> wax those edges, water poured out of RH edge of trunk lid behind tailight.

I have an 01 Accord 2dr and it does this as well. I don't think the water
is in the light, but around it in the crack between the end of the seal and
the outer edge of the lens.

As for tires, I'm told that Bridgestone and Dunlop work well. The bottom
line is to stay away from something like cheap Walmart Douglas tires or
similar cheap tires.
This car does not use overly large tires (unless you changed the rims)
so it should not be that expencive to go with a top grade of tire.