Rainy Track Day Guide: Davanti Tyres’ Protoura Race and Protoura Sport in the Wet

Summer may be nearing its end, but that doesn’t mean driving adventures have to. With the right tyres, whether you’re an aspiring racing driver or a motoring enthusiast, you can enjoy perfecting your lap times even when the wet, damp autumn days kick in.

Davanti’s range of ultra-high performance tyres has been designed to provide assured steering response, handling and grip when negotiating tight hairpins and fast straights in the wet.

How is Protoura Race designed for wet conditions?

Specifically designed for the track, Protoura Race is a semi-slick tyre with the ability to provide unbeatable performance in the wet and the dry. It is also road legal, which makes travelling to and from the track much easier.

Here’s how it works:

• The directional tread pattern helps channel water away from the contact area between the tyre and the tarmac, maximising grip.
• Its enhanced carcass strength provides direct driver feedback and control under high cornering forces, helping drivers feel glued to the tarmac when travelling at high speeds even on wet ground.
• Progressive handling allows the tyre to withstand changes in temperature, meaning it can be driven from cold.

Tried and tested

Protoura Race has undergone extensive, real-world testing to assess its consistency and performance levels. As part of this, it was used in a Track Testing Session on the Silverstone GP circuit using professional TSL timing and qualification standings. During this testing the tyre performed in varying conditions, proving its capabilities from a damp circuit to a dry line.

You can find out more about how Protoura Race was tested here or if you want more information about how semi-slick tyres work generally, check out our blog.

What makes Protoura Sport effective in the wet?

A road tyre that is also perfectly at home on the track, Protoura Sport is Davanti’s original flagship ultra-high performance tyre. Fitted to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve’s (AIA) fleet of racing school vehicles, Protoura Sport is pushed to its limits at one of the most challenging circuits in the world – regularly exceeding speeds of 250km/h – proving its consistency and performance under sustained, extreme stress.

How it works:

• Hydro-dynamic dimples optimise water flow, providing efficient dispersion and reduced drag.
• Trapezoid-shaped projections in the tread pattern aid the flow of water from the inner grooves.
• The solid centre rib helps transfer cornering forces to the tyre structure and maximises contact with the road, while also providing high speed stability and assured steering response.

If you’re still unsure which tyre is best for your driving needs, we’ve outlined the key differences between race tyres and performance tyres here.

Top tips for driving on track in the wet

• Exercise progressive driving when applying the throttle and brakes to avoid any loss of traction.
• Resist heavy acceleration when you are applying a lot of steering lock – wait until the tyres are returning to straight.
• Smooth and controlled clutch release is key when downshifting to avoid the rear wheels locking up and causing a spin.
• Avoid any painted curbs and road lines as much as you can as they can become very slippery when wet.
• Do any heavy braking on the straight when approaching a corner, and take your foot off the brake completely when cornering to allow maximum grip from the tyres.
• Look out for any stretches of dark, shiny asphalt, as this could be standing water or rubber build up, both of which will reduce grip.

For more information about our range of ultra-high performance tyres, contact your local Davanti dealer.