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Summer tire Summer Ultra High Performance tires Updated September 2026

Uniroyal RainSport 5 review

The Uniroyal RainSport 5 is widely regarded as a specialized wet-weather performer that excels in aquaplaning resistance and rainy-day confidence. While it offers a comfortable, quiet ride suitable for daily commuting and touring, it is frequently criticized for its soft sidewalls, which result in vague steering feedback and a lack of precision during spirited driving.

Relative score
75/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
73/100
88 reviews
Road tests
80/100
13 published tests
Community sentiment Positive Read the buzz
#Wet weather grip#Value for money#Tyre wear and longevity#Comfort and soft sidewalls#Comparison with premium brands
Uniroyal RainSport 5
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

73%
Would buy again 66%
Dry
Overall dry
75%
Corner stability
71%
Dry traction
75%
Steering response
67%
Wet
Overall wet
85%
Wet traction
86%
Comfort
Overall comfort
79%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
73%
Handling
Overall handling
67%
By source
DriverReviews92%4,385 reviews Tyre Reviews73%88 reviews

By road tests

80%
Dry
66.9%
Wet
81%
Comfort
87.2%
Noise
71.9%
By discipline (% of best in test)
Dry Braking
25%
Dry Handling
25%
Subj. Dry Handling
16.7%
Wet Braking
91.7%
Subj. Wet Handling
25%
Wet Handling
58.3%
Straight Aquaplaning
100%
Inside Noise level
66.7%
Subjective Comfort
66.7%
Rolling Resistance
41.7%
tire Weight
83.3%
Price
83.3%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 88 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Uniroyal RainSport 5 is widely regarded as a specialized wet-weather performer that excels in aquaplaning resistance and rainy-day confidence. While it offers a comfortable, quiet ride suitable for daily commuting and touring, it is frequently criticized for its soft sidewalls, which result in vague steering feedback and a lack of precision during spirited driving. Consequently, it is best suited for drivers prioritizing safety and comfort over high-performance handling.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather traction and aquaplaning resistance
  • High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Strong value-for-money proposition compared to premium UHP brands
  • Predictable and safe handling characteristics for everyday driving

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls leading to vague, 'squirmy' handling and poor steering feedback
  • Rapid tread wear reported by many users, particularly on heavier vehicles
  • Not suitable for spirited or performance-oriented driving
  • Lack of stability at high speeds for certain vehicle setups

Worth knowing

  • Users with heavier vehicles (e.g., BMW 3/5 Series, SUVs) frequently report 'floaty' handling and accelerated tread wear due to the soft sidewall construction.
  • Drivers of smaller, lighter hatchbacks often find the tire's lack of rigidity detrimental to the car's intended sporty handling characteristics.
  • The tire is highly praised by owners of comfortable, softly sprung estate cars who prioritize wet-weather safety over cornering precision.
Test results

13 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2026 Netzwelt Mid Range Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

4th of 6
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd Weakest: Dry Braking · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 6
Dry Braking5th of 6

2026 Summer Braking Super tire Test - How do 52 tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19

24th of 50
Best: Wet Braking · 18th Weakest: Dry Braking · 33rd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking18th of 50
Dry Braking33rd of 50

2025 Summer tire Test Shootout · 225/40 R18

22nd of 52
Best: Wet Braking · 12th Weakest: Dry Braking · 36th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking12th of 52
Dry Braking36th of 52

2024 AutoBild Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

18th of 20
Best: Straight Aqua · 2nd Weakest: Dry Braking · 20th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking8th of 20
Wet Handling7th of 20
Dry Braking20th of 20
Dry Handling20th of 20
Rolling Resistance7th of 20
Straight Aqua2nd of 20
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 20
Noise5th of 20
Value8th of 20
Wear10th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership7th of 20

2023 AutoBild UHP Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

19th of 20
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 20th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking8th of 20
Wet Handling14th of 20
Dry Braking20th of 20
Dry Handling20th of 20
Rolling Resistance14th of 20
Straight Aqua1st of 20
Noise7th of 20
Value9th of 20
Price7th of 20
Wear9th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership11th of 20

2023 ADAC Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

31st of 50
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Fuel Consumption · 48th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking8th of 50
Dry Braking24th of 50
Straight Aqua1st of 50
Value44th of 50
Wear38th of 50
Fuel Consumption48th of 50
Abrasion43rd of 50
Wet Braking - Concrete7th of 50

2023 Summer tire Market Overview · 225/45 R18

17th of 48
Best: Wet Braking · 8th Weakest: Dry Braking · 36th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking8th of 48
Dry Braking36th of 48

2022 Summer tire Market Overview · 215/55 R17

32nd of 44
Best: Dry Braking · 27th Weakest: Wet Braking · 36th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking36th of 44
Dry Braking27th of 44

2021 Tyre Reviews SUV tire Test · 235/55 R18

3rd of 9
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling1st of 9
Dry Handling8th of 9
Rolling Resistance5th of 9
Straight Aqua1st of 9
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 9
Subj. Comfort2nd of 9
Noise6th of 9

2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

12th of 20
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 20th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking14th of 20
Wet Handling6th of 20
Dry Braking19th of 20
Dry Handling20th of 20
Rolling Resistance17th of 20
Straight Aqua1st of 20
Noise7th of 20
Value10th of 20
Wear10th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership18th of 20

2021 ADAC Summer tire Test - 205/55 R16 · 205/55 R16

13th of 15
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wear13th of 15

2021 53 Summer tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16

19th of 53
Best: Wet Braking · 15th Weakest: Dry Braking · 24th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking15th of 53
Dry Braking24th of 53

2020 Tyre Reviews Ultimate Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

4th of 12
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Subj. Dry Handling · 11th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 12
Wet Handling6th of 12
Dry Braking10th of 12
Dry Handling10th of 12
Rolling Resistance8th of 12
Straight Aqua1st of 12
Subj. Dry Handling11th of 12
Subj. Comfort7th of 12
Subj. Wet Handling11th of 12
Noise7th of 12
Price3rd of 12
Community buzz

What owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.

Community opinion on the Uniroyal RainSport 5 is largely positive, highlighting its exceptional wet-weather grip, low noise, and great value as a mid-range tire. While some users note that they wear slightly faster due to softer sidewalls, they remain a popular choice for UK and European daily driving.

Sentiment breakdown
Positive41%
Mixed59%
Top themes
#Wet weather grip#Value for money#Tyre wear and longevity#Comfort and soft sidewalls#Comparison with premium brands

From 17 threads and comments.