Click here to get Tyroola's deal: Get 20% off Grandtrek AT20, AT222, and AT25
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 vs Pirelli P Zero

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 vs Pirelli P Zero - Which Is #1?

Here are the key stats for the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 and Pirelli P Zero tyres, at a glance.
SP Sport Maxx 050P Zero
Vehicle SuitabilityPassengerPassenger
Driving StyleMax Performance SummerUltra High Performance Summer
SeasonSummerSummer
Release Date20102007
Run Flat?NoNo
Overall ScoreN/A73/100

Pricing

Enter your tyre size below to see the best prices for your specific size (if unsure, check placard on the driver's side door or your existing tyres).

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 vs Pirelli P Zero in Australia

The SP Sport Maxx 050 has been around in Australia for about 14 years, whereas the P Zero has been on the market for about 17 years

The SP Sport Maxx 050 is rated for max performance summer action, however the P Zero tyres are classified as ultra high performance summer. Both tyres are designed for use with regular passenger (non-SUV) vehicles.

Both of these are considered summer tyres. Neither of them are runflat tyres. Both brands are considered to be in the premium part of the market.

Read on to see how each of these tyres stack up against each other!

How We Reviewed These Tyres

Unlike the Australian government, the European Union carries out standardised tests on all tyres sold in Europe. These tests are carried out in identical conditions, making them a reliable way to compare tyres.

For this review, we use averaged results from tests done on 163 sizes of these tyres by the European Union.

Fuel Efficiency

EU Grade
(A - E)
Compared to an A grade tyre?
SP Sport Maxx 050D0.3L/100km extra fuel consumption. ~$65 extra per year
P ZeroC0.2L/100km extra fuel consumption. ~$58 extra per year

The US Department of Energy estimates that around 25% of the fuel consumption of a vehicle is attributable to the tyres. That's a lot, and it means that choosing fuel efficient tyres can save you quite a bit of money.

The SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres rank a D on a scale of A to E in the official fuel efficiency tests carried out by the EU (they call these rolling resistance tests).

The P Zero tyres get a grade of C.

Expect the lower grade tyre to consume an extra 0.0L/100km. This works out to $7 extra spent on petrol per year, based on a typical 12,000 km driven per year.

Here's a graph comparing the SP Sport Maxx 050 and P Zero tyres for fuel efficiency (1 = Grade E, 5 = Grade A).

Grip & Handling

EU Grade
(A - E)
Compared to an A grade tyre?
SP Sport Maxx 050B2.5 metre greater stopping distance when braking at 80km/h
P ZeroB2.5 metre greater stopping distance when braking at 80km/h

We'll now take a look at how these tyres compare in terms of grip and handling.

A good measure of this is 'wet grip', which is an indication of how well the tyres will allow the vehicle to come to a stop in wet conditions.

The SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres rank a B on a scale of A to E in the official fuel tests carried out by the EU.

The P Zero tyres, on the other hand, get a grade of B.

As their wet grip grade is the same, expect negligible differences in terms of braking distance.

Here's a graph comparing the SP Sport Maxx 050 and P Zero tyres for wet grip (1 = Grade E, 5 = Grade A).

Noise

EU Grade
(A - C)
Compared to an A grade tyre?
SP Sport Maxx 050A (68.6 dB)This is an A grade tyre for noise
P ZeroB (72.0 dB)2 times as noisy

Another key factor to consider when choosing a tyre is road noise. Once you're over about 40 km/h, the dominant source of noise you hear is from the contact of your tyres on the road.

There is a surprisingly wide variation in the amount of noise each tyre makes.

The SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres produce 68.6 dB of road noise, which corresponds to a rank of A on a scale of A to C in the standardised testing done by the EU.

On the other hand, the P Zero tyres produce 72.0 dB of road noise, which means a grade of B.

Expect the lower graded tyre to produce about 1.3 times as much noise as the higher grade tyre (the decibel scale is logarithmic).

Here's a visual representation of how the SP Sport Maxx 050 and P Zero tyres stack up for noise (1 = Grade C, 3 = Grade A).

Comfort

Based on the results of a number of tyre benchmarks, the P Zero scores 4 out of 5 for comfort. We don't have any comfort data for the SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres.

UTQG Data

Introduced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the USA, the Uniform Tire Grading System (UTQG), is a system for comparing one tyre product to another on the basis of some standardised tests.

SP Sport Maxx 050P Zero
Treadwear280300
Traction
(AA - C)
AAA
Temperature Resistance
(A - C)
AA

Treadwear

As per the UTQG guidelines, the SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres have a treadwear rating of 280, whereas the P Zero tyres have a rating of 300. This means that the SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres will theoretically last only 93% as long as the P Zero tyres.

Traction

The UTQG system measures traction as straight-line braking in dry conditions. The scale is AA, A, B, C, with AA being the best grade, and C the worst.

As per the UTQG system, the SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres have a traction resistance grading of A, whereas the P Zero tyres have a grading of AA.

Temperature Resistance

The UTQG temperature resistance tests measure how well tyres can dissipate heat that builds up due to friction with the road. The scale is A, B, C, with A being the highest grade.

As per the UTQG system of tyre grading, the SP Sport Maxx 050 and P Zero tyres both have a temperature resistance grading of A.

Warranty

The P Zero tyres have a warranty of 1 years. There is no time-based warranty available for the SP Sport Maxx 050.

Comparisons With Similar Tyres

Still on the fence about these tyres? Check out how they compare to other similar tyres on the market in Australia!

Summary

Let's now take a look at the main differences between these two sets of tyres.

For fuel efficiency, SP Sport Maxx 050 score a grade of D, which is below average. P Zero end up with a grade of C, which is more or less average.

More important is the wet grip, which gives you an indication of their traction and handling. In this regard, both the SP Sport Maxx 050 and the P Zero get a score of B, which is above average.

More important is the wet grip, which gives you an indication of their traction and handling. In this regard, SP Sport Maxx 050 get a score of A, which is excellent. P Zero end up with a grade of B, which is about typical.

The SP Sport Maxx 050 tyres have a UTQG treadwear rating of 280, whereas the P Zero tyres have a rating of 300.This means that you can expect the SP Sport Maxx 050 to last only 93% as long as the P Zero tyres.

The SP Sport Maxx 050 have a UTQG traction grading of A, while the P Zero tyres having a grading of AA.

The SP Sport Maxx 050 have a UTQG temperature grading of A, while the P Zero tyres having a grading of A.

Full Size List (click to show)

Below is a list of all 21 sizes of the SP Sport Maxx 050, and all 281 sizes of the P Zero tyres sold in Australia, sorted by tyre width.

SP Sport Maxx 050 Sizes

Size
215/55 R18 95H
225/45 R17 91W
225/55 R17 97V
225/35 R18 90Y
225/50 R18 95V
225/60 R18 100H
225/50 R18 95W
235/40 R19 96Y XL
235/45 R18 94Y
235/65 R18 106V
235/60 R18 103H
235/55 R20 102V
245/45 R19 98Y
245/45 R19 102Y
245/40 R19 94W
245/40 R21 96Y
255/35 R18 90Y
255/40 R19 96Y
265/35 R19 94W
265/35 R19 94Y
275/35 R21 99Y

P Zero Sizes

Size
205/45 R17 88Y XL
205/40 R18 (86Y) XL
205/40 R18 86Y XL
215/45 R20 95W
225/35 R19 88Y XL
225/45 R17 94Y XL
225/45 R19 96Y XL
225/45 R19 92W
225/45 R18 95W XL
225/40 R19 93W XL
225/40 R18 92Y XL
225/45 R18 95Y XL
225/40 R19 93Y XL
235/35 R20 (88Y)
235/50 R19 99V
235/35 R19 91Y XL
235/40 R19 (92Y)
235/55 R18 100V
235/35 R19 (91Y) XL
235/35 R19 (87Y)
235/50 R18 101Y XL
235/50 R18 (101Y) XL
235/60 R17 102Y
235/40 R18 95W XL
235/40 R18 95Y XL
235/35 R20 92Y XL
235/55 R18 104Y XL
235/50 R19 103V XL
235/45 R18 98Y XL
235/35 R19 87Y
235/40 R19 92Y
235/45 R20 100W XL
235/45 R17 97Y XL
235/35 R20 88Y
235/55 R19 101Y
235/50 R19 99W
235/40 R18 (95Y) XL
245/45 R19 (102Y) XL
245/45 R18 96Y
245/30 R19 89Y
245/35 R21 (96Y) XL
245/35 R20 (95Y) XL
245/40 R19 94W
245/40 R21 100Y XL
245/45 R19 102Y XL
245/45 R18 (100Y) XL
245/40 R20 99W XL
245/40 R19 98Y XL
245/40 R21 100V XL
245/45 R20 103Y XL
245/50 R18 100Y
245/30 R20 (90Y) XL
245/35 R19 (93Y) XL
245/40 R19 (94Y)
245/40 R18 97Y XL
245/45 R18 100Y XL
245/50 R18 (100Y)
245/35 R18 92Y XL
245/40 R21 100W XL
245/35 R20 91Y
245/40 R20 99Y XL
245/45 R20 103W XL
245/40 R20 95Y
245/45 R19 98Y
245/35 R19 93Y XL
245/45 R20 103V XL
245/30 R20 90Y XL
245/40 R19 (98Y) XL
245/40 R18 93Y
245/45 R19 (98Y)
245/35 R20 (91Y)
245/30 R22 92Y XL
245/45 R19 102Y
245/40 R20 (99Y) XL
245/35 R20 95W XL
245/40 R19 94Y
245/45 R18 100W XL
245/35 R20 95Y XL
245/35 R21 96Y XL
255/30 R20 (92Y) XL
255/50 R20 109W XL
255/40 R19 100Y XL
255/40 R18 95Y
255/40 R19 96W
255/40 R19 96Y
255/30 R20 92Y XL
255/30 R21 (93Y) XL
255/35 R20 93Y XL
255/30 R22 95Y XL
255/40 R21 102Y XL
255/40 R20 (101Y) XL
255/50 R19 107W XL
255/45 R19 (100Y)
255/45 R19 100Y
255/35 R22 99Y XL
255/40 R20 101W XL
255/40 R21 102V XL
255/55 R19 111W XL
255/30 R19 91Y XL
255/50 R19 103Y
255/45 R19 104Y XL
255/40 R19 (100Y) XL
255/40 R20 101Y XL
255/35 R19 96Y XL
255/45 R19 (104Y) XL
255/35 R18 94Y XL
255/35 R20 97Y XL
255/45 R19 100W
255/55 R20 109W XL
255/45 R18 99Y
255/35 R19 (96Y) XL
255/40 R18 99Y XL
255/35 R20 (97Y) XL
255/55 R19 107W
255/45 R20 105Y XL
255/35 R21 98Y XL
255/30 R19 (91Y) XL
255/35 R20 97W XL
265/35 R20 99Y XL
265/40 R20 104Y XL
265/50 R19 110Y XL
265/30 R19 (93Y) XL
265/35 R20 (99Y) XL
265/40 R21 (105Y) XL
265/40 R19 (102Y) XL
265/35 R18 97Y XL
265/35 R19 (98Y) XL
265/45 R20 108Y XL
265/40 R18 101Y XL
265/40 R22 106Y XL
265/35 R19 94Y
265/40 R21 101Y
265/35 R21 101Y XL
265/35 R19 (94Y)
265/45 R21 104W
265/40 R18 (101Y) XL
265/30 R22 97Y XL
265/40 R19 98Y
265/45 R20 104Y
265/40 R19 102Y XL
265/35 R19 98Y XL
265/40 R21 105Y XL
265/30 R21 96Y XL
265/35 R22 102V XL
265/30 R20 94Y XL
265/45 R20 (108Y) XL
275/30 R21 (98Y) XL
275/35 R20 102Y XL
275/45 R19 (108Y) XL
275/45 R18 103Y
275/30 R19 96Y XL
275/30 R21 98Y XL
275/40 R20 (106Y) XL
275/40 R19 101Y
275/40 R19 105Y XL
275/35 R19 (96Y)
275/30 R20 (97Y) XL
275/45 R18 107Y XL
275/45 R19 108Y XL
275/40 R22 108Y XL
275/35 R21 (103Y) XL
275/40 R19 (101Y)
275/50 R20 113W
275/40 R19 (105Y) XL
275/35 R19 100Y XL
275/45 R20 (110Y) XL
275/35 R19 (100Y) XL
275/35 R20 (102Y) XL
275/30 R21 98W
275/45 R18 (103Y)
275/45 R21 107Y
275/40 R20 106Y XL
275/45 R20 110Y XL
275/35 R19 96Y
275/45 R18 (107Y) XL
275/35 R21 103Y XL
275/30 R20 97Y XL
285/40 R19 (107Y) XL
285/45 R21 113Y XL
285/25 R20 93Y XL
285/35 R20 (104Y) XL
285/40 R19 (103Y)
285/40 R19 103Y
285/35 R20 (100Y)
285/30 R21 100Y XL
285/35 R19 (103Y) XL
285/40 R23 107Y
285/30 R19 98Y XL
285/35 R20 100Y XL
285/30 R19 (98Y) XL
285/40 R22 110Y XL
285/35 R21 105Y XL
285/35 R18 97Y
285/35 R22 (106Y) XL
285/40 R21 109Y XL
285/25 R22 95Y XL
285/40 R22 106Y
285/40 R19 107Y XL
285/40 R20 108Y XL
285/45 R20 108W
285/35 R20 104Y XL
285/35 R22 106Y XL
285/35 R23 107Y XL
285/40 R21 (109Y) XL
285/40 R20 104Y
285/30 R21 (100Y) XL
285/30 R20 99Y XL
285/45 R21 (113Y) XL
285/30 R22 101Y XL
285/40 R22 (110Y) XL
285/35 R19 103Y XL
285/30 R20 (99Y) XL
295/35 R20 (105Y) XL
295/35 R23 108Y XL
295/25 R22 97Y XL
295/35 R20 101Y
295/25 R21 96Y XL
295/30 R20 101Y XL
295/35 R20 105Y XL
295/30 R20 (101Y) XL
295/35 R21 (107Y) XL
295/40 R20 110Y XL
295/40 R21 111Y XL
295/35 R19 104Y XL
295/45 R19 113Y XL
295/25 R20 95Y XL
295/30 R19 100Y XL
295/30 R19 (100Y) XL
295/35 R19 (104Y) XL
295/25 R21 (96Y) XL
295/35 R22 108Y XL
295/35 R21 107Y XL
295/40 R20 106Y
295/30 R22 103Y XL
295/35 R21 103Y
305/35 R20 (104Y)
305/35 R20 104Y
305/25 R20 97Y XL
305/35 R19 102Y
305/30 R21 104Y XL
305/30 R20 99Y
305/30 R19 (102Y) XL
305/25 R21 (98Y) XL
305/30 R20 (99Y)
305/40 R20 112Y XL
305/25 R21 98Y XL
305/30 R20 103Y XL
305/40 R20 (112Y) XL
305/30 R19 102Y XL
305/35 R20 107Y XL
305/30 R21 100Y
305/25 R22 99Y XL
305/30 R20 (103Y) XL
305/25 R20 (97Y) XL
315/30 R22 (107Y) XL
315/35 R20 106Y
315/30 R21 105Y XL
315/40 R21 111Y
315/35 R21 111Y XL
315/40 R21 115Y XL
315/35 R20 (106Y)
315/30 R20 104Y XL
315/25 R22 101Y XL
315/35 R21 (111Y) XL
315/30 R22 107Y XL
325/30 R23 109Y XL
325/35 R20 108Y
325/35 R22 114Y XL
325/35 R23 111Y
325/25 R21 (102Y) XL
325/30 R21 108Y XL
325/25 R21 102Y XL
325/30 R20 106Y XL
325/35 R22 110Y
335/30 R20 (104Y)
335/25 R22 105Y
335/30 R20 104Y
335/25 R22 (105Y) XL
355/25 R21 (107Y) XL
355/25 R21 107Y XL
Louis from Tyre Geek

Louis

I'm Louis, an engineer passionate about helping Australians choose better tyres for their vehicles!