Dread Red vs Fire Red

How close are they?

ΔE 13.7, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Fire Red is much more saturated, warmer than Dread Red.

Can I use Fire Red instead of Dread Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Fire Red is much more saturated, warmer than Dread Red.

Can I use Dread Red instead of Fire Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Dread Red is much more muted, cooler.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.