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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 is rated positively. However, it loses ground in the cost tests, with higher tread wear and above-average price-per-km, which drags down the overall result.
StrongSubj. Comfort WeakDry Braking WinnerHankook Ventus Evo
The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 achieved the best aquaplaning reserves in the test, particularly excelling in the curved aquaplaning test with 3.45 m/s² lateral acceleration. It offered decent mileage of nearly 40,000 kilometers and good comfort with reasonable noise levels. Its main weakness was slight understeer behavior on wet surfaces, though it maintained good overall stability. The tyre performed well in dry conditions with responsive handling and secure braking, offering a balanced performance that earned a "good" rating for this sportier-oriented option.
StrongCurved AquaplaningSubj. Comfort WinnerGoodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 achieves a "good" overall rating, with a "good" score for driving safety. However, its environmental performance is only satisfactory. While providing adequate feedback on dry roads, it can be sensitive to temperature increases. However, it maintains stability during maneuvers, and its braking is considered good. On wet roads, it performs well in all areas, offering good braking and handling. Its aquaplaning resistance is also above average. However, its environmental performance is limited by below-average projected mileage and abrasion, although it excels in efficiency and is the lightest tyre in the test.
The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 receives a just satisfactory rating in driving safety. On dry roads, it provides good steering feedback, precise control, and secure handling at the limit, along with a short braking distance, earning a solid good rating for dry performance. However, on wet roads, the Sport Maxx RT2 narrowly misses achieving more than a satisfactory rating. While it performs well in aquaplaning tests with good marks, it only achieves satisfactory results in braking distance measurements and wet handling. The tyre offers a medium level of grip and combines longitudinal and lateral forces satisfactorily. In terms of environmental impact, the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 just falls short of a good rating. Its projected mileage and wear are rated as nearly good, as are its weight and fuel consumption. However, due to slightly higher rolling noise and just satisfactory sustainability, it narrowly misses a good evaluation.
The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 is another dry specialist, with precise handling and good levels of grip. The Sport Maxx RT2 is less balanced in the wet, it has good aquaplaning resistance but the grip and handling is only average. Low internal noise and low fuel consumption.
By far the best in aquaplaning, the Sport Maxx RT2 was also highly rated on the wet handling circuit. It wasn’t as impressive in the dry though, being marginally the slowest on track and middle-ranked subjectively, and also marked down on the road for a lack of feel and refinement.
StrongSubj. Wet HandlingStraight AquaRolling Resistance WeakDry BrakingDry HandlingWet Braking WinnerMichelin Pilot Sport 4 S
The Dunlop excelled in no key area, but as an all round package it was more balanced than the tyres below. A solid performance for one of the cheaper tyres on test.
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