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Best Wet Weather Tyres

jonathan

jonathan

PCGB Member
Member
Time for a new set of tyres - have been running 215/60 r15s for many years - a mix of 2 Goodyears and 2 Firestones. I'm not a quick driver but in the wet the car has often felt skittish at the back. In all honesty I'm sure new tyres would feel grippier full stop but am interested in anyone's opinion, particularly for wet weather grip. Continental tyres often seem to do well in Evo tests but don't think they're available in my size. Is it worth going lower profile for better grip ?
 
You will get a plethora of different answers from different people but I think you have answered your own question when you say that new tyres all round will already feel better than the old ones

I have used Kumho Ecsta for the past 10 years now and have never felt them get skittish in the wet
 
As of November 2012, every tyre sold in the EU has had to have a rating label. Wet grip is one of the rated elements of the tyres performance so it is very easy to compare one tyre against another. Shop around on the internet and you will find the wet grip rating A-G for each brand for your tyre size.
 
IMO the ratings are variable. Some times I have seen with a 180 wear rating far outlive those with a 300 (this was on the same car).

How old are you tyres? If not too old I would be looking at the rear shock absorbers. It is surprising the difference a new set of shocks makes to a car. One of my cars has the same tyres on it as my dad's car which is a very similar car (same make and model, but I have a different engine). The shocks on mine have completely had it (they will still pass an MOT but they do not damp all that effectively), and it really is skittish over the bumps and generally crap at the moment.
 
Age is very important... It seems I am the only person who liked the old Pirrellis these cars were originally fitted with... but... I cover a lot of miles. I liked them so much I put them on the garage queen as well as my daily toy. After a few years (but having only covered a few hundred miles) the difference was phenomenal, and I'm not surprised many people didn't like them.

Tread depth also seems to make a huge difference that should be obvious, but I think it seems magnified on a 944. I have just run the summer on a set of winter tyres - the tread was getting low, so I decided to use what miles were left in them and put a fresh set of winters on for, er, the winter. They were brilliant, but with the tread reduced (not by any stretch of the imagination worn out) they had started feeling skittish in the summer rain.
 
Wear ratings are manufacturer specific. There isn't a standard to test to so a 180 from one and a 180 from another manufacturer may be completely different.
 
I found Goodyear F1 tyre's were best for me, grip in the wet seemed close to that in the dry, however it's been a while since I last bought tyres so can't say if today's model is as good.

Pete
 
How old are your existing tyres? Mine were 8 years old, plenty of tread but they'd gone hard and were lethal in the wet. After they'd dumped me in the gravel at Brands hatch I eventually got a new set of Bridgestones.
 
but am interested in anyone's opinion, particularly for wet weather grip.
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In a word, sorry 2 words, "Narrow ones".

From experience, in 3" standing water @ 70mph, I'd prefer 195 x 60 x 15's in Part worn condition to new 225 45 17's.

The tyres on our cars are too wide to be any use in the wet.

There's an image somewhere of a 968 and a Lotus Elan up a bank in smithereens off the motorway, following aqua planing - no Astras or Mondeo's. Both Cars over shod for the wet.

George
944t
 

ORIGINAL: graham.webb

How old are your existing tyres? Mine were 8 years old, plenty of tread but they'd gone hard and were lethal in the wet. After they'd dumped me in the gravel at Brands hatch I eventually got a new set of Bridgestones.
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hmm.. old... bearing in mind I've not driven the car in 3 years and that the tyre's are only the second set I've bought since buying the car in 1998...oh btw good year tyres last a long time too, mind you I think best to buy a new set once the car's back on the road......:)

Pete
 
I've had the car for 9 years and haven't changed the tyres. Peter at Motortune looks after her and says they're fine, especially as the car is always garaged and only does 1500 - 2000 miles a year. No sidewall cracking and loads of tread but I've always thought they would dry out over time and this is the problem. Simple fact is I want to drive all year round and just want to be as safe as possible.
 
Just been looking at Continental tyres at ATS - they do the Premium Contact fitted for about £125 a corner. I've heard they're pretty good.
 

ORIGINAL: jonathan

Just been looking at Continental tyres at ATS - they do the Premium Contact fitted for about £125 a corner. I've heard they're pretty good.
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Back to my original suggestion. Barum Bravuris 2. shop around to get a good deal, no complaints with mine bought online last year[:D]
 
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