Best tires for spirited driving that won't kill me when it rains?
 

It rains a lot where I live and my current tires are terrible in the rain. I'm trying to find some tires that handle well in the dry and will allow me to have traction when I decide to get on it. I don't drive hard in the rain ever, I just want to be able to drive safely in the rain while having good grip in the dry. I've hydroplaned too much from just slight braking on my brand new Federals. Any recommendations are appreciated! :)

Check out test results for tires at tirerack.com and pick a tire that has objectively proven good wet performance.

If you won't be driving in temps cooler than, say, 50F, go with Max Performance Summer tires
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=174


If driving in cooler weather, UHP All-Seasons
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=201

Lots of other tire test results on the tirerack site.

Thanks! That helped me out a lot. Looks like Bridgestone Potenzas will be the tires for me. The Michelins and Yokohomas don't come in 255/40r17. :(

I like my Continental Extreme DW. Alot of people tried to talk me out of them because of the soft sidewall but the side wall is not any less soft than Michelien Super Sports which is considered one of the best tires you can buy. Also the FC is not heavy so the soft side wall isnt really an issue anyway. I have had the Conti for about 500miles and there has been alot of rain this last week and I like them. Especially for the money.

Or the BFG Sport Comp-2 are really good as well. Though in the cold sub 40F I had a hard time not roasting them at red lights on hills.

The new Michelin Pilot Super Sports are fantastic "true" street tires, and are not as hideously expensive as most Michelins. They've been great.

P

Which Potenzas are you looking at? The RE-71R?

The Potenza S-04 Pole Positions. But they don't come any bigger than 255/40 for 17" wheels. I'm looking to get 275/40 so I may end up getting Continental Extreme DWs.

I have nitto nt-05s which are supposed to be ok for rain...but then again it would probably be rare I'd drive it in the rain.

255s front and 275s rear.

I wouldn't go with NT05s for wet grip/hydroplaning resistance. New they only have 72% of the tread depth of most tires (7.2/32nds vs. 10/32nds). They do have two wide circumferential channels, but also have very fat tread blocks. They look like a more dry-weather oriented tire. But even in the dry they are outperformed by the beset Max Perf Summer tires.
Traction Test - The Best 200-Treadwear Tires - Hot Rod Magazine

They do look cool as hell, though! I almost got them for my FD for street duty, but went with the Pilot Super Sports.

2nd on the Continental Extreme DW - great tire wet or dry. Plus they are tyically lighter weight than the Michelin's. I run 225/45-17 on an 8.5" wide rim and there are no issues with the "softer sidewall". Now a 225 on a 7" rim maybe a different story...

Conti DW and Michelin PSS get my vote. Good grip on dry pavement and no tendency to hydroplane on wet roads.

this would be a good pick for me.

Yup, the RE-71R are effing amazing.

I've given my impression before...... definitely the best high-po street tires I've driven on :icon_tup:

i'm on RE11's currently and they are ok but not the greatest in the rain.

My ex had Pilot Super Sports on her evo x and they were hands down the best street tires ive ever used. Sticky during spirited driving, low on road noise, lasted a long time, and they were great in the rain.

Think the reason I went with the NT-05s was the sizes available.

Don't think 275s were available in the other tire choices. I've had the Dunlop Dirrezzas on a Miata and loved them for sure.

A lot of tire brands are limited in size selection for 17" wheels. I wanted Michelin PSS originally, but they only go up to a 245 width in 17" iirc.

bumping this thread instead of repeating the exact question in the title. Any suggestions on the budgeted side for a 255/40/17? seems like Potenza RE71 got the biggest endorsement but those would still be pushing the budget for me.

I have had multiple sets of firestone indy 500's. They do pretty well in the rain, arent very loud, and hold the power of my bolt on FD just fine. Theyre also very affordable.

Try the Conti Extreme Contact DWS06 or the Yokohama Advan A/S+. The Advans are a new model. Maybe you want an all season for wet n dry driving. Got the Yokohamas on my car now. So far, so good. Happy with them.

Late to the thread but this ^ has also been my experience with the Firestones (also in 255/40-17) after the second driving season...maybe 4 k miles. Great value IMO...and they look good too.