Looking for advice on a set of dedicated summer wheel/tires that can handle cool/wet/dirty conditions.

My current 195/50 all seasons can't even handle N/A power if the road is damp, so I'm ready to buy dedicated summer wheels and tires to support my turbo build. This is a MK turbo build with a target of 200-225WHP.

I live north of Seattle, so even the summers are relatively cold and damp. Average low temperatures should be above 50f from late April until early October, so I plan to use the summer setup during these months. I DD the car when it isn't raining hard, but I commute early in the morning and only drive 16 miles. I'm looking for max grip in a tire that can handle cool wet conditions, but not necessarily a ton of standing water. The fun part of my drive is in the first 5 miles, so I'd prefer something that doesn't take a long time to warm up. I also live on a 700 ft gravel road, so I prefer a tread that can shed gravel quickly.
I've got a fender roller, so I'm open to any 15x8 or 15x9 options.

 

Hoosier h20's

Jk. Neogens have a good rep, so do Dunlop dz102s. Or s drives.

My opinion: run a real summer tire and just don't push it in the wet.

 

Are Conti DW's available in your size?

 

Don't think so. Run them on my subie though. Good tire.

 

summer tires and rain tires don't always have to be different things.

the key is to get a compound that likes the temperature and a pattern that moves water.

 

Exactly! That's what I'm hoping to find.

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S drive's look like a pretty decent compromise. $80 is a selling point too. Any real reason to push for 15x9 on a street car?

 

If you want grip more tire helps, but you'll notice more tramlining with a 225 15x9 combo vs something more narrow (depends on the tread pattern as well). I have been happy with S Drives for a daily.

 

I enjoy my Toyo RA-1's.

 

Dunlop DZ102's & ZII star specs are listed as 2lbs lighter than all the other 205/50 tires on tire rack. DZ102's look comparable to s drives on paper, and they are cheaper & lighter. Anyone have real world experience with any of these three tires?

 

I had S-Drives, now on ZII*. S-Drives did fine in the rain for me, and people seem to like them more than the DZ102s. The ZII* has WAY more grip though. On a whole different planet. Definitely louder, harsher, and will wear faster, but for me totally worth it.

Based on my relative positioning between last year's auto-x season finale (dry, S-Drives), and this year's opener (wet, ZII*) I'm estimating that the tire change was worth at least 2 seconds on a 40 second course.

S-Drives had plenty of life left in them when I took them off.

 

Not a big fan of my ZII Star Specs in the rain. Any sort of standing water and it's hydroplane city.

 

I'm not really that concerned about hydroplaning. I hardly ever encounter standing water. It's more about cornering traction on wet roads.

 

I have DZ102s on 15x8 wheels in Colorado. They work well when warm, and are predictable when wet, work down to ~20*f. They move water pretty well. Feedback is vague though. I keep buying them as disposeable street tires because Tire rack has them for like $65/ea every now and then.

Traction is laughable with my 300ish whp and allofthe EFR torque, but that's what the 245 VR1s are for.

 

Don't drive 95mph in a pouring rain?

I have Star Specs, in 255/35/18 on my BRZ and they are almost down to the wear bars and I've hydroplaned exactly 1 time. Doing 55mph on a divided 4 lane and ran across maybe a 5" deep puddle.

Other than that, don't drive like an *** in the rain. I've done track days on R888s and toasted R1Rs in the rain as well. You have to adjust to the conditions.

 

This was driving 55 and under on a 55mph road, not even on an interstate. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the Continental DW tires on my old car. Those were amazing in the rain, no comparison.

 

DWs are the business in the wet.

The DW is being replaced by the ExtremeContact Sport in Feb. 2017, apparently, and I think is going to be offered in a 205/50/15.

 

Yeah, two totally different tires meant for different things. I had DWs on my NC, and they are fantastic street tires.

That would be like complainng that the DZ101 doesn't have the on track grip of an SM7.

*facepalm*

 

And the whole purpose of this thread is for street tires.

 

I have ZII star specs on 15x8s and I like them. They do get loud though. Never had any hydroplaning issues with them.