[max_330i]

Originally Posted by robthewrench

Since you have the extra set of rims and snow tires, I would not switch to an A/S tire. Stick with a summer tire. Summer tires are 3 season tires and work great down to ~40 degrees.

That being said, I have zero experience with Michelin A/S 3+, just with other A/S tires.

That was my thinking as well. With the extra rims laying around, I don't need tires that will work in all seasons, as I really don't mind switching them twice a year.

[Alonsomac]

Even when i lived in MA i would run a summer tire in the summer. Its not worth using an all season if you have a set of snows. Im not sure i would take the free all seasons, no. If you want a cheap summer the conti DW is quite good, but you will miss the RE11's.

When i run an all season it is in the winter on a car that just wont see ice, otherwise its summer and snows for me, i dont care what the car is.

[Alonsomac]

The pilot sport a/s is a great a/s tire but the DW blows it away. You cant expect much out of those tiny little tread blocks.

[TemjinX2]

I would just get the michelin pilot sport a/s. There more then enough for daily driving needs for spring and summer. if your going to the track, you would be running track rubber anyways.

[Efthreeoh]

You are never going to drive your car on the street at levels anywhere approaching the limit of adheasion of any UHP all season tires. If if you do, you'll get arrested eventually. I've had 11 sets of tires on my car, all of them past the original Bridgestone summers that came with it new were UHP All-Season. I've had some of the tires mentioned in this thread and never noticed any significant difference in grip between the different brands or model of tire.

The most important factor IMO is wet performance and wet braking. Go on the Tire Rack website and review the tire tests and performance data. There is very little real world driving situation where the slight difference in grip between a UHP All Season and summer tire matters. For example on my Z4, it came with summer tires, Michelin Pilot Sports, when they gave out I switched to Pilot Sport A/S3's. The car is still a ball to drive and actually a bit more fun. On the E90 I'm currently running Yoks ADVAN Sport A/S, which I really like. I had Conti DSWs (not the 6+ - they weren't out yet). The Conti's were great in the snow (rare occasion for me) but wore out pretty fast.

[robthewrench]

One more thought, but about winter.

If you really drive your car in winter, in Chicago, you want a snow tire. Not an A/S tire. Even when I had a WRX with all-wheel drive, A/S tires didn't perform great in snow. A snow tire is far superior. It also helps that snow tires usually have more tread on them than an A/S tire you that is past 50%. I run snows on my 335 now even though I drive a pickup through most of the winter. Last thing I want is to whack the 335 into something if a sudden flurry shows up.

Even if you do decide to get the free A/S tires, I would still switch to snows if you can for winter.

[ATLIEN]

I would get the A/S 3's and keep it moving. I've got PS3's and use them for everyday driving and they work great for me but to be honest I probably wouldn't be able to tell much difference with a set of A/S 3's given the way I drive.

[rulonger]

I wish I had a family member willing to buy me a set of tires! ! ! ! !

DWS 06+ wear pretty fast, but are a really good tire for an A/S. As others have mentioned, they are great in the rain.

But I would go with the Michelin A/S 3. They are superior to the DWS for wear and I believe that the wet/dry grip is similar.

[NiNeTyOne]

You should also look at the Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec as a summer option. I've used these for light track duty and as my summer tires for a few years. They are incredible tires.

Compared to the PSS's, they are a huge step forward with dramatically better turn in response, hold higher cornering loads, stiffer sidewall, precision, etc.

I'm just swapping mine out again this week now that the rain is slowing here. I can't tell you how much I adore these tires.

Review

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by NiNeTyOne

You should also look at the Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec as a summer option. I've used these for light track duty and as my summer tires for a few years. They are incredible tires.

Compared to the PSS's, they are a huge step forward with dramatically better turn in response, hold higher cornering loads, stiffer sidewall, precision, etc.

I'm just swapping mine out again this week now that the rain is slowing here. I can't tell you how much I adore these tires.

Review

He's looking for cheap alternatives to the RE11. ZIISS are pretty expensive. I'd stick with RE11 over ZII anyways, as someone who had a pair of ZIISS.

[max_330i]

Thanks for all the feedback everybody. My family is keeping an open mind towards summer tires, especially when I demonstrated how much cheaper they could be (Firehawk Indy 500 vs Michelin A/S 3+) Turns out that summer tires might be okay if they come in at a lower price point

[NiNeTyOne]

Originally Posted by Harambe

He's looking for cheap alternatives to the RE11. ZIISS are pretty expensive. I'd stick with RE11 over ZII anyways, as someone who had a pair of ZIISS.

The Direzza ZII Star Spec's are $170 a tire at Tirerack. America's Tire and Discount Tire will also match them, so I'm hard pressed to see how that's expensive.

The RE-11's are 182.00. That's $12 a tire cheaper or almost $50 a set. For an extreme performance tire I'm not really sure what you're asking for in cheap.. but that's pretty damn cheap.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by NiNeTyOne

The Direzza ZII Star Spec's are $170 a tire at Tirerack. America's Tire and Discount Tire will also match them, so I'm hard pressed to see how that's expensive.

The RE-11's are 182.00. That's $12 a tire cheaper or almost $50 a set. For an extreme performance tire I'm not really sure what you're asking for in cheap.. but that's pretty damn cheap.

He's looking at hankook V12s which are $152 in 255/35/18 whereas starspecs are $277 in that size. That's $480 per set, pretty substantial.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by NiNeTyOne

The Direzza ZII Star Spec's are $170 a tire at Tirerack. America's Tire and Discount Tire will also match them, so I'm hard pressed to see how that's expensive.

The RE-11's are 182.00. That's $12 a tire cheaper or almost $50 a set. For an extreme performance tire I'm not really sure what you're asking for in cheap.. but that's pretty damn cheap.

Also where are you seeing ZII for $170...? Even a 225/40/18 is $211. Are you sure you're not looking at DZ102?

[NiNeTyOne]

Originally Posted by Harambe

Also where are you seeing ZII for $170...? Even a 225/40/18 is $211. Are you sure you're not looking at DZ102?

225/45 17 on Tirerack. I assumed 17's as most of us went back to 17's as streets in America continue their downward spiral to third world condition.

In either case the RE-11's are still more.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by NiNeTyOne

225/45 17 on Tirerack. I assumed 17's as most of us went back to 17's as streets in America continue their downward spiral to third world condition.

In either case the RE-11's are still more.

Well, OP said 18s

[max_330i]

Originally Posted by NiNeTyOne

225/45 17 on Tirerack. I assumed 17's as most of us went back to 17's as streets in America continue their downward spiral to third world condition.

In either case the RE-11's are still more.

Anyway, no comment on RE-11 vs. ZIISS; I'm sure both are great tires, but that's not what's on the table for me at this point. The free or half-free tires will have to be either good all-seasons or decent summers (although I certainly wish I could have fresh RE-11's without footing the bill)

[NiNeTyOne]

Originally Posted by Harambe

Well, OP said 18s

Either way, still cheaper than the same size RE-11, though the Indy 500's are a damn good tire too, though I prefer the steering response on the Dunlops and they are a bit more predictable when they are about to let go.

If you're not driving like a felon the Indy 500's are a screaming deal. I'd even take those over RE-11's.

Spec wise, just compare them on Tire Rack. Grip and treadwear alone the Indy 500's win out.