[OUGrad05]

Guys I've still got a couple months to go till I purchase but what is a good all-season that will perform well in wet/dry and that I don't have to swap on/off the car all the time?

Right now I'm leaning strongly toward the Michelin Pilot Sport AS3. This tire is getting fantastic reviews for wet/dry traction and it compares favorably with many summer tires in the dry/wet. I need something for cold weather and light snow, if we get excessive snow I can drive my wife's car or work from home, but running a summer tire is not really possible year 'round here.

I would appreciate additional thoughts and recommendations on a great all-season to consider.

I also prefer stiffer sidewalls, which I've read the Michelin does have.

In the mean time I need to figure out how to wear out my dunlops...

[OUGrad05]

I should add the other contender is the Conti DWS06.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

I should add the other contender is the Conti DWS06.

I myself am leaning toward these because the prior version (DWS) is ranked #1 on Tire Rack in the ultra high performance AS category. The DWS is pretty popular on this forum.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by adhrp

I myself am leaning toward these because the prior version (DWS) is ranked #1 on Tire Rack in the ultra high performance AS category. The DWS is pretty popular on this forum.

I owned the DWS on my Mazdaspeed3 it was a fantastic tire but I had one gripe and it was a big one...

Sidewalls were SUPER soft. Compared with my dunlops that were from the factory it totally destroyed the steering response and transient response of the car. I've read but only in one review that they significantly stiffened the sidewall in the DWS06, if this is the case it would be a tough tire to beat.

[bahasad]

I have the Pilot AS3s on my car. 245/40/19. Had them for 5000 miles. down to about 7-8/32nds tread. The tires are fantastic, they significantly improved the handling of the car, braking, noise, comfort everything.

But damn it they wear quickly. I don't expect them to last more than 10-15k miles. I checked online and it seems I am not the only person with this issue. For this reason alone, I would get the DWS which last 2-3 times as long.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by bahasad

I have the Pilot AS3s on my car. 245/40/19. Had them for 5000 miles. down to about 7-8/32nds tread. The tires are fantastic, they significantly improved the handling of the car, braking, noise, comfort everything.

But damn it they wear quickly. I don't expect them to last more than 10-15k miles. I checked online and it seems I am not the only person with this issue. For this reason alone, I would get the DWS which last 2-3 times as long.

Don't they have a 45,000 mile treadwear warranty? Half that if you're running a staggered setup? Should get them replaced!

Also the Michelin is quieter than the stock Dunlops? My Dunlops are relatively quiet and I read a lot of complaints about the AS3 being noisy...

[floydarogers]

Bridgestone Driveguard and Potenza RE960AS have been touted highly by many people. They're both RFT's.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Bridgestone Driveguard and Potenza RE960AS have been touted highly by many people. They're both RFT's.

Not sure I want RFT's...in fact I don't so I'd have to be talked into it if that makes sense.

[a.void]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

I owned the DWS on my Mazdaspeed3 it was a fantastic tire but I had one gripe and it was a big one...

Sidewalls were SUPER soft. Compared with my dunlops that were from the factory it totally destroyed the steering response and transient response of the car. I've read but only in one review that they significantly stiffened the sidewall in the DWS06, if this is the case it would be a tough tire to beat.

I just put on the dws06 last week. Regarding the sidewalls, the tire installer had challenges getting the tire mounted because the sidewall is so stiff.
It's only been a week, and I can't give a full review for all conditions but out of the box these are a very nice runner. They also look great on the car

[bahasad]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

Don't they have a 45,000 mile treadwear warranty? Half that if you're running a staggered setup? Should get them replaced!

Also the Michelin is quieter than the stock Dunlops? My Dunlops are relatively quiet and I read a lot of complaints about the AS3 being noisy...

Yes they do have the warranty, Michelin will pro-rate it depending on mileage and condition. My setup is square. I love them but $1000 every 10-15k miles is a little too much. I'll see how it wears out, I'm hoping I can make it through this winter with them.

Also for overall winter performance, the DWS is better.

I had stock 18" Continentals. The AS-03s are way better even though they are 19s with a slightly thinner sidewall. They are less noisy, much more comfortable, better braking, handling everything. They also look great.

[IndotagSwizz]

I got the AS3s and they are amazing, they have great grip wet and dry, had them for over 6k miles and they still look brand new

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by bahasad

Yes they do have the warranty, Michelin will pro-rate it depending on mileage and condition. My setup is square. I love them but $1000 every 10-15k miles is a little too much. I'll see how it wears out, I'm hoping I can make it through this winter with them.

Also for overall winter performance, the DWS is better.

I had stock 18" Continentals. The AS-03s are way better even though they are 19s with a slightly thinner sidewall. They are less noisy, much more comfortable, better braking, handling everything. They also look great.

Shouldn't be 1k every 10-15k miles, in fact if you're a square setup the tire warranty is 45k so in that case it should be 1/3 of 1,000 every 15k...so 333 dollars!

But I hear what you're saying. Right now I'd say the michelin's are on top and the dws06 is a close second. I really want better steering response if possible vs my runflats. The traction on the dunlops seems very good but they crash over expansion joints. I'm hopeful that a traditional tire, especially a good one like either of the above will solve a lot of those issues.

Many complain about the tire noise with the RFT's I don't notice, but perhaps it's because it's the only tire I've had on the vehicle?

[_BMWF30BOOST]

Im running goodyears eagle sport all season
They have great reviews and perform amazing all around

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

Guys I've still got a couple months to go till I purchase but what is a good all-season that will perform well in wet/dry and that I don't have to swap on/off the car all the time?

Right now I'm leaning strongly toward the Michelin Pilot Sport AS3. This tire is getting fantastic reviews for wet/dry traction and it compares favorably with many summer tires in the dry/wet. I need something for cold weather and light snow, if we get excessive snow I can drive my wife's car or work from home, but running a summer tire is not really possible year 'round here.

I would appreciate additional thoughts and recommendations on a great all-season to consider.

I also prefer stiffer sidewalls, which I've read the Michelin does have.

In the mean time I need to figure out how to wear out my dunlops...

I installed DWS AS tires on my '09 135i and my '13 335i Msport.
In the Chicago area these tires got me through winter. Yes, you have to be cautious and don't bother with "performance driving" when there is snow on the ground with AS tires. Still, they got me through these past winters since 2009.

DWS AS do soften the steering response, but they also give a very nice ride and are a quite tire too. They will become noisier over time if not rotated, and with a staggered setup that makes it tough. But, if you swap left to right they will wear much better and tire noise with mileage will be kept to a nice minimum. They ride better than the OEM RFT summer performance tires.
To get back some of the lost steering and handling response I pump up the tires to the BMW recommended level for sustained high speed driving, which is around 39psi front and 41psi rear. This does help give back some response lost due to the DWS AS softer sidewall.

Compared to Mich Pilot AS and Pirelli PZero AS tires the DWS AS are a good level better in the snow..PERIOD. Tire Racks testing confirms this as well.
The Mich and Pirelli do get better reviews for quicker and sharper steering and handling response, but then those tires aren't that great even on light snow. For me, if I'm going with AS tires, then I want at least acceptable light snow traction and will gladly give up some steering response, and that's why I prefer Conti's DWS AS tire.

Now there is the DWS 06, which Tire Rack has reviewed and the conclusion is that steering response and handling has improved and that's great news.
With the extra tire pressure the new DWS may just be the perfect AS tire.
Snow traction and winter performance are said to be the same as the now older tire if not a touch better, so nothing given up on the winter side to gain the better dry performance.

The DWS 06 is at the top of my list for tires.
However, I am seriously considering trying a set of "winter performance" tires this time just to try them out.
TR reviews some of these tires as being very much like an AS tire on cold dry or snowless winter pavement, but much better when there is snow.
I don't know as I've never tried these types of tires, but I am intrigued by them. I started a thread to get some comments from members who are using or have used these "winter performance" type tires.

The problem going with WP tires is that I will either need to swap tires on OEM wheels twice per year, or pay the additional cost to get a whole new set of wheels, tires, and TP sensors. Lowest 18" wheel/tire/sensor all mounted and balanced with highly rated WP tires is around $1600 for 18", or $1400 for 17". The tires are Pirelli Sottozero 3's, which are highly rated, currently #1 on TR's site.

But, this still leaves me with having to use the OEM RFT summer performance tires. If they are good one's, then that's great, but if they aren't so great that could mean yet another new set of tires for summer use.

Going with a great set of AS tires fixes most of those issues with one set of tires that can be used all year round.
That's why I've always said that UHP AS tires may not be the best tire for any one particular road condition, but they are the best tires when you have to drive on different road conditions.

[JWBoulder]

I replaced the original 19" staggered Conti RFTs on my F30 335xi M-Sport with Michelin PS AS3 (225/40, 255/35). These tires are so good that I've ditched plans for separate summer tires.

Highly recommended.

[ramellis65]

I have had both the DWS and the Mich P/S AS/3. I didnt use the Mich in the winter but when it was summer time or raining in NJ i thought they handled way better the the DWS. Someone also mentioned that they were wearing down quick. I had them on my 19" avant garde wheels with 6k and they still had the little studs on the corners of the tire i dont think they went down at all in that amount of time. I highly recommend the Mich AS3. The side walls are very strong. i do a lot of long distance traveling and i was very confident going 85mph in pouring rain which i didnt feel in the DWS. Mich is by far the best tire out there. i have the stock conti on my BMW now and they are so soft compared to the mich

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by ramellis65

I have had both the DWS and the Mich P/S AS/3. I didnt use the Mich in the winter but when it was summer time or raining in NJ i thought they handled way better the the DWS. Someone also mentioned that they were wearing down quick. I had them on my 19" avant garde wheels with 6k and they still had the little studs on the corners of the tire i dont think they went down at all in that amount of time. I highly recommend the Mich AS3. The side walls are very strong. i do a lot of long distance traveling and i was very confident going 85mph in pouring rain which i didnt feel in the DWS. Mich is by far the best tire out there. i have the stock conti on my BMW now and they are so soft compared to the mich

We get some snow but I also have flexibility to work from home etc when it snows so I think going for the better performing tire in wet/dry/cold makes the most sense leaning towards the Mich very strongly at this point.

[VMRWheels]

The DWS 06 will be far and away the best AS option. My customers rave about those tires! The improvements that were made to the sidewall were exactly what Continental needed to make the tire THAT much better.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

The DWS 06 will be far and away the best AS option. My customers rave about those tires! The improvements that were made to the sidewall were exactly what Continental needed to make the tire THAT much better.

That probably depends on your location. The Michelin has higher ratings in wet, dry, but not in snow...

[ramellis65]

Yea i would def go with the mich. there warranty is better. i just convinced my buddy to get them and he loves them. he was going to get perelli's hahahah