I got my 350 with Dunlop summer tires. Can I drive in the rain? I don't get it. Do people actually switch tires when the season changes? Isn't that a huge hassle unless plannig on getting new sets every six months.

 

Tire Rack doesn't recommend using summer tires in winter temps.
Especially in rain and snow.
I did some googling and summer tires shouldn't be used in temps under 50F.
Rubber hardens,loss of traction and tires wear faster.

 

Why on earth OEM tires are Summer? I don't want to spinout in the rain. I'm in CA so I'm not worry about snow. Has anyone driven with Summer tires in the rain?

 

if you dont get snow you have nothing to worry about, the dunlops are fine in rain, and trust me it rains alot up here in vancouver.

 

Pretty much all low pro tires are summer or "Z rated" tires because they is no room for a tread pattern that works for all season or rain. But I live if seattle and I have 30 series on mine and it does just fine. If being in Seattle isn't proof enough then I would have to say you should not be driving if your worried about rain that much.

 

That sounds better. I checked tirerack and they sure are ok for rain but not snow.

 

Speed ratings are completely different from "season" ratings. You can have an low-pro All-season Z-rated tire. One example (among many): Michelin Pilot Sport A/S.

In terms of rain driving: NEITHER speed rating NOR "season" matter. Instead, it's the tread pattern itself (ie-rain channels). The seasonal ratings come into play when you are considering mud/snow and temperature.

 

So....it doesn't rain in CA in the summer?

OEM tires are summer tires because the car is marketed towards a performance minded crowd. You should perhaps look at the 250 AWD if you are that afraid of the rain.