Positive - Excellent wet performance with the shortest wet braking distances, fastest wet handling, high levels of comfort, good grip on gravel, and best aquaplaning resistance overall.
Negative - Relatively poor performance in the dry with extended dry braking and heavy understeer in dry handling.
Overall - The Uniroyal RainSport 5 is living up to its name by having a class leading performance in the wet, regardless of water depth, and as always, very good levels of comfort. Unfortunately, as we've found previously with the RainSport range, that comes at the expense of performance in the dry where the tyre has lower levels of grip and a heavy understeer handling balance.
Positive - Good in the wet, relatively low fuel use.
Negative - Weak in the dry, high wear.
Overall - The Uniroyal Rainsport 5 has significant weaknesses in the dry with imprecise steering, low grip, and long dry braking distances. The RainSport 5 is still good in the wet, with short wet braking and high aquaplaning resistance. The tyre also has low noise, low rolling resistance, but high levels of wear.
Questions and Answers for the Uniroyal RainSport 5
2019-10-31 - Hi guys.....When will you review the new Uniroyal Rainsport 5 ?
The short answer is that I don't know! We've not had any official communication about the Rain Sport 5 yet, as soon as we do the site will be update with data!
2020-05-11 - is the rainsport 5 235/35/r19 91y xl fr compatible with my porsche Boxster 3.4s
Assuming that is the side for your Boxster then the RainSport 5 is compatible. I've not tested the tyre yet, so I'm not sure if it will be a good match.
2021-05-31 - I’ve got Uniroyal rainsport 5 on my fiesta st2, the tyres are 205/40/r17 and the tyre pressure light has come on/off a few times, what pressures are correct for the front and rear tyres?
I don't have the data for your vehicle, however you should be able to find the pressure sticker inside the door shut on either the driver or passenger door.
2021-12-28 - does the Uniroyal RainSport 5 265/30 R20 Y (94) have rim protectors?
I'm afraid I've not seen a RainSport 5 in that size, I'd get in touch with Uniroyal to find out about the rim protector status.
Given 90%
while driving a
Peugeot 207 SW Outdoor
(205/55 R16 V) on
mostly country roads
for 800
spirited miles
Having used rainsport 3s for the past 2 years or 42.000km it was time for a change. I always change at 2 year interval October or November with 40-45k kilometres on average. I reside in northern Greece and the last time round I fancied the idea of an all season Tyre but after the fitters recommendation ended up with the uniroyals. The rainsport 3s were a revelation in winter and commendable in the summer. I always fit premium tyres and the rainsport 3s were left wanting a little bit for grip in scorching hot tarmac.
The rainsport 5s in question are on initial impressions (1200km so far) a bona fide premium Tyre in the dry, gone are the days of the soft sidewalls. The Tyre provides excellent turn in and high speed stabillity. In the wet is still king though I have never tried nokians. Don't be fooled reading tests that other premium are equally good in the wet. In deep water and poor road surfaces the uniroyals offer a sense of security above anything else.
They are also less noisy but for some reason maybe unrelated to the tyres the fuel consumption is marginally higher.
Also the experience from the 3s taught me that in very light snow to they are drivable I am not suggesting they are as good as all seasons but they provide some traction and don't have the typical wooden feel of summer tyres.
All things considered a great Tyre.
112 - tyre reviewed on November 20, 2019
Given 89%
while driving a
Toyota MR2 mk3 Roadster
(195/50 R15) on
track
for 200
spirited miles
Gave the Rainsport 5's a go this weekend at Oulton Park and it just so happens Storm Dennis was in full effect. So glad I did as conditions were horrendous. I was very nervous about going out on track on unknown tyres in my mid-engine MR2. I needn't be though as they were unbelievable. So much better than the Rainsport 3's I'd used previously. Wet grip 11, wet handling 11, wet braking 11. I had to reduce tyre pressures by 10 psi and was getting brake fade with track pads in they produced so much grip/heat.
Highly recommended for wet weather driving.
See for yourself here on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dm8qtcGU_4&t=270s
29 - tyre reviewed on February 17, 2020
Given 68%
while driving a
BMW 120d M sport
(255/35 R18 W) on
a combination of roads
for 1,000
average miles
I have had these fitted to my car for two weeks. I got a good deal on them from Demon Tweaks (with a 20% ebay discount) hence why I decided to go for them, plus I had a good experience with the previous RS3 tyre on another car. These replaced a set of Goodyear Eagle Assymetric 3's so much of my review is going to be based on a comparison to those.
Firstly Dry grip, they seem very good in this respect. I cannot tell any difference between these and the Goodyears.
Wet grip. Aquaplaning resistance is excellent, probably down to the very deep treads. However on wet but not soaking roads they seem to lack traction when pulling away, and I can make the rear of the car step out under throttle which I couldn't do with the Goodyears so I don't think they are all that brilliant in this regard. Especially as the Goodyears were worn.
Road reedback is good, as is handling. They seem nice and predictable on the limit.
I cannot comment on wear as it is too early to say.
Comfort. These are XL tyres and I do find them rather firm over bumps. They are certainly not as compliant as many other tyres I have had. Noise wise they are quiet however.
Would I buy again? It would depend on whether they are on offer or not. I would be tempted to spend a bit more on a set of Goodyear Assymetric 5's as if the Assymetic 3 is anything to go by they will be a better tyre in most aspects and not much more cost. Failing that and if cost really was a factor I would go for the Falken FK510. The wife has them on her car and they are also a better tyre (and cheaper)
27 - tyre reviewed on January 15, 2020
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Given 93%
while driving a
Mercedes Benz c 220 cdi
(225/45 R17) on
mostly country roads
for 40,000
average miles
After crashing my car due to aquaplaning, i got scared to drive under wet conditions but these tyre just grips under rain !
They lasted 35km till now and still have 3.4mm, the tyre is very comfortable, pretty quiet id say.
In dry condition if u are not planning to go to a circuit theres not much differences between them and goodyears EG PE2 it understeer a bit when i am too mighty in corners.
But overall very nice tyre last very long since i am driving 50% town 40% country road and 10%% highway pretty agressivly, they still lasted 40000km and still have quite a margin !! For beginers, daily drive i would highly recommend these tyre for the price, comfort and security under wet conditions which is a very important point !
0 - tyre reviewed on May 10, 2022
Given 100%
while driving a
Suzuki Kizashi 2.4L FWD
(235/45 R18) on
mostly town
for 5,000
average miles
Excellent tyre for all seasons
0 - tyre reviewed on May 6, 2022
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Given 93%
while driving a
Audi S3
(225/40 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 15,000
spirited miles
Dry grip is execptional, then when it rains, that level of grip just keeps on giving! It's like the the rain doesn't even effect these tyres! Feedback and handling progression is alot better than I expected for what feels like a soft compound and soft sidewall tyre. Didn't last as long as the previous Bridgestones, however the grip level is a step above, and so is well worth the comprimise. Also as comfortable, if not more so, than a set of Michelins I have also previously had on the car. Definately recommend, definately buy again.
1 - tyre reviewed on April 12, 2022
Given 79%
while driving a
Volvo 2.0 T5 Saloon
(235/50 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 30,000
average miles
I dont think there are many better tyres than these in the wet! Dry performance suffers a bit though. Feedback and comfort are ok. Would buy again, not bad in the snow
1 - tyre reviewed on March 10, 2022
Given 100%
while driving a
Ford Fiesta Zetec S
(225/45 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 5,000
spirited miles
Best tyres I’ve had. Have previously used Bridgestone potenza that were excellent but wore down quickly and lost grip. The uniroyal is a far superior tyre
3 - tyre reviewed on March 5, 2022
Given 93%
while driving a
Audi S4
(225/45 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 9,000
spirited miles
AMAZING TYRE ALL ROUND BUT EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN THE WET WEATHER
1 - tyre reviewed on February 9, 2022
Given 36%
while driving a
Renault Clio 172
(195/50 R15) on
a combination of roads
for 500
spirited miles
Conclusion: If you have a hot hatch and enjoy spirited driving, avoid these like the plague!
Probably ok for a Sunday driver with a car that won't exceed 30mph anywhere.
I've got Rainsport 5's fitted on my Clio 172 Turbo with Speedline 2118s so tyre size is 195-50-15's......I absolutely detest them
16 - tyre reviewed on February 6, 2022
Given 100%
while driving a
Citroën C4 Grand Picasso
(225/55 R16) on
a combination of roads
for 11,347
average miles
Very precise steering and high cornering grip in the wet. Very quiet. Does the business on dry tarmac too
2 - tyre reviewed on January 29, 2022
Given 36%
while driving a
BMW 1 series
(255/35 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 12,000
average miles
This is a second report due to the tyres nearing the end of their life. They have improved in terms of dry grip as they have worn, but unfortunately the numb, squishy handling has remained. Wear has been good but not fantastic, I managed 12000 miles on the rear of my 220bhp BMW in normal driving.
Comfort was decent with them, the sidewalls are quite soft. These would suit a car driven steady, or for commuting but as a performance tyre they are somewhat lacking. I am looking at going for Goodyear or Michelin for the replacements.
6 - tyre reviewed on January 26, 2022
Given 100%
while driving a
Audi A4 1.9 TDI
(225/55 R16) on
a combination of roads
for 12,500
average miles
Very good on dry. Not bad cornering and impeccable handling, the Uniroyal rain sport 5 is consistently great in the wet and in the snow, the tyre is a little less convincing when pushing it to the limits but provides sufficient safety