The 6 Best Tires for Wet Roads
Here in Virginia, you never know what kind of weather you’ll get from week to week or even day to day! There could be snow in April or summery temps in December, but no matter what time of year it is, you can count on having rainy days.
Unfortunately, drivers tend to brush off rainy weather without considering the danger that wet roads add. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 70 percent of weather-related car accidents happen on wet pavement and 46 percent happen during rainfall. That’s more than the crashes caused by snow, sleet, ice, slush and fog combined!
With this in mind, it’s important to consider tires’ performance in wet weather before your next tire purchase. To help you, we’ve created a handy guide to the best tires for wet roads that Virginia Tire & Auto has to offer.
What Type of Tire is Best for Driving on Wet Roads?
When you look at overall wet-weather performance, summer tires (or three-season tires) typically have the best ratings for wet braking and wet road handling. Summer tires have a soft, sticky rubber compound that grips wet pavement for better control. Also, their tread patterns are designed to channel water through and away from the tire, reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
However, summer tires are only good to drive when the temperature is above 45 degrees. Once the temperature drops, that soft rubber compound becomes stiff and brittle, which makes it less effective and shortens the tire’s lifespan.
All-season tires, on the other hand, are built to deal with a much broader temperature range. They don’t perform quite as well as summer tires in warm weather or quite as well as winter tires in cold weather. But they’re great to use year-round in a moderate climate with mild winters—like in Virginia.
So for most tire shoppers at Virginia Tire & Auto, an all-season tire is the most sensible choice. We don’t get enough snow and cold temperatures to warrant switching to winter tires, but the temperature regularly drops below 45 degrees. Also, all-season tires typically have a longer tread life, so they are an excellent choice for the average Virginia commuter.
Read: What Are the Best Tires for Your Car?
Because of this, we only compared all-season tires for our recommendations on the best tires for wet roads. Keep reading to discover our top picks for passenger, performance and truck/SUV tires with impressive performance in the rain.
Best Passenger Tires for Wet Roads
Continental TrueContact Tour, 80,000-Mile Tread Life Warranty
Continental is known for having excellent wet performance for all their tire lines, and the TrueContact Tour is no exception. Its Eco-Plus Technology uses specially formulated tread compounds and precisely engineered traction grooves to provide best-in-class wet braking and resist hydroplaning. And with great dry traction, a long tread life warranty and a comfortable ride, the TrueContact Tour is a great choice For What You Do.
Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season, 50,000-Mile Tread Life Warranty
The Eagle Sport All-Season is a powerful sport-performance all-season tire with enhanced responsive handling and a strong grip in wet, cold, icy, and dry conditions. This tire pulls ahead with its innovative tread compound that keeps working even as the tire wears. Engineered to withstand the elements, the Eagle Sport AS even has advanced rim protection should you run into any curbs that threaten to damage your wheels.
Top Performance Tires in Wet Weather
Bridgestone Potenza Sport AS, 50,000-Mile Tread Life Warranty
When it comes to performance tires, the Potenza Sport AS is one of the best all-season ultra-high performance tires out there. The Potenza equips you to chase the thrill of exhilarating driving experiences year-round because your favorite performance vehicle shouldn’t be reserved for just sunny summer days. This tire reduces the risk of hydroplaning, offers reliable wet and dry braking, making driving a breeze in any weather.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, 50,000-Mile Tread Life Warranty
Innovation and reliability combine in Continental’s ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. It uses SportPlus Technology, an advanced silica-enhanced tread compound featuring +Saline additives, increased wet grip and extended tread life. Its Traction Grooves improve snow performance, and X-Sipes enhance stopping, turning and acceleration for maximum control in slippery conditions. Plus, it’s easy to know when your tread is too low with the tire’s DWS (Dry, Wet, Snow) Indicators. Get the best performance from your performance vehicle with the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus.
Best Truck/SUV Tires for Rain
Continental CrossContact LX25, 70,000–Mile Tread Life Warranty
With Continental’s Eco-Plus Technology, outstanding wet and dry performance, and a confident, controlled driving experience, the CrossContact LX25 is one of the best truck and SUV tires for rainy weather. This second-generation CrossContact has improved snow performance and remarkable hydroplaning resistance. And besides improving wet performance, the EcoPlus Technology also increases fuel savings and prolongs tread life.
Bridgestone WeatherPeak, 70,000-Mile Tread Life Warranty
The WeatherPeak is Bridestone’s first touring tire with all-weather capability and offers luxurious, long-lasting comfort with advanced all-season handling. Features like open shoulder slots, evolving sipes and Snow Vices provide optimum handling in dry, wet and snowy conditions. The WeatherPeak is an excellent selection for drivers who experience all four seasons but do not need dedicated winter tires.
Save on All-Season Tires at Virginia Tire & Auto
Not sure what wet-weather tire is best for you? Give us a call at 855.425.3677 or drop in at any of our locations to talk with a tire expert. If you already know what you’re looking for, click here to shop our tire collection and schedule a tire service visit.