In most cases I prefer physics over engineering because I prefer a solid idea and a bit of hand waving to a bunch of tedious measurements, but there does come a point where the simplifications necessary to make physics manageable to the human mind cause things to get away from you in the real world. In this case in particular, I'm fairly convinced that the irregularity of the road surface and the flexibility of the tire surface allows the contact patch to play a role in stopping and cornering.

I would guess that there's a certain point above which increasing the size of the contact patch doesn't add grip, but I think that point is within the range of tires sizes and pressures commonly used.

With regard to the OP's question, I would add another vote for Marathon Supremes and GP 4 Seasons, both of which have great wet grip. If you prefer durability over sportiness, the Marathon Supreme is the clear winner. Otherwise, the reverse.