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Uniroyal RainSport 2

Replaced by the Uniroyal RainSport 3 Replaces the Uniroyal RainSport

The Uniroyal RainSport 2 is a performance summer tire with strong wet-grip support from owners and favorable aquaplaning results in tests. Dry grip and comfort are generally well received, but soft sidewalls, less precise steering and mixed wear and noise feedback limit its appeal for sharper dry-road driving.

The quick answer

Owners say 81% from 226 owner reviews 79% would buy again Read the reviews
Tests say 9th average finish across 9 independent tests Latest: P18 of 50 · 2014 See every test

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2025.

  • 226owner reviews
  • 2,156,251miles driven
  • 9professional tests
  • 2sizes available

Tire Reviews Score

Uniroyal RainSport 2

8.8/10

From owner reviews only: no measured test results yet.

  • High Confidence
  • 226 owner reviews

How this score is built

Source Better than Weight
Independent testsNo measured test results yet – 0%
Owner reviews226 owner reviews · rated 81% 86% 94%
Typical tireWhere every score starts before its own data counts – 6%
Combined 83% 8.8

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Owner reviews decide 94% of this score. The other 6% is the typical starting point, and it shrinks as more reviews arrive.

Scored on owner reviews alone, a tire is High once the reviews decide 90% or more, and Medium from 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as reviews arrive.

The tests behind it

Only measured results count. A test that published its placings alone is listed, but not scored.

  1. 2014 2014 Auto Bild 50 Summer Tire Shootout Auto Bild · 225/50 R17 P18 / 50 Placing only
  2. 2013 2013 European Summer Sports Tire Test ADAC · 225/45 R17 P14 / 19 Placing only
  3. 2012 2012 Auto Bild Max Performance Tire Test Auto Bild · 225/45 R17 P13 / 15 Placing only
  4. 2012 2012 Autobild 50 Tire Braking Test Auto Bild · 225/45 R17 P7 / 50 Placing only
  5. 2011 2011 Autobild Max Performance Summer Tire Test Auto Bild · 225/40 R18 P5 / 10 Placing only
  6. 2010 2010 Auto Express Ultra High Performance Tire Test Auto Express · 225/45 r18 P8 / 11 Placing only
Show all 9 tests
  1. 2010 2010 European Summer Tire Test ADAC · 225/45 r17 P10 / 17 Placing only
  2. 2010 2010 AMS Premium Brand Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport · 245/45 R17 P8 / 10 Placing only
  3. 2010 2010 EVO Tire Test EVO · 205/45 r17 P2 / 9 Placing only

Tested 9 times by independent publications, the Uniroyal RainSport 2 averages a finish of 9th.

9 Tests
0 Test Wins
9th Average
2nd Best
18th Worst
Finishing position in each test1stLast20102014

Finishing position in each test

Every independent test of the Uniroyal RainSport 2, newest first
YearTestResultAward
20142014 Auto Bild 50 Summer Tire ShootoutAuto Bild · 225/50 R17P18 / 50
20132013 European Summer Sports Tire TestADAC · 225/45 R17P14 / 19
20122012 Auto Bild Max Performance Tire TestAuto Bild · 225/45 R17P13 / 15
20122012 Autobild 50 Tire Braking TestAuto Bild · 225/45 R17P7 / 50
20112011 Autobild Max Performance Summer Tire TestAuto Bild · 225/40 R18P5 / 10
20102010 Auto Express Ultra High Performance Tire TestAuto Express · 225/45 r18P8 / 11
20102010 European Summer Tire TestADAC · 225/45 r17P10 / 17
20102010 AMS Premium Brand Tire TestAuto Motor Und Sport · 245/45 R17P8 / 10
20102010 EVO Tire TestEVO · 205/45 r17P2 / 9

On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict

Dimensions & Label Scores
View All

Size Range2 sizes available

215-255Width40Profile16-17Rim86-94 WLoad/Speed Index2008First On Market

EU Label

Noise

72dB B

Frequently Asked Questions
What do owners say about the Uniroyal RainSport 2?
Across 226 owner ratings the Uniroyal RainSport 2 averages 81%. Owners rate Wet Grip highest at 9.1 out of 10 and Wear lowest at 7.6. 75 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 83% of owners score it 70% or better.
What is the Uniroyal RainSport 2's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Uniroyal RainSport 2 most commonly carries EU label ratings of D for fuel efficiency, B for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Uniroyal RainSport 2?
Owners rate the Uniroyal RainSport 2 8 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 210 reviews.
How well do the Uniroyal RainSport 2 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Uniroyal RainSport 2 7.6 out of 10 for wear across 210 reviews. 75 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 6,000 miles.
Would owners buy the Uniroyal RainSport 2 again?
79% of owners say they would buy the Uniroyal RainSport 2 again, based on the 224 owner reviews that answered the question. 52% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
More questions about the Uniroyal RainSport 2 (6)
What do owners say about the Uniroyal RainSport 2's wet grip?
Of the 207 owner reviews analyzed for the Uniroyal RainSport 2, 135 mention wet grip: 133 praise it (confident wet grip) and 2 criticise it (weak wet grip). One owner wrote: "this completely changed the car awesome tires". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Uniroyal RainSport 2's dry grip?
Of the 207 owner reviews analyzed for the Uniroyal RainSport 2, 103 mention dry grip: 95 praise it (strong dry grip) and 8 criticise it (limited dry grip). One owner wrote: "The grip in the dry is excellent". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Uniroyal RainSport 2's tread life?
Of the 207 owner reviews analyzed for the Uniroyal RainSport 2, 75 mention tread life: 43 praise it (long-lasting) and 32 criticise it (wears quickly). One owner wrote: "Fitted all 4 tires from new and still loads of tread left so far after around 21000 miles". Read those reviews
What does the Uniroyal RainSport 2 replace?
The Uniroyal RainSport 2 is the successor to the Uniroyal RainSport in Uniroyal's range.
Has the Uniroyal RainSport 2 been replaced?
The Uniroyal RainSport 2 has been replaced by the Uniroyal RainSport 3.
What sizes does the Uniroyal RainSport 2 come in?
The Uniroyal RainSport 2 is available in 2 sizes, ranging from 215-255/40 R16-17.
Owner Questions (1)
Ask a question

Questions and Answers for the Uniroyal RainSport 2

in which direction should the tires be fitted
July 6, 2018
The Uniroyal Rainsport 3 has a directional rotation arrow on each sidewall.

Uniroyal RainSport 2 Owner Reviews

Review this tire

What owners say summarised from 210 reviews

Wet grip is the clearest strength of the Uniroyal RainSport 2, with 133 positive mentions against two criticisms, followed by dry grip at 95 against eight. Comfort is also more often praised than criticised, while tread life is closely divided at 43 positive comments and 32 complaints. Around one in six criticise soft sidewalls, and smaller minorities mention imprecise steering or noise, with noise itself nearly evenly split. Repeat reviewers mostly remain favorable, but their scores and mileages do not show one consistent ageing trend. With an 81.4% average across 210 reviews, the strongest agreement concerns grip rather than long life or sharp steering.

What owners mention most counted across 207 reviews

Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.

Owner ratings averaged from 226 ratings

  • Owner score 81%
  • Wet Grip 91%
  • Dry Grip 85%
  • Comfort 80%
  • Road Feedback 78%
  • Handling 76%
  • Wear 76%

Featured reviews

Most helpful

“I got rainsport 2 fitted to my wife's mx5 after she complained that the car felt as though it was sliding on bends in the wet. I took car for a run in the wet and the car was a death trap the Mazda dealer had fitted...”

  • Mazda Mx5 2008
  • 4,000 miles
Read full review → 918 found this helpful
Most critical 27%

“Replaced the Bridgestone Turanzas on my BMW 330 sport E46 with Uniroyal Rainsport 2 all roundand were fine to start with but within 6 months / 5000 miles they became very noisy sounding like a wheel bearing ( uneven...”

  • BMW 330
  • 10 miles
Read full review → 665 found this helpful
Longest term 91%

“These replaced the famed Michelin Primacy from which I managed to get 25K miles and thought they were a fantastic tire. After reading reviews here I changed to Uniroyals because I wanted more ride comfort. These tires...”

  • BMW E46 3 Series
  • 143,000 miles
Read full review → 134 found this helpful

All 210 Uniroyal RainSport 2 reviews

Score spread across 209 written reviews
Member
I got rainsport 2 fitted to my wife's mx5 after she complained that the car felt as though it was sliding on bends in the wet. I took car for a run in the wet and the car was a death trap the Mazda dealer had fitted nexen tires to car they were okay in the dry but deadly in the wet. I went straight to the garage and got rainsport 2 fitted this completely changed the car awesome tires
73%
Member
These tires are a great all rounder used them in snow/ice and track days they have great grip in dry but found they over heat when pushed in the dry. The grip in the wet is amazing nearly as much as in the dry. I found the side walls to be a bit soft and at times felt as though the tires would be pulled off of the rims. Due to the soft compound these tires did wear quickly.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 5
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 7
Helpful 828
63%
Member
  • Lexus GS450h
  • 245/40 R18 W
  • 38,000 miles
  • A Combination of Roads
  • Easy Going
Replaced the manufacturer's recommended tires with these after good reviews and sporty appearance. Not cheap! Road noise, especially at motorway speeds, excessive.
Wear rate unacceptable for a semi-premium tire. Will not buy again.
Currently have Nexen 6000 front tires which are quieter, look good and are wearing much more slowly.
Michelin on the back - too soon to report.

Which tires do you drive?

Researching the Uniroyal RainSport 2? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.

Own the Uniroyal RainSport 2?
54%
Member
They were fitted to the car when we bought it, rears were near new and the fronts were about half worn. Grip in the wet is fine, dry grip is OK but not as good as I'd expect from a high performance summer tire, the sidewalls are soft so the ride is comfortable but the handling a bit imprecise compared with other high performance summer tires. The tires can be a bit noisy on some road surfaces but not too bad.
After about 10k miles of mostly motorway / autobahn driving the fronts are worn out, and while the rears still have about 4-5mm of tread, the LH rear is making a horrible noise and vibration at 4-50 mph, and again from 70-90 mph. Wheels bearings, wheel, brakes, suspension etc all in good condition so it has to be from the tire.
Looking at other tires to replace these.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 5
  • Handling 5
  • Wear 5
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 823
80%
Member
Well, they are a little bit noisy and maybe uncomfortable. I bought them in the begining of the summer drought and I thought: "aghhh, what a mistake"... And then the rain fell... And I fell in love with this tire.
The way Uniroyal Rainsport 2 performed in wet conditions was absolutely breathtaking. I have never experienced anything like that. Gave me so much confidence that I waited for the rain to fall just to take my Twingo133 for a ride, it grips like hell and you just enjoy cruising and speeding around as the water sprays from V-shape lines behind you.

Downsides? There are some, but I forgive them all.
Anyway, let me mention it: on dry and hot conditions, the tire turns slowly, as the "side-wall" is a bit soft. It is strange in the begining as the car dives in a corner with a milisecond delay, but it's not a problem once you get used on it.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 9
Helpful 806
84%
Member
There's nothing worse than having to do an emergency stop or manuovre in the wet. But with these tires, the only problem will be other cars not being able to stop behind you.

Handle very, very well in damp to very wet weather, the car handles almost like the road is dry. I do like to push to the limit from time to time, and sometimes I can't reach the limit of these.

I have used these on a vw polo and vw fox, and will always buy these again as I value wet weather confidence over outright dry weather performance.

Fitted all 4 tires from new and still loads of tread left so far after around 21000 miles and over nearly 3 years.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 9
Helpful 829
76%
Member
  • Vauxhall
  • 225/45 R17
  • 9,000 miles
  • Mostly Country Roads
  • Average
These tire certainly perform well - I've used them on 3 different cars. A 2 liter petrol Mondeo, a 2.0 liter TDCI Mondeo and a 2.0 TDCI SRI Astra hatch. They grip well in the dry, seem resistant to aquaplaning in the wet while they have good tread depth. Wear rate is fairly high - but with empathetic driving, I reckon 9k - 10k miles is about the most you can expect - less if you drive in a more spirited way. Road noise is a little higher than some and while new, the tread depth is very high - so feedback and progression is a little odd until they settle down. Side walls are not as strong as other tires so avoid potholes or rocks - one of my 8 pairs developed an egg shaped buldge as a result of driving over a stone, but was sorted quickly under warranty. Good tires overall - when you can find them but not cheap.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 6
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 8
Helpful 908
84%
Member
Had an almost new set of these on the front when I purchased my car, after a 18 months and 20 k miles they finally need replacing. Had no issues in the wet or dry so will give the Rainsport 3s a go for sure!
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 9
Helpful 864
70%
Member
I bought this tires 4 years ago. They are 215/55ZR16 93W. Grip of this tires is excellent. This tires are looking very narrowly. I won't buy them again because there is RainSport 3 tire a newer model.
Everyone who drive VW Sharan 2001-09 on 16 wheel buy XL tires. I have made a mistake buying standard tires instead XL. I will replace them with RainSport 3 XL
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 5
  • Wear 7
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 2
Helpful 828
87%
Member
great tires on my st170!
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 8
Helpful 798
81%
Member
  • BMW
  • 245/40 R18 W
  • 15,000 miles
  • A Combination of Roads
  • Spirited
I tried these tires after looking at all the mid range tires. Uniroyal is a subsidiary of continental, so knew they must be ok. Added to that they are advertised as a rain tire and let's face it we have a lot of damp or wet days in the uk. I fitted then to an E60 BMW Diesel....wow. What great tires. I have never been so impressed by any tire at this price. I have had them all in the past. Goodyear, conti,Bridgestone,falken,kumho and toyo etc...
The car is hugely powerful with loads of torque and the tires have worn surprisingly well. They have worn evenly across the car and I have got about 15k from them. This includes some seriously sprited driving at Le Mans. I have been so impressed, I'm now renewing all four with uniroyal rs3. I can not recommend this tire highly enough.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 817
89%
Member
I've got around 19K miles out of my last set of these on a fairly heavy Volvo V70 diesel which I use for towing and some fairly lively driving when not towing. Am up to 16K on the second set which are now nearing the end of their life.

Interestingly my mum has the same car but only managed about 12k miles even with her plodding around - 4 wheel alignment has hopefully now increased.

So, in terms of wear, on a well set up car the wear is good (must swap around i.e. front / back) but if set up is wrong the wear can be excessive.

Great tire though.

Now to see what the RS3s are like
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 799
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