The Best All-Season Rain Tires in 2022

Drivers are always cautious when it rains heavily because rainwater can make it difficult for the wheels to contact the road surface, resulting in instability and even a water slide disaster. Purchasing a set of the best all-season rain tires might be on your to-do list.

Unfortunately, tire manufacturers do not design rain-specific tires. Instead, they add particular properties to winter, summer, all-season, and all-weather tires to improve vehicle performance in the rain.

We’ve compiled a list of the best all-season tires on the market that handle and perform exceptionally well in the rain to help you drive safely in harsh conditions. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

The 5 Best All-Season Rain Tires

Michelin Defender T + H

Few tires can rival the formidable Defender T+H when it comes to rain traction. it is designed for minivans, mid-size sedans, and compact drivers. 

The Michelin tire’s superior wet performance can be attributed to its use of proprietary technologies. For instance, the tire’s biting edge is increased with IntelliSipe technology’s zigzag grooves, which help improve stiffness and traction.

Even in substantial water puddles, the Defender T+H easily withstands hydroplaning and also performs admirably on slick surfaces, offering sufficient traction for fast and secure driving.

In addition to its superb performance in the rain, this tire also provides exceptional traction, grip, and braking on dry pavement and even in light snow.

Pros

• Outstanding responsiveness
• Excellent handling and braking in dry and wet conditions
• Supremely quiet and comfortable
• Extended tread life

Cons

• Expensive

Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus

The Ecopia EP422 Plus is specifically made for drivers who desire a set of tires that will grip and perform well in the rain.

It features an impressive symmetric tread pattern, four wide circumferential grooves, and solid contact patches for water evacuation. Acceleration and cornering are effortless and smooth with careful throttle inputs.

The tire performs incredibly well in terms of ease of use. The EP422 Plus will navigate all challenges, including cracks and potholes, on a long drive while still keeping the comfort and smoothness you need.

Pros

• Impressive wet grip and handling
• Stable traction
• Fuel efficient

Cons

• Faster wear than its predecessor
• Not suitable for snowy weather

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin’s LTX M/S is the ideal combination of all-season capability and long tread life for all touring vehicles, whether sporty cars, commercial vans, or heavy-duty trucks.

The tire utilizes Michelin Evertread technology, which incorporates a symmetrical tread pattern and condensed 3D sipes with separated tread blocks to enhance traction in any weather condition.

In addition, its design features several deep lateral grooves, a contact patch, and extra-large circumferential channels that help to distribute pressure more uniformly and enable the vehicles to carry up to 2535 pounds of load capacity.

Pros

• Compatible with a variety of vehicles
• Impressive traction in any weather
• Longer tread life

Cons

• Not suitable for use on snowy terrain

Continental TrueContact Tour

The Continental TrueContact Tour is your best option if you want a regular touring all-season tire that excels in wet situations. The German tire company has always been a pioneer in wet circumstances, and this tire only adds to that legacy.

With this tire, cornering in the rain feels quite surefooted, and understeer is completely absent. You won’t experience any acceleration problems, and the braking distances are some of the shortest in the class.

The handling is even more outstanding because the TrueContact Tour feels balanced and is simple to control even when pushed to its absolute limits.

The TrueContact Tour performs admirably in other environments too. It handles very well on dry roads, with excellent cornering grip, directional stability, and strong braking.

Furthermore, there is adequate traction on snow-covered surfaces, which aids in handling and braking.

Continental offers an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty for T and H-rated models and 70,000 miles for V-rated models.

Pros

• Exceptional braking performance in wet conditions
• Stable handling on wet tarmac
• Comfortable ride
• Extremely quiet
• Excellent tread life and long treadwear warranty

Cons

• Average handling and braking on dry roads 

Continental CrossContact LX25

Owners of trucks, crossovers, and SUVs will appreciate the year-round performance and sure-footed wet handling of the Continental CrossContact LX25.

Notably, the hydroplaning resistance is exceptional, and the car is easy to drive in the corners. Also, the braking distances are among the shortest in the class.

Additionally, the model has a proprietary aggressive tread pattern for improved traction, cornering stability, and long-lasting wear.

It also comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty for H-speed, and T-speed rated sizes and a 65,000-mile warranty for V-speed rated sizes, both the best in their respective categories.

Pros

• Outstanding performance in rainy conditions
• Very good on-road manners on dry pavement
• Excellent treadwear warranty
• Dependable light snow traction and handling
• Quiet and comfortable ride

Cons

• Expensive

Check out our review and buyer’s guide for the all-season tire lineup at Continental!

How to Choose the Best Tires for Rain

There are a few things you should think about to purchase the best rain tires:

Tire type: All-season and summer tires usually work best in rainy conditions. They have the necessary tread pattern and sticky rubber to provide traction and grip on slick or slippery surfaces.

Treadwear: Any tire that wears out quickly or has a shallow tread depth will underperform in wet conditions. Such tires tend to lose traction faster, thus increasing the risk of aquaplaning. Their braking distances are also significantly longer than tires with a new or slightly-used tread. 

To avoid poor rain performance, consider the wear rate using manufacturer information and an evaluation of a tire’s materials and technologies. The warranty period is also reliable for determining the tire’s life.

Your driving style: Your driving habits will determine whether you need all-season, summer, or high-performance tires in the rain. A high-performance tire may be more appropriate for you if you frequently drive in adverse conditions. Otherwise, go with a summer or all-season tire.

Budget: High-end tires deliver exceptional performance, reduce noise from the road, and offer a smooth ride. But their cost can be quite high. Consider going for mid-range models which still provide adequate and reliable performance.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the five best all-season rain tires that we highly recommend you look into. Driving in rainy conditions presents unique challenges because traction is significantly lower than on dry pavement. Hence, if you live in an area where it rains, even infrequently, you should choose your tires carefully.

We hope this article has given you some good suggestions and helped you find the best-wet traction tires for your needs. Looking to purchase a set of tires? Trail Tire Auto Centers have tires from all of your favourite brands, including Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone, Pirelli, and more! Shop locally online or visit your closest Trail Tire location today!