The tyres in question are the latest offerings from Continental and Dunlop, with each of the four cars being fitted with a set of Continental Sport Contact 5s, and a set of the brand new Dunlop SportMaxx RT, all in 245/40 R18. Two of the vehicles comprised of the high performance coupe from Audi, the TT S, and the other two were the the high powered Audi S4 saloon.
As with our previous subjective shoot out, the raw performance of the tyres is so close we didn't attempt to scientifically measure any statistics, instead we focused on the subjective feel of each tyre, how the tyre communicated through the steering wheel, and how controllable the tyre was at both the limit of grip, and once past the limit.
Both tyres proved to be excellent in the wet and the dry, and while one tyre has "won" this mini shoot out, it was so close things could easily be reversed in a different tyre size, or on a different vehicle. In short, you wouldn't be disappointed with either tyre.
The new Dunlop SP SportMaxx RT replaces the somewhat average SportMaxx TT, and in replacing the TT Dunlop have addressed nearly all the shortcoming of the previous tyre. When compared to the previous version, the SportMaxx RT turns harder, brakes better and offers more feedback through the wheel.
When compared to the Continental Sport Contact 5 things get a little closer. In the dry, on the heavy Audi S4 the SportMaxx RT needs a little more slip to get the car turning, which gives is the impression of being a slower tyre. Things swing back towards the RT once the car is turning, with the big heavy S4 more stable mid corner, and the RT giving more confidence to make mid turn corrections. Once past the limit in the dry, the RT is snaps quickly out of a slide with the lightest lift of the throttle.
In the wet, on the lighter Audi TT S things are even closer. Again, when directly compared to the Conti the Dunlop feels slightly slower to turn, but the total grip offered is indistinguishable at the limit. Like the dry, once the total grip offered has been past and you find the car sliding, collecting small slides on the Dunlop is a much easier and quicker affair. Maybe not quite as fun, but definately a more desirable quality of tyre on the road.
When compared to the Continental Sport Contact 5 things get a little closer. In the dry, on the heavy Audi S4 the SportMaxx RT needs a little more slip to get the car turning, which gives is the impression of being a slower tyre. Things swing back towards the RT once the car is turning, with the big heavy S4 more stable mid corner, and the RT giving more confidence to make mid turn corrections. Once past the limit in the dry, the RT is snaps quickly out of a slide with the lightest lift of the throttle.
In the wet, on the lighter Audi TT S things are even closer. Again, when directly compared to the Conti the Dunlop feels slightly slower to turn, but the total grip offered is indistinguishable at the limit. Like the dry, once the total grip offered has been past and you find the car sliding, collecting small slides on the Dunlop is a much easier and quicker affair. Maybe not quite as fun, but definately a more desirable quality of tyre on the road.
Total: 200
Dry
100
Wet
100
The Continental Sport Contact 5 is the replacement to the rather excellent Sport Contact 3, and is one of our all round favourite tyres. When we started this test, we didn't expect it to be bested, even by the tinest of margins but that's exactly what has happened.
In the dry, on the heavier S4 the Continental felt extremely direct, turning quickly and offering ample feedback through the initial stage of the turn. Once at the limit things weren't quite as positive, with the S4 understeering more and harder to correct mid turn. Once sliding, the tyre was extremely controllable, but it took longer to correct any slide.
Likewise, on the wet track in the TT S the Contis proved to be more "fun", with the direct steering feel and the ability to gracefully slide meaning unsettling the Audis immense AWD system offered a little more entertainment. Unfortunately, while sliding is great on the track, on the open road this has to be viewed as a negative quality, and while the Contis offered a very similar amount of outright grip, the speed in which they recovered from a slide meant the Dunlops had a slight edge.
In the dry, on the heavier S4 the Continental felt extremely direct, turning quickly and offering ample feedback through the initial stage of the turn. Once at the limit things weren't quite as positive, with the S4 understeering more and harder to correct mid turn. Once sliding, the tyre was extremely controllable, but it took longer to correct any slide.
Likewise, on the wet track in the TT S the Contis proved to be more "fun", with the direct steering feel and the ability to gracefully slide meaning unsettling the Audis immense AWD system offered a little more entertainment. Unfortunately, while sliding is great on the track, on the open road this has to be viewed as a negative quality, and while the Contis offered a very similar amount of outright grip, the speed in which they recovered from a slide meant the Dunlops had a slight edge.
Total: 187
Dry
91
Wet
96
I have Dunlop RT 245/40R18 on a Camry (2.4 litre). These RTs are made in Germany. After warming up 20 + km averaging 100 km/hr, the RTs feels great - in both wet and dry roads.
In tropical Malaysia, roads can be baking hot one minute & in the next minute, tropical monsoons can drench roads with 40 cm of surface water - enough to cause all manner aqua-planning problems.
In pouring rain, I drove at 160 km/hr. The RTs were tenacious, biting tarmac regardless of speed thrown at it. I could brake hard, even from 160 km/hr. I took sweeping bends at 140 km/hr with no worries about loss of grip.
The suspension components are all new, swing arms, wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rods. The front camber is negative 5 degrees & negative 3 degrees rear - with zero toe.
On dry stretches of road, the RTs were amazing at 220 km/hr. The only factors preventing 240 km/hr were; traffic & the hot humid air, not the RTs.
Please don't attempt this speed with a standard factory Camry.
Note : the Camry has a very well set-up & tuned engine, a very, very cold air-intake plumbing / filter box and assisted by other proprietary improvements. The ride is absolutely silent & serene up to 140 km/hr. & from there on; will out-accelerate BMW 730 to 240 km/hr. Have done it, many times, unless all those 730s were in poor state of tune.
The Dunlop RTs made all that performance possible - to be experienced safely.
:)
http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
thank you for tire informations. my best tire dunlop sp sport 9000 http://www.lastikal.com.tr
What a misleading review, I've just purchased the Sport Maxx RT because of this review you published and I feel robbed, they are a rubbish tyre, the turn in is SLOW and the grip is average..you should be ashamed
Hi,
Interesting comments! What size, what vehicle and what are you comparing it to?
We tested the tyre in a relatively controlled environment, and while we mentioned the slow turn in above, the grip once turning is excellent. Don't just take our word for it though, it's beaten a number of big tyres in this test too with the comments "top dry handling":
http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
Perhaps the tyre needs to bed in a little...
Hmmm, having just driven an omega on sc5 with the owner complaining, and i fully agree, of poor straight line stability, lack of grip, under steer and squidgy ride compared to his much prefered sportmaxx tt, it would appear the rt is a step back for Dunlop, if this comparison is that close.
The TT are worn out, but offer better performance than his new sc5. He's not happy at all with sc5, so far.
His and mine are Vauxhall omega 3.2 elite, with Irmscher factory fit 18" 8j rims, his in 235 40 18 95y extra load sc5. And mine with 235 40 18 a01 sc3 extra load chosen for a not more mileage over the TT. I prefer the older sc3 to the sc5 as well.
We where both quite happy with our TT and sc3, but both have been discontinued for these offerings on test.
Why oh why?
Hello I have been driven with dunlop sp sport maxx rt more than 5000 miles on my mercedes clk RWD and I must really say ,,the best tyres I ever had,, Dry and wet handling is amazing, perfect, safe and quite tyre, I really cant understand why they are so bad with your car but I am going buy them again for sure...
Notimpressed cnange the car :)