Jazzer, if I'm only concerned with straight line performance and just trying to find the stickiest tire I can for my price range -- I would be fine with running RS-3 out back and a cheaper, all season tire up front, right?

I understand a street tire isn't going to give me the best straight line traction but I'm looking for sticky and wet traction.

 

I am not a fan of running different tires on either end of a car The exception being a set of DR's swapped for 1/4 mile events and a short trip to the track. Even though you are not focused on corners, you will be driving this car on the street. You should have a reasonably balanced car, because you will find yourself on the freeway at higher speeds. In such a case, it is a bad Idea to focus all of ones grip on the rear-only, for those times you go to the launchpad. Running the tires you propose will exasterbate understeer and your goal to save money, is at a certain amount of expense to your safety on the road, IMO.

I recommend you pick up a full set of whatever tire you want to run on the street. Pick up a set of cheap 15" wheels for a set of DR's. This will give you VASTLY better launches and maintain a safer car on the road. I realize this is more expensive, but is a much safer way to go

On the subject of softer compounds in the wet, as I mentioned in an earlier post. Softer compounds get very hard in cold weather and the tread patterns are generally designed for dry grip. I am curious to see how Luke will respond, as his input would be helpful here.

Jazzer is WannaB's Bo to MF's Luke

 

Is there a drag radial that you think would be "fine" in rain? Or do you think the RS-3s are as soft as you'd go for a DD?

I wouldn't mind running a DR if the thread pattern would be decent as water disbursement. Probably just wishful thinking now.