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  • DunlopSport Maxx RT
  • DunlopSport Maxx RT
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The Sport Maxx RT (inspired by Racing Technology) is Dunlop's Max Performance Summer road tire developed for the drivers of sports cars, sporty coupes and high performance sedans. Dunlop Racing Technology combines sophisticated tire materials and manufacturing techniques to enhance road feedback and driving precision. Like all summer tires, the Sport Maxx RT is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

Sport Maxx RT tires feature adaptive compound technology that uses motorsports derived polymers to allow its silica-plus tread rubber to adapt to the textures of the road surface, maximizing road contact and increasing grip. This compound is molded into an asymmetric design that features large outboard shoulder blocks tied to a notched intermediate rib that enhances dry road responsiveness and cornering control. A continuous center rib and notched inboard intermediate and shoulder ribs are separated by wide circumferential grooves to resist hydroplaning and enhance wet traction. Dunlop Multi-Radius-Tread Technology distributes footprint pressure effectively across the tire and allows the footprint shape to change more smoothly as it moves from a straight to a curve, leading to better control and more precise driving.

The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by Dunlop's JointLess Band (JLB) spirally wound cord to provide high-speed durability and enhance ride uniformity.

Limited sizes of the Sport Maxx RT are available with Dunlop's Noise Shield Technology, which involves the manufacturer adhering a layer of sound-absorbing foam to the inner liner of the tire to reduce cabin noise in the vehicle. These sizes are identified on the Specs page and in the search results.

Related Information: Noise Reducing Tire Technology

Tire Rack Test Results Dunlop Sport Maxx RT

Latest vs. Greatest Max Performance Summer Tires(04:59)

Max Performance tires deliver an unsurpassed blend of dry/wet traction and handling for the street via high-tech materials and advanced manufacturing. They aren't hampered by the inherent compromises of an all-season tire. And unlike Extreme Performance tires, they have good road manners.

How do the newest compare to the top tires in the category?

Read the Full Test Report

Ratings Charts & Reviews Dunlop Sport Maxx RT

Tire Category: Max Performance Summer

Consumer Surveys

 
Best in Category
Miles Reported
Recommended
Treadwear
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
Good
86%
1.4M
5.8 - Fair
7.9 - Good
7.9 Hydroplaning Resistance
8.0 Wet Traction
8.6 - Excellent
8.6 Corner Stability
8.7 Dry Traction
8.6 Steering Response
N/A
N/A Light Snow Traction
N/A Deep Snow Traction
N/A Ice Traction
7.0 - Good
7.3 Ride Quality
6.8 Noise
7.0 - Good

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT Reviews

User feedback reveals the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT excels in dry traction, with scores frequently reaching 9-10 for strong grip and responsive handling. Wet traction also impresses, with most ratings in the 8-9 range, though a few note reduced hydroplaning resistance in heavy rain. Comfort receives generally positive feedback (6-8 range) for ride quality, but some report noticeable road noise or firmness. Treadwear shows mixed results, with many praising durability (7-9 scores) while others mention faster-than-expected wear, particularly under aggressive driving. As a max performance summer tire, it delivers on its core strengths in dry and wet conditions, aligning well with enthusiast priorities.

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Customers Like:

82 reviews mention "Wet Traction"

  • 73 positive
  • 9 negative

Most customers rate wet traction highly with scores 7-10, excelling in hydroplaning resistance. High 9s and 10s highlight confident grip in wet conditions, aligning with its summer tire design strengths.

89 reviews mention "Dry Traction"

  • 84 positive
  • 5 negative

Customers consistently rate the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT's dry traction as excellent, with most scores between 9-10. High marks highlight responsive handling and confident grip, showcasing its strength as a summer-focused performance tire designed for precise dry-road control.

January 21, 2019
(Verified Purchase)
3.9 out of 5 Star Rating
3.9 out of 5

...Dry traction on the track is great. Put down respectable times on stock rubber and the tires were very predictable. Spirited canyon runs, never had an issue, and was able to always correct if I cooked a turn...

Took these bad boys to the track as well as 30000 miles on the street. Still has good tread depth in the center, but the shoulders are going out due to factor camber specs (-1.5 in the rear)
Honestly, these tires grip alright, but they are very predictable. I've been able to do decent speeds on the highway during heavy rains whilst still maintaining traction as well . Great tire for the hydroplaning resistance IMO. Never had an issue with wet launching the car as well at factory power, but I wet cornering is definitely scary. A lot of understeer if you're not watching the conditions.
Dry traction on the track is great. Put down respectable times on stock rubber and the tires were very predictable. Spirited canyon runs, never had an issue, and was able to always correct if I cooked a turn.
Daily driving, the tires are great comfort wise. STI's are known for stiff suspension, but I rode these tires from Cali to Texas and back. Really comfortable.
My only derogatory mark against these tires is the fact that they are SUPER noisy. I can hear everything on the road, but otherwise this is a great tire for daily driving with the occasional spirited drive. Just wish the wear pattern wasn't so bad with my stock suspension setup. Could have gotten a lot more miles out of them.

Vehicle: 2017 Subaru WRX STi
Miles Driven on Tires: 30,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LAFAYETTE, CA
Driving Style: Spirited

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August 10, 2017
3.8 out of 5 Star Rating
3.8 out of 5

...Well I was immediately impressed by the dunlops as they survived many breakfast runs and track days resulting in many entertaining miles. I highly recommend them especially due to its traction and cornering capability.

I was looking for a summer tyre that could provide great traction in cornering, accelerating and breaking to replace the OEM tires I had.
After lots of investigation on websites, forums and dealers I decided on sport maxx based on the tirerack comparison test.

Well I was immediately impressed by the dunlops as they survived many breakfast runs and track days resulting in many entertaining miles.

I highly recommend them especially due to its traction and cornering capability.

Vehicle: 2015 MINI John Cooper Works Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 10,000
Driving Conditions: Track/Autocross
Location: FLEMING ISLAND, FL
Driving Style: Spirited

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March 08, 2018
(Verified Purchase)
4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

...I don't do much average driving, most is spirited and these tires took the challenge well. Cornering is alike most high performance tires I've owned and honestly parallels that of some track tires...

This tire came stock on my 2018 WRX. I don't do much average driving, most is "spirited" and these tires took the challenge well. I can easily go through tires in 10,000 miles and these tires have just now hit warning strips at close to 13K. Cornering is alike most high performance tires I've owned and honestly parallels that of some track tires.

Most importantly however, I did run these tires all season because I did not feel like replacing them just for winter. They are a little wild to get used to in the heavy snow and you are forced to drive fairly slow. In slushy conditions and lighter snow I did not have many problems.

Vehicle: 2018 Subaru WRX
Miles Driven on Tires: 12,875
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: PITTSBURGH, PA
Driving Style: Spirited

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88 reviews mention "Ride Quality"

  • 62 positive
  • 26 negative

Most customers rate comfort highly with scores 7-10, praising smooth ride and noise levels. While some note variability, the Sport Maxx RT excels in its category.

January 21, 2019
(Verified Purchase)
3.9 out of 5 Star Rating
3.9 out of 5

...Daily driving, the tires are great comfort wise. STI's are known for stiff suspension, but I rode these tires from Cali to Texas and back. Really comfortable...

Took these bad boys to the track as well as 30000 miles on the street. Still has good tread depth in the center, but the shoulders are going out due to factor camber specs (-1.5 in the rear)
Honestly, these tires grip alright, but they are very predictable. I've been able to do decent speeds on the highway during heavy rains whilst still maintaining traction as well . Great tire for the hydroplaning resistance IMO. Never had an issue with wet launching the car as well at factory power, but I wet cornering is definitely scary. A lot of understeer if you're not watching the conditions.
Dry traction on the track is great. Put down respectable times on stock rubber and the tires were very predictable. Spirited canyon runs, never had an issue, and was able to always correct if I cooked a turn.
Daily driving, the tires are great comfort wise. STI's are known for stiff suspension, but I rode these tires from Cali to Texas and back. Really comfortable.
My only derogatory mark against these tires is the fact that they are SUPER noisy. I can hear everything on the road, but otherwise this is a great tire for daily driving with the occasional spirited drive. Just wish the wear pattern wasn't so bad with my stock suspension setup. Could have gotten a lot more miles out of them.

Vehicle: 2017 Subaru WRX STi
Miles Driven on Tires: 30,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LAFAYETTE, CA
Driving Style: Spirited

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March 27, 2018
(Verified Purchase)
4.4 out of 5 Star Rating
4.4 out of 5

...yet it absorbs much of the road's irregular surfaces and makes for a comfortable every day ride. Which is saying something because the 2015 WRX has a pretty stiff suspension - this tire helps mellow that a bit...

Best OEM tire ever! While there are stickier tires out there, and I've driven them, this blends good road manners, quiet operation and performance really well. If you want a tire that is part touring and part track inspired, this is a great option. It's easy to place the car precisely in corners, steer with precision, and push the limits, yet it absorbs much of the road's irregular surfaces and makes for a comfortable every day ride. Which is saying something because the 2015 WRX has a pretty stiff suspension - this tire helps mellow that a bit. Tire is predictable and inspires confidence. As noted, if you want more performance, look to Dunlop's extreme performance like the Zii or in this category, the Michelin Pilot, but if you want a blend of comfort, quiet operation, with a very capable tire, this is a great option. Highly recommended, unless max grip is your first priority.

Vehicle: 2015 Subaru WRX
Miles Driven on Tires: 15,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: WATERBURY CENTER, VT
Driving Style: Spirited

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67 reviews mention "Treadwear"

  • 43 positive
  • 24 negative

Many customers report excellent treadwear with scores of 9-10, highlighting durable performance in summer conditions. While some lower scores exist, most drivers using the tire as intended praise its longevity and consistent wear patterns.

December 06, 2017
(Verified Purchase)
3.5 out of 5 Star Rating
3.5 out of 5

...This tire has EXCELLENT treadwear, great grip, and laudable cold weather/wet weather performance...

Pros: This tire has EXCELLENT treadwear, great grip, and laudable cold weather/wet weather performance. It's a great all-arounder and a good choice for OEM for the WRX. You can live with these in most conditions year round. Great tires at 7/10ths of the car.

Cons: Push them too hard (on track or autocross) and you WILL shear off tread blocks. I would not recommend these for Motorsport. They're only OKAY in snow...for the price get a dedicated set of snow tires and wheels if you see more than 12" of snow a year. Go with a higher performance track tire if you run more than one even a year.

Vehicle: 2015 Subaru WRX
Miles Driven on Tires: 35,000
Driving Conditions: Track/Autocross
Location: CHARLES TOWN, WV
Driving Style: Spirited

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November 10, 2017
(Verified Purchase)
3.7 out of 5 Star Rating
3.7 out of 5

...The real selling point is tread life. I've got 32,000 miles on them so far and I'm about 2/3s of the way to the wear bars. So they have another 10,000 - 15,000 miles left in them. For a tire in this performance category, that is excellent treadwear...

My driving is mixed. I live on the Delaware River between Bucks county, PA and Hunterdon county, NJ. This area has some great twisties to offer, which I will occasionally cut loose on. However, most of my miles are spent commuting on Hunterdon county, NJ spur roads at about 55mph with no turns and on road trips, which are a mix of super slab and old rural routes. These tires started off relatively loud and only get louder as they wear. Grip is good, but not amazing in pretty much all conditions except heavy rain, when they will hydroplane pretty easily. The real selling point is tread life. I've got 32,000 miles on them so far and I'm about 2/3s of the way to the wear bars. So they have another 10,000 - 15,000 miles left in them. For a tire in this performance category, that is excellent treadwear. Tire rotation done every 5,000 miles. Wear pattern is even and consistent.

Vehicle: 2017 Subaru WRX
Miles Driven on Tires: 32,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: FRENCHTOWN, NJ
Driving Style: Average

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June 17, 2017
4.4 out of 5 Star Rating
4.4 out of 5

...I was very happy to get 30k+ out of mine and found the treadwear to be more than ample this type of performance. I strongly suspect those giving feedback on poor treadwear were unforgiving versus spirited in driving style.

OEM tire which performed very well for me but was rotated often and pressure checked weekly. Outstanding dry traction and wet for a max summer tire. Quiet even when breaking traction (no barking, squeeling or chirping under duress). Road noise much more pronounced after they hit 20k+ miles. I was very happy to get 30k+ out of mine and found the treadwear to be more than ample this type of performance. I strongly suspect those giving feedback on poor treadwear were "unforgiving" versus "spirited" in driving style.

Vehicle: 2016 Subaru WRX
Miles Driven on Tires: 34,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: ARLINGTON, TX
Driving Style: Spirited

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Consumer Reviews

Media Gallery

Latest vs. Greatest Max Performance Summer Tires(04:59)

Max Performance tires deliver an unsurpassed blend of dry/wet traction and handling for the street via high-tech materials and advanced manufacturing. They aren't hampered by the inherent compromises of an all-season tire. And unlike Extreme Performance tires, they have good road manners.

How do the newest compare to the top tires in the category?

Read the Full Test Report

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