A review of different style tires for different driving conditions
Why you need different types of tires
Driving in the summer, driving in the snow, and driving in the wet – all can have different consequences, based on your driving style and the tires you use. You see, not all tires can be used anywhere you want.
A snow tire is not meant for use in summer and a summer tire is not meant for the winter.
Tires are categorized based on the season since the weather does not remain constant for us. Based on the weather, the condition of the road will also change, and hence, you will need different tires.
And yes, all vehicles need to change their tires. That includes anything from your old Nissan Pathfinder to a brand new Honda Civic.
What are wet weather tires?
Tires that excel in the wet conditions, giving you the best grip and traction during the rainy season. If you live where it rains a lot, then you will need to be aware of the best wet weather tires. Here, we have compiled a list for you.
Why do you need wet weather tires?
Not all tires are compatible for all types of weather. The tread design and rubber compound can vastly differ between the tires, and hence, not all tires will perform similarly in all weather conditions. There are different rubber compounds that are used in winter tires, and they perform best during the winters. Similarly, during summer, we need different types of tires.
Also, there are all-season tires. But these tires compromise a bit of wet and dry weather performances so that they can be used in the snow. This is why all-season tires are not recommended for wet weather.
Instead, summer tires are actually the best to use for wet weather conditions.
These summer tires aren’t meant to be used below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, so their tread is made in such a way that provides the best grip in warmer months. But this also means that they have the most grip when it is wet. Tire rotation also needs to be followed, in accordance with the manufacturer to ensure ideal performance from the tires. TL; DR, you need wet weather tires to have the best grip and traction during rainy season.
The 10 Best Wet Weather Tires
Now that you know why you need them, here is a list of the 10 best wet weather (also summer, and all-season) tires that you must consider for your car.
Vredestein Quatrac 5 (All season)
This is an all-season tire from Vredestein, but it also performs very well in wet weather. The tires also offer a good ride quality and offer excellent handling on wet surfaces and roads. These tires are also most suitable for areas with undulated roads. It is also not too expensive. Tire Rack also gives it “Excellent” in all the categories, including wet and dry grip. Also, the tires are pretty durable.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport (Ultra high-performance summer)
The Super Sport is one of the best wet weather tires on the market, which also doubles up as a summer tire. Tire Rack rates the wet weather performance of these as “Excellent”. The tires also offer you decent comfort. The only issue is the high price and these are not meant to be used in the winter. However, they are excellent for wet-weather services.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (Ultra high-performance summer)
The Pilot 4S is yet another ultra-high-performance summer tire from Michelin. The Sport 4S has longer durability than the Super Sport. With excellent wet weather performance, these tires are comfortable and ready to be daily driven. However, it is very expensive and only meant to be used during summer.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ (Ultra high-performance all season)
These tires, unlike the previous two, are all-season tires. According to Tire Rack, the wet weather performance of these tires, too, are “Excellent”. However, they are not the grippiest and can also be loud. Comfort is good. The bonus is that these tires can also be used during the winter months. So, you are not compromising on anything, if you are willing to pay the price, which can be expensive.
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady (All season)
These all-season tires from Goodyear are very good in the wet weather too, offering amazing grip and traction. They are an all-rounder, but not the “best” in any particular field. Ride is not as comfortable as the Michelin counterparts. If you live in a region where the weather varies a lot throughout the year, these are some excellent choices. Though, they can get slightly expensive.
Michelin Premier A/S (All-Season)
Yet another Michelin pops up. These all-season tires are going to provide you with good wet weather grip. According to Michelin, these tires use “an extreme silica and sunflower oil enhanced tread compound to increase traction in wet and cold temperatures.” The bonus with using these tires is that you can also get good performance in the winter months too. However, the only caveat is that they can tread rather quickly. However, as long as it serves you, it will serve you extremely well.
Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus (All Season Truck)
These tires are only meant for SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks. These are some excellent wet weather tires too, as Tire Rack rates them “excellent” for their wet-weather performance. Unlike the Michelin mentioned above, these will wear slowly and last you for a pretty long time. Also, these can be used in the winter, thanks to the all-season property. If you can afford the price, you should definitely consider them for your family or work car.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S (All season truck)
These Michelin tires are for pickup trucks and SUVs. With excellent wet weather performance, these tires too, can be used all throughout the year. Suitable for those working professionals on their trucks who live somewhere where the weather is highly unpredictable. Comfort is good, and the tires are pretty durable. But you need to shell out a lot of cash.
Cooper Zeon RS3-GT (Ultra high-performance all season)
These are ultra-high-performance all-season tires, meaning they can be used in all climate conditions. Usually cheaper than the Michelin counterparts, these tires also offer very good grip in wet weather conditions. It’s not the best in the business, but for budget-conscious minds, a good gripping and comfortable tire such as this definitely is worth a mention.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport (Ultra Performance Summer)
These are also less expensive than the Michelin counterparts and will also offer you with the same level of wet weather performance. This is also suited more for sports cars. While being a little counterintuitive, these tires are for those with sports cars who are conscious about the budget of the tires. The issue is that these can also wear quickly and can only be used during the summer. However, they are still worth considering as a cheaper alternative to the Michelins.