Wow, this has turned into a great thread! Actually test data, and people who have actually carefully considered this issue!
I noted a comment in the TireRack test that interested me the most - that when the Goodyear Integrity broke loose, the driver had to work a long time to recover traction. I feel that this is the most important, often overlooked information in wet tire testing: The poorer tires break loose and seemingly offer nearly ZERO traction for long periods of time. Yes, you WILL be in the ditch or in the other cars trunk before you get rehooked up to the pavement.
My examples include:
Kelly Charger HR's , installed on a Taurus MT5. These would break loose on interstate upgrades in 5th gear in cruise control mode when driving in the rain. This car had the same power as 3 squirrels in top gear, If you braked or turned at these speeds then instant breakaway occurred. You would never be able to manuever in a wet interstate mixup/pileup with these tires and I wonder how such a poor tire is actually legal for sale. My often "autocross driving" family all noted their hideous wet characteristics and were replaced with Goodyear Reggata's after only a year of use, this totally transformed the car
Example 2: A Zephyr Wagon, 4cyl, 4 speed (ok don't be angry if you were one of the many Corvettes and Mustangs that finished behind it in autocrosses)
This car wound up with Regatta's on one end and H rated Firestones on the other. With the Firestones on the front it would understeer (in the rain) so bad that you would be shocked, it would not even oversteer when you punched it. Braking and turning was impossible, unless you used the emergency brake!! I reversed the tires (Goodyear Front, Firestone Rear) and headed for the Rockwell International parking lot in a rain storm. Wow, one whip of the wheel, the rear broke loose and went around so many times I thought I should pour coffee and turn to another radio station to wait for it to be over!!!
Anyway, great find on the TireRack test, and I find their customer surveys to be remarkable accurate. I suspect that most of those who fill out the surveys are astute drivers and they attempt objective - rather than subjective - testing of their tires. That is, of course why I provided the objective data above, something more than "these tires sucked".
No, I have never had an accident in the rain, I look well ahead, do not tail gate and anticipate a lot - especially when towing - but part of being a good driver is not purchasing dangerous tires to start with. And, posting warnings to others that may be interested!!!