Yes. The surface interaction which causes friction is ridges and valleys not just at a microscopic but at a molecular level. Shapes and positions of molecules and forces which act on molecules. Even more counter-intuitive is the realization that the size of the contact patch does not matter.

For tires, in softer rubber compounds generally have better traction but, being softer, wear out more quickly. Water does affect friction as does other "stuff in the middle" - hydrocarbon molecules - but again surprisingly this stuff in between surfaces enhance (or allow) friction . e,g, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0603163257.htm so it's no stretch that some compounds would be better on wet roads than other compounds that otherwise give better traction.