As long as there have been pneumatic tires, the possibility of a blowout or tire failure has been one of the biggest worries of drivers through the years. At best, a tire failure can leave you stranded by the side of the road with the headache of having to dig out the spare and install it; at worst, a blowout can lead to loss of control and a serious accident. Run-flat and run-on-flat tire designs have helped eliminate that worry; run-flat tires are designed with a stiffer sidewall structure that can support a vehicle’s entire weight and can allow a driver to go up to another 50 miles at up to 50 mph even after completely losing inflation pressure.

In the case of the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST, you have a summer/ultra-high-performance (UHP) tire that delivers crisp handling and sharp steering response, along with the peace of mind that comes with a self-supporting run-flat design. The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST is a capable and refined tire that’s a great fit for a variety of sporty sedans, coupes, and crossovers, but don’t just take us at our word on that; let’s go in for a closer look with this product line review:

Features and Benefits

Here are a few of the innovations and design features that make the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST a sharp performer:

• Directional high-performance tread pattern
• Reinforced shoulders help resist deformation, and tread squirm during hard cornering and high-speed maneuvers
• 10/32” initial tread depth
• The tread compound is custom-formulated for good adhesion to the road and “sticky’ performance and cornering ability
• The Hybrid DuPont Kevlar nylon band in the tire’s ply layers helps to deliver excellent high-speed stability as well as ride comfort and durability
• Solid center rib provides great straight-line stability and steering response
• Tread pitch is randomized and computer-tuned to neutralize certain frequencies and overtones, keeping road noise to a minimum
• Wide circumferential grooves channel water away from the tire’s contact patch to help resist hydroplaning on wet roads
• Rim sizes 18” to 21”, making it a great fit for a wide variety of vehicles
• Self-supporting run-flat design
• Select sizes feature Dunlop’s Noise Shield Technology, which includes a layer of sound-absorbent foam in the tire’s inner structure to help soak up vibrations and highway noise

Pros and Cons

PROS:

• Handling is sharp, precise, and predictable
• The steering response is light and direct
• Run-flat technology
• Ride quality is refined and quiet on most pavement surfaces
• Wide range of sizes for various fitments

CONS:

• Summer-only tread formulation; not for use when temperatures are below 40-45 degrees F
• No limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty coverage
• Not good in winter weather
• Can be noisy on some pavement surfaces

SimpleTire’s view on Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST tires

Are you familiar with SimpleTire’s SimpleScore system? SimpleScore is the method our team devised to give you a quick, at-a-glance idea of a tire’s strengths and weaknesses. We look at the tire’s specs, manufacturer info, reviews, and other data points, then process that information to get a 1-10 numerical value for the categories of traction, handling, longevity, and an overall average SimpleScore rating. For the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST, the SimpleScore numbers shake out like this:

• Traction: 8.6
• Handling: 8.9
• Longevity: 8.3
• Overall average SimpleScore: 8.5

Whether it’s a set of tires or a pair of sneakers, any numerical ratings in the 8s are pretty solid on a scale of 1-10!

The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST is a tire that’s designed for high-performance sports sedans, coupes, and sporty crossovers and is engineered around the weight, horsepower, torque, handling, braking, and overall performance envelope that these vehicles offer. It’s featured as original equipment on select Infiniti, Scion, Lexus, Nissan, and Toyota models, and for good reason. Handling and cornering with the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST is as dead-on as if the vehicle is on rails, with short braking distances and no lockup, even during hard emergency stops. The straight-line road feel is stable and secure at highway speed, and ride quality is forgiving if a little firm. The Dunlop doesn’t lose its composure easily over irregular pavement surfaces, potholes, or railroad crossings, with little of the impact and roughness making its way to the passengers. The ride is surprisingly quiet and peaceful on select sizes with Dunlop’s Noise Reduction Technology foam layer.

The steering response is nimble, quick, and light without becoming overly touchy or sensitive. The Dunlop doesn’t come with a limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty, but that’s more than offset by its innovative run-flat design that can let you get home again safely (or at least to a tire shop) even if you lose all your tire’s inflation pressure. And it’s true that the Dunlop has a summer-only tread formulation and will stiffen up and lose traction on colder days; that’s the case with most UHP and summer tires.

On wet pavement and rainy days, the Dunlop’s groove system does a great job of diverting water away from the tire’s contact patch for handling and braking performance that is confident and safe. With its combination of sharp performance, excellent cornering and braking, secure road manners, a refined ride, and overall control and driving dynamics, it’s our take here at the SimpleTire team that the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST is an excellent value and performer for a wide range of vehicles. Its array of sizes from 18” to 21” makes it a great candidate for various fitments.

Vehicles the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST is a good replacement tire for

While not used as original equipment, the Dunlop Sport Maxx 050 DSST is a good replacement tire for vehicles like the:

• Acura TL
• Audi A6
• BMW 135i
• Dodge Challenger
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Kia K5
• Ford Mustang
• Honda Civic
• Hyundai Veloster
• Jaguar XKR
• Lexus GS350
• Lincoln LS
• Mazda Miata MX-5
• Mercedes-Benz E550
• Nissan Maxima
• Pontiac G6
• Scion tC
• Subaru BRZ
• Toyota 86
• Volkswagen CC Sport