Along with hot, humid summer days come torrential thunderstorms and slick roads. If you’re planning to drive on wet roads, there’s a lot to consider to keep yourself and your passengers safe. But there are wet road tires built for this purpose to keep your routines and plans running smoothly despite the weather. We’ve compiled a guide on wet road driving in the summer whether it’s a straight trip to work or a long, winding road trip through the mountains. 

Why driving on wet roads is risky

Slick pavement isn’t the only result of rain. Often during rainy seasons, there’s also heavy fog, thunder and lightning, water-filled potholes, and reduced visibility. All of these effects have an impact on safe driving.

The ability a tire has to grip the road while it’s wet isn’t the only consideration when it comes to driving in the rain. There are unique considerations for drivers as well as non-drivers to ensure your safety.

General safety

Drizzles aren’t as much of a concern when you’re using a quality tire such as the TCON. Simply driving with the right tires and extra caution can improve your safety on wet roads significantly. However, in heavy downpours and continuously soaked roads, there are a few other measures you can take.

If you plan to be out on the road, wear reflective materials or bright colors so that with reduced visibility, others can see you. Similarly, within a vehicle, make sure all the exterior lights are working so other drivers can see you. Pedestrians should leave room between them and the road in case a vehicle goes through a puddle and either splashes water or slides.

Driver safety

As a driver often dealing with summer rain driving, think of tire quality when purchasing your new set. Tire quality will determine how well the tire drives in various conditions and its ability to grip the road through water and use sipes to wick it out of the way.

Consider the following tires from Sailun for excellent handling in wet conditions:

Summer rain driving should also be done at lower speeds with special attention paid to maneuvering around corners and braking. Remember that if a speed limit sign on a curve says 25 mph, that’s with dry conditions in mind. Avoid potholes, puddles, and debris on the road. Also be aware that trucks and commercial vehicles tend to leave oil deposits in the center of the lane, so avoiding that area will increase the rate at which wet road tires can grip the road. Don’t drive on the edges of the road either because this is where gravel and rainwater gather.

How wet weather tires can improve performance and safety

Sailun tire quality is unmatched. For example, the TCON is a superior choice for wet road tires. It has a ten out of ten rating for wet performance using a large contact area with the road for improved handling, and four wide grooves that channel water to create better traction with the road.

Depending on your vehicle, shop our tire lineup for the best rain tires. Each tire is made with a purpose in mind. We use thoughtful grooves and tread designs to connect the tire to the road despite wet conditions. Different rubber compounds are used, depending on the purpose of the tire to best conform to the weather they’re made for. The best rain tires will have circumferential grooves, which continuously move water away from the tire. Take a look at the car in front of you next time you’re driving on wet roads and see if the water is flicking off the back of the tires. 

Selecting the right tires for your vehicle

When browsing wet road tires at Sailun, pay special attention to the wet performance score if you like in a rainy area or expect to do lots of summer rain driving. There are options for different vehicle sizes so every driver can be as safe as possible.
We suggest having a quality pair of winter tires for the harsh, snow-covered roads and a set of summer or all-season tires for hot and sometimes wet months. Each tire is built differently to accommodate certain needs. One tire does not fit all, so browse our lineup or use the tire finder clickthrough at the top of every page on our website.