Rain poured in the Carolinas today and I drove the Dunlop summer tires on rain with some water puddles on the street. I did not hydroplane and it did not feel any different from driving on dry pavement. I went about 57-60 mph on 45-50 degree curves and the Dunlop 8090 held its own. So today, I've decided to use my summer tires in North Carolina winter as long as it does not snow. Those not-so-heated seats may make some sense

 

The Dunlops on my 8 are the third set of Dunlops I've had on cars--I always look for them first when I need a new set of tires. They've always been the best wet-weather tires I know of. Maybe other tire brands test out better, but I can't imagine that many do.

 

I have heard the Dunlop's are pretty good on the wet, but i was surprised as to how well my Bridgestone Potenza's held up when we got rain a few weeks ago here in Vegas. Although i did have the DSC on, i was tempted to take it off....

 

You might want to reconsider that... it's not just the snow that causes problems with summer tires, but the cold makes their compounds very hard. You have very little traction below freezing on dry pavement, and throw in some wet roads and they can be really dangerous. My Miata on Pirelli summer tires would slide around and try to spin out when the temp got below 40 in the fall... and my RX8's Potenzas are not much better. Needless to say I have a set of good winter tires for my RX8, which makes it a great year-round car.

 

Dunlop tires are great... I had a set of Sp9000 Sport tires on my last car and never had to worry in the rain.

They do however tend to wear down much faster than many other brands.

 

I have the new Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position tires and they are twice as good as the OEM potenza's and they are engineered to have just as much traction in the rain half-way through the tread as when they were new... a new dual compound rubber or something like that... really neat stuff.. they grip like your wife at delivery! :D

 

I also have the dunlops and have driven them in the rain without any problem. They are great.

 

I have the S-03 Pole Positions as well. I love them rain or shine. Though once the snow comes I am putting on my winter wheels.. the pole positions are rated very poorly in the snow.

 

My OEM Potenzas are just fine!

 

a big FAT ditto...don't mess around in cold weather it will be like driving 4 blocks of ICE...the main difference between winter and summer tires is not the design of the tread or the size it is the temperature it can operate in

 

G8rboy & Truemagellen ... thanks for the tip.

 

no problem...we just want you and your baby to be safe