Dunlop  SP Sport Maxx GT

Absolutely love these tires. My Subaru STI came stock from factory with Dunlop sport maxx tires that handled phenomenally and when I purchased a set of new rims that were bigger than the stock set up I had to of course get new tires. So I went with Dunlop again as I was so impressed with the stock Dunlop sport maxx but I upgraded to these SP sport maxx GT tires. Only difference is the sidewall stiffness on these tires. Subarus stock Dunlop tire was softer for corning but I could care less about corning as I only drive city and not track so the increase stiffness of the sp sport maxx gt tires didn't bother me.

These tires in rain are like claws gripping into the ground. Yes my sti is all wheel drive and has settings for wet or loose gravel but the tires also play a huge role. I've launched my sti at a dig in heavy rain and these tires gripped the wet road so well there was 0 and I mean 0 loss of traction, it hooked like it was dry and I said good bye to all the cars at the stop light. Didn't skid, didn't have any wheel spin, they just clawed the wet ground. Wow just WOW is all I can say with these tires. Dry or wet, these tires are a beast! No wonder a set of 4 cost $1500. I love these tires so much and I will certainly buy again despite the price.

The tire lives up to its category as a great Summer performance tire. I have put around 10K miles on these and they grip very, very well when cornering and also have great manners in the wet.

Don't expect to get more than 12K-18K miles out of a set if you do any type of spirited driving. The tread compound that makes them great for cornering and steering does so at the cost of very low tread life. I have a set of snows i use in the winter, but may consider the Michelin Pilot PS A/3 all season on my next purchase.

You shouldnt have to replace tire every year, but if you choose the Dunlops, you will.

I first tried these tires when I got my car used. To some extent, they prove the old adage, you get what you pay for. They come at quite a premium, especially outside Tire Rack, but their responsiveness and communication to the driver are excellent in the dry and wet.

Pros:
Good turn-in and steering response, even under spirited driving conditions
Extremely stable at speed
Quiet on asphalt roads
Great wet-weather handling and braking (though I did not push the handling very far in these conditions)
Easy drifting and recovery, even for a driver like me who has never raced

Cons:
Price
Not good in any more than a dusting of snow
Little noisy on concrete and poorly paved roads
Pick up road hazards quite frequently (I needed 2 tires patched/ sealed a total of 3 times for the tires inhaling road debris).

I ended up switching out the tires at a total of 24000 miles when I got sidewall bubbles after an admittedly rough impact on the left side tires. They are low-profile on the S4 but I would have liked something a little sturdier.
In summary, this a great, communicative tire, that may have lasted 30,000 miles without all the impacts/ hazards that damaged them. The drifting was a nice surprise, and might be even more fun to explore that capability on a track, as was the wet-weather capability. This seems like more of a true 3-season tire.
Like the rest of the world, I have switched to Pilot Super Sports.

This tire came with my new car. It performs excellently in dry conditions. It handled New England rainstorms reasonably well during the spring, summer, and fall.



After 6700 miles, the tread has worn evenly despite my rather aggressive driving on the highway and on-ramps. Driving in city blocks is very comfortable with no apparent vibration from the treads. It can sometimes feel more like a touring tire at low to medium speeds.



I'll note that the tire seemed to be very sensitive to temperature changes when the weather became cold; more sensitive than other summer tires I have used. I have had to switch to winter tires earlier in November than expected, as these had a difficult time gripping the wet road in sustained temperatures near 50 degrees F.

I think I own the best and the worst from this tire mfg. I have Sumitumo HTR II on my S4 that are probably the worst tires ever. These Dunlops really knocked my socks off. I really don't know if the performance improvements should be attributed to the car or the tires. I feel that a car cannot perform without good tires so my gut tells me that these tires must be just that good. No complaints, I lost two tires to a pothole in Nashville where a month later I developed a bubble in the sidewall that caused me to have to replace two tires on one side of the car. This is completely understandable. The grip level is unbelievable. No track time as yet, but these tires are no doubt up to the task. You can't make these tires even squeal unless your willing to drive really unreasonable speeds on the street. Wet and dry grip levels exceed all of my expectations. So far the wear is impressive. Their expensive, but you get what you pay for.

This tire came OE on my '09 A4 S-Line. Most driving is the daily 80 mile commute with the occasional extended vacation. Never tracked. Quiet and comfortable for cruising, tenacious grip and predictable handling for curve carving. Dry grip is outstanding, wet grip is amazing unless doing something truly stupid. Dry turn-in is "right now" but I have no experience with other summer performance tires for comparison on the A4. Can't comment on snow/ice performance (or lack thereof) because it just doesn't snow that much in south Louisiana/Mississippi.

After 32k miles, the Maxx GTs became a bit noisy. Not bad, just noticeable. They've been balanced 3 times so far and rotated 4 times. Plenty of tread left and I'll probably try to squeeze another 2k-3k miles. Will certainly have the Dunlops on the short list when replacement time arrives.

Just got these tires installed, but have had enough experience to write a quick review. I replaced a set of Pirelli Pzeros and I can tell right away that the SP Sport Maxx GT is a much more comfortable tire - it rides smooth and quiet. But clearly it lacks the turn-in response and ultimate grip of tires like the new Pzero, Michelin Pilot Sport 2, Goodyear F1, or similar competitors. If you have a sport sedan and want an excellent performance tire that provides high grip AND a comfortable, quiet ride, this is a great choice. If you want all-out performance, give this one a pass. I have a 45-series tire, but I think the turn-in response for this tire might be much better with a 30 or 25-series aspect ratio...it seems designed more for the lower height sidewalls...



Of course, you'll pay more for a top tire like the Pzero, but you'll get razor-sharp turn-in and high lateral grip. So far, though - I'm really pleased with these tires. With a slightly higher treadwear rating of 240, I'm hoping to get a few more miles than I have out of my previous super-soft compound tires.



If you can afford the premium cost of the Pzero or Michelin PS/2's, I can't recommend them enough. But if you're trying to balance the college fund and 401k with your big boy toys like your sports car and you're ok with a little more comfort and a little less hard-core peformance, put this one on your list.

Wow!!....is all I can say. I was a bit sceptical before buying a dunlop but this tyere surprised me. It's so quiet, comfortable and handles well. The thread is going nowhere. I love it! No defects, no issues. just pure bliss! Will buy again!

I love these Sport Maxx GT Dunlops. They have been on my Audi S4 since new and now have 26000 miles on these tires. There has never been an issue with the tires, and I am extremely watchful regarding tire quality and the ability to run true over time. These are still perfectly round and without vibrations. The treadwear is excellent for a tire rated at 240 treadware and because I do not drive that heavily I will be ready to replace them based on age as well as tread life. They have performed well and perfectly fit the character of the S4 - very sporty and responsive but quiet and comfortable. I plan to buy these again as soon as I am ready to buy.

These were the OEM tires on my car on the 19" wheels. I am shocked at how well they've worn. Outstanding grip, especially when warm. I wish they were a little less but for the money I have to admit they're darn good. I got 30000 miles of usage out them which includes commuting, blasting up and down the freeway, plenty of hard cornering, and some serious mountain road driving.

These OEM tires are excellent, no bubble problems as reported by others. At 120 they ride like its 60 very smooth and predictable on Quattro power and good for 20k plus miles.

These tires rock. I have over 20,000 miles on these tires and I drive like a bat out of --------. I haven't owened a tire that has better balance for all around use. I've used in on the track (autocross and drag) does fine. If you want a tire that can hang with the extreme performance tires, but don't want the terrible wear or noise/ride...GET THIS TIRE.