...or that is, I don't really want to slow down when it gets wet. So I need a set of summer/all-season tires to mount on Virgos that will let me do so. Vehicle is a 91 244.

Anyone have experience with Yoko Avid H4s or Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires? Or any other rain-competent rubber? And what sizes (besides 195/60) work the best?

Obviously noise, wear, construction quality and value are also factors.

Snow adhesion is not an issue, as I have four dedicated Hak-2s for the winter.

Thank you.

All you need to know, BFGoodrich Traction T/A. I run 205/60/15 on my 83 turbo and it does very well at high speed in the rain. Up here in the NW (Bellingham, WA) it rains quite a bit and good rain tires are a must.


Zack
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Zack Silver 83' 242Ti (225k)

If you like your Nokians for the winter, you're going to love their summer tires.
Get a set of Nokians. I have the old NRH on my 940t, rain handling is unbelievable, the new NRHi is supposed to be even better. Try that or the NRVi. Either one will do the trick. They grip like glue in the rain ( even when you hit a deep stretch on one side, the steering wheel doesn't get yanked out of your hand like most tires ), run quiet, last long, and are fabric belt radials instead of steel ( like all the Nokians ), making them much safer at high speed, and less likely to have a sidewall seperation
We run on a combination of highway and real nasty dirt roads and they hold up great.
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '86 740 GLE turbo diesel, '92 Ford F350 diesel dually

Yeah, I've had good luck with Nokian longevity. The used set of Hak-1s that came with the car lasted me another three full seasons (maybe 20K winter miles), and my new-this-season Hak-2s are holding up similarly.

Thanks!

The Hakka 1's that are on my 240 wagon have lasted 4 seasons...and one summer ( oops got busy, forgot to switch ) with my wife commuting about 75 milesa day on them. Still in good shape, studs and all.

The NRH on my 940 have been on for about 4 years ( 3 season ) and look to have at least one -two years left on them

I had a se of Hakka Q's on another car for about 3 years, sold them with another car, but those tire are still good about 1 year later last time I saw them.
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '86 740 GLE turbo diesel, '92 Ford F350 diesel dually

I have two sets of Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2's, both 205/55, one a 16" set on Hydras on one of my cars, and a 15" set on Turbo Virgos on another of my cars (I don't worry about speedometer accuracy, because I have a dash GPS -- Garmin StreetPilot -- that takes care of that information for me). BTW, they're both '93 240's.

They are incredible -- like you, I also don't like to have to slow down in the rain, and with these I don't have to.

Caveat: These are not the A/S tires you've asked about. I can't really comment on the A/S tires you mentioned -- my tires are strictly "summer only"! One look at them, and you know that snow is out of the question -- no transverse slots to grip -- but those huge longitudinal grooves (big enough to swallow Niagara Falls) are going to handle water like nothing else! I just use a set of Nokian Hakka-2's on each of my cars in winter. I don't think that you're going to get close to the rain performance of my PE2's in any all-season tire, though.

So if you're looking for the most rain-competent rubber, consider this, instead.

Good luck.

Because I have no major qualms spending $600+ ($126 each at the TireRack for 205/55/15, shipping, mounting/balancing) for dedicated summer tires, just as long as they spread that cost over a few seasons :)

I've run them about 11,000 miles so far (put them on last April, took them off this past late-November, for snow tire time)....

I just measured them (they're down in the basement right now):
fronts have about 6.5mm of depth
rears have about 7.5mm of depth
right now. I don't know how much they started with (as measured with my device), but their fact sheet says 10mm. I guess I'll get a second full season, and maybe part of a third.
But I'm a hard driver....

And still, these really give you a feeling of security (= safety)! Well worth it!

I have a set of Michelin Pilot A/S Z-rated on another brand of car I own, and they are without question the best damn rain tire I have ever driven on. So good they are scary.

i am rolling the Pilot Primacy 205/50/16.

in the rain the wet traction is awesome to say the least.

quiet tire and the 50 series sidewall is righty tighty for my driving style and totally worked suspension.

they wear a little quick, not really that bad in my opinion, but the performance more than makes up for it.

why skimp on tires if you 1) love your car or 2) like to drive?
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VX, adj. cam gear, new head, trans cooler, stainless brake lines, electric fan, fully braced, IpD sways, poly bushes, Bils, boxed front & rear arms, lowering springs, 16" Perfos, 25/32mm adapters, 100% zero miled, and much more