Whats people's recommendations for for low pro tires on a car seeing heavy rain service? Oregon, Washington driving rain on the interstate,. Thanks!
Best Rain Tires?
- Thread starter BBDartCA
- Start date
- Status
Yoko TRZ are really impressive in rain. A very well-rounded tire, but this is one of it's main attributes, imo.
I love the Conti Extreme DWS on my Volvo in 235/45R17. Great ride, good handling (particularly for an all-season) and quiet. They're pretty good in light snow.
Love the Nokian WR G2 tires on my Volvo XC and MB 300E...they're great in the rain and great in the snow, but in low profile sizes, they're really expensive.
I would hit www.tirerack.com and see what the ratings look like....they don't carry Nokian, but they do have just about everything else...
Love the Nokian WR G2 tires on my Volvo XC and MB 300E...they're great in the rain and great in the snow, but in low profile sizes, they're really expensive.
I would hit www.tirerack.com and see what the ratings look like....they don't carry Nokian, but they do have just about everything else...
I have wondered about the HydroEdge by Michelin. That's as far as I got.
My son says he gets good wet traction on the TripleTreds on the Camry. I'm happy with the General Grabber HTS on my SUV.
My son says he gets good wet traction on the TripleTreds on the Camry. I'm happy with the General Grabber HTS on my SUV.
I had no problem driving the E430 with Continental ExtremeContact DWS 235/45R17 on heavy rain from Vegas back to California at speed up to 80-85MPH with strong cross wind. The other tire looks good on rain is Yokohama AVID Envigor.
I had the TRZs on my Volvo XC - nice riding, quiet, great in the rain, but they wore out at about 30K...they were inexpensive to buy, but I thought that was a pretty short life...
Other guys love 'em...Maybe it was just my car?
Other guys love 'em...Maybe it was just my car?
XC eats tires, no?
I forgot about HydroEdge. I had them, pretty good.
I think it's all relevant to price, the OP needs to post a size and appliaction.
I forgot about HydroEdge. I had them, pretty good.
I think it's all relevant to price, the OP needs to post a size and appliaction.
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I think it's all relevant to price, the OP needs to post a size and appliaction.
235/45-17
Current tires are ContiProContact (not sure which version, but they are the self sealing type).
Audi A3 TDI.
Current set up occasional hydroplaning at freeway speeds with 4 people in the car. On these roads I travel a lot on, the hydroplaning is worse than some of my other cars.
I think it's all relevant to price, the OP needs to post a size and appliaction.
235/45-17
Current tires are ContiProContact (not sure which version, but they are the self sealing type).
Audi A3 TDI.
Current set up occasional hydroplaning at freeway speeds with 4 people in the car. On these roads I travel a lot on, the hydroplaning is worse than some of my other cars.
Since you've identified that your main concern is hydroplaning and not compound grip in the wet (also important) I'll state that I've found any tires I've had with directional arrow-head patterns tend to pump more water than non-directional types. (I know, it's a generalization).
My Toyo T1-S and T1R tires (in exactly your size) pumped water very well and had excellent compound grip on wet pavement as well. In a BMW E39 I could pretty much drive enthusiastically like it was dry. My current Michelin PS2s hydroplane easier and don't have as much wet compound grip as the Toyos, but they still have plenty plus other characteristics making them a better tire in the dry. I had a set of Bridgestone S-02 Pole Positions on another car and they were very good in wet and standing water too.
You've got a reasonably sporty ride there. If you're not attempting to also handle snow, think about some of the top tier tires that are out there. A lot of them are excellent in the rain. At some point, of course, you're simply going to hydroplane especially with wider tires. Then you have no option but to SLOW DOWN.
My Toyo T1-S and T1R tires (in exactly your size) pumped water very well and had excellent compound grip on wet pavement as well. In a BMW E39 I could pretty much drive enthusiastically like it was dry. My current Michelin PS2s hydroplane easier and don't have as much wet compound grip as the Toyos, but they still have plenty plus other characteristics making them a better tire in the dry. I had a set of Bridgestone S-02 Pole Positions on another car and they were very good in wet and standing water too.
You've got a reasonably sporty ride there. If you're not attempting to also handle snow, think about some of the top tier tires that are out there. A lot of them are excellent in the rain. At some point, of course, you're simply going to hydroplane especially with wider tires. Then you have no option but to SLOW DOWN.
Last edited:
I thought people were pretty happy with that oem Conti.
I suppose the A3 is lighter than your other cars?
It's actually about the same as my Tiguan, which I have the Yokos on, the 2nd set I've owned.
On the Astra, a light car, are the BFG g-force, we really like them as a high performance all-season. Price and quality are very good. Same size as you, iirc.
I suppose the A3 is lighter than your other cars?
It's actually about the same as my Tiguan, which I have the Yokos on, the 2nd set I've owned.
On the Astra, a light car, are the BFG g-force, we really like them as a high performance all-season. Price and quality are very good. Same size as you, iirc.
So, right at the same low price range as the BFGs are the Eagle GT, a tire I am dying to try. My Eagle Response were awesome.
Going up is the obvious Conti DWS, which posts surreal wet lap times, there is no arguing with that. I have my doubts, but will try them on the AStra to get some winter grab for the wife. Yoko Advans are in the middle price range too, def worth a shot.
It's a huge gap until you get to the Pilot Exhalto, Pilot Sports, RE960s (which are meh) as well as the awesome Turanza Serenity etc.
That's about it, with some attractive tires in the lower price range. The BFG being fastest in dry, the Conti fastest in wet, and the Eagle being well-rounded, and maybe most "predictable".
If snow is a life or death situation for you, get the Contis, but read this first...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=113
and while you're at it...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=126
Both AA wet traction, ftr.
Going up is the obvious Conti DWS, which posts surreal wet lap times, there is no arguing with that. I have my doubts, but will try them on the AStra to get some winter grab for the wife. Yoko Advans are in the middle price range too, def worth a shot.
It's a huge gap until you get to the Pilot Exhalto, Pilot Sports, RE960s (which are meh) as well as the awesome Turanza Serenity etc.
That's about it, with some attractive tires in the lower price range. The BFG being fastest in dry, the Conti fastest in wet, and the Eagle being well-rounded, and maybe most "predictable".
If snow is a life or death situation for you, get the Contis, but read this first...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=113
and while you're at it...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=126
Both AA wet traction, ftr.
Looking at this spider graph, how poorly the Conti DWS is rated in a number of areas, in wet.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=113
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=113
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Looking at this spider graph, how poorly the Conti DWS is rated in a number of areas, in wet.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=113
This is the older version of ContiExtremeContact, not the newer DWS.
The spider graph of the Conti DWS normal test is below.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=119
The spider graph of the Conti DWS winter test is below.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=124
Looking at this spider graph, how poorly the Conti DWS is rated in a number of areas, in wet.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=113
This is the older version of ContiExtremeContact, not the newer DWS.
The spider graph of the Conti DWS normal test is below.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=119
The spider graph of the Conti DWS winter test is below.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/spiderChart.jsp?ttid=124
Yeah, I was wondering because the wet track time of the DWS is pretty good, as I stated.
Originally Posted By: BBDartCA
Whats people's recommendations for for low pro tires on a car seeing heavy rain service? Oregon, Washington driving rain on the interstate,. Thanks!
I'd look at Nokians in that environment.
Whats people's recommendations for for low pro tires on a car seeing heavy rain service? Oregon, Washington driving rain on the interstate,. Thanks!
I'd look at Nokians in that environment.
We've had good luck so far with the Pilot Sport AS plus that we mounted last summer. Sick wet traction. I wanted to try the Conti DWS, but they were out of stock at that time.
Originally Posted By: BBDartCA
235/45-17
Current tires are ContiProContact (not sure which version, but they are the self sealing type).
Audi A3 TDI.
Current set up occasional hydroplaning at freeway speeds with 4 people in the car. On these roads I travel a lot on, the hydroplaning is worse than some of my other cars.
Are you sure about that size? IIRC, the A3 TDI is spec'd with a 225/45-17. If that's the correct size, I'd recommend the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2. I run the 225/40-18 PE2 on my GTI, and love them in the wet. The A3 and GTI are sister cars.
235/45-17
Current tires are ContiProContact (not sure which version, but they are the self sealing type).
Audi A3 TDI.
Current set up occasional hydroplaning at freeway speeds with 4 people in the car. On these roads I travel a lot on, the hydroplaning is worse than some of my other cars.
Are you sure about that size? IIRC, the A3 TDI is spec'd with a 225/45-17. If that's the correct size, I'd recommend the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2. I run the 225/40-18 PE2 on my GTI, and love them in the wet. The A3 and GTI are sister cars.
- Status
