RainSport 5 masters soaked roads; Roadhawk 2 counters with quieter, more efficient everyday manners.
The Uniroyal RainSport 5 is an upper-middle-segment summer tyre built around one clear promise: controlling water. Uniroyal describes its Shark Skin Technology, wide block grooves and Aqua-Twist sipes as routes for rapidly clearing water from the contact patch. The evidence strongly supports that positioning: its aquaplaning score is 91.8/100, wet performance reaches 84.3 and testers repeatedly found secure wet handling. Offered in 102 sizes from R15 to R21, it covers everything from ordinary family hatchbacks to large performance-oriented cars, although its soft, rain-focused character is better suited to fast road travel than genuinely sporting dry driving.
The Italian-made Firestone Roadhawk 2 occupies the same upper-middle tier but targets everyday drivers, long trips and electric vehicles. It replaces the Firestone Roadhawk and introduces ENLITEN construction, a high-silica NanoPro-Tech compound, connected shoulder blocks and a lighter carcass. Firestone claims 20% more mileage and 12% lower rolling resistance than the predecessor. Its 108-size R16–R22 range starts higher and extends further into modern SUV and EV fitments. Almost every listed size has EU-label A wet grip, while 70% achieve fuel grade B.
The defining difference is character. The RainSport 5 is the rain specialist, combining exceptional water clearance with a soft, comfortable ride but accepting imprecise dry responses and weaker economy. The Roadhawk 2 is the more modern all-round road tyre: quieter, potentially more efficient and dynamically tidier, yet its stopping distances and reported wet-limit behaviour are inconsistent. It beat the Uniroyal by one place in their sole shared six-tyre test, finishing third against fourth, but that narrow result does not erase the Uniroyal’s stronger braking and wet-performance scores.
RainSport 5
Roadhawk 2
RainSport 5 is the stronger safety recommendation for drivers who regularly face sustained rain. Its superior wet-braking score, secure wet handling and outstanding aquaplaning resistance form a convincing package, while its softer ride suits family cars, older vehicles and rough roads. It is particularly compelling in Atlantic and northern European climates, or for drivers willing to trade steering sharpness and some fuel economy for reassurance when the forecast turns ugly. Its 69/100 overall rating, weak dry handling and questionable mileage prevent it from being the universal choice.
Roadhawk 2 is the better fit for mixed-weather commuters, EV owners and long-distance drivers prioritizing low cabin noise, efficient rolling and more disciplined dry cornering. It won the only direct test, has the higher overall rating at 83/100 and offers modern construction plus broad R16–R22 availability. However, buyers must accept inconsistent braking, limited wet grip reserves near the limit and disappointing projected mileage. Its EU wet label should not be mistaken for proof of class-leading wet stopping in every condition.
If forced to choose one primarily on safety evidence, the RainSport 5 wins: stopping and predictable wet behaviour matter more than polish, and those are the clearer strengths in the supplied results. The Roadhawk 2 remains the more sophisticated everyday cruiser and the preferable option for quiet EV or motorway use. Enthusiastic dry-road drivers should look beyond both, because one is too soft and the other lacks the braking grip and steering feedback expected of a genuinely sporting summer tyre.
| Organization | Season | Year | Dimension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Netzwelt | Summer | 2026 | 205/55 R16 | View |
Compare prices across all available dimensions for these tyres.
VS
VSVSVS
VSVS
VSVS
VSVS
