A step up in tire choices...

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Alrighty folks, I have a '01 Sentra SE with the "Performance Package" and just about everything that I have read about the OE tires on my car says that they, ahem, suck. As a weekend car enthusiast, I'm not really qualified to judge how much worse/better they are than the competition would be, although after reading the various posts, I can see where the problems are. Can you folks recommend a new tire that I may find to be a bit more sporty? I live in Southern California so "winter" is a relative term. (I know. Poor me, it gets, like, soooo cold. 60 degrees and everybody breaks out ski jackets.) I want something safe in the rain, but better than the OE Firehawks.

Oh, and I like my stock rims.

Thanks!

Spartamal

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Comparing tires in the same size shows from the worst to the best roughly a 5% range of track times and a bit more in peak G in slalom....generally a function of tread compounds [tread wear index]...a rain tire will have very soft compounds and or directional groves or both.
People tend to want a superior tire [some facet of performance] until they view the trade offs.
Generally going wider [wheel width limit]with a softer compound will work best.
Study carefully the tire rack tire comparisons with a special eye towards wet track times.