Tires BRIDGESTONE or DUNLOP

The Bridgestones, on the other hand, handle as well if not better than many tires costing nearly $100 more per tire, and they have excellent tread life. Bridgestone Potenza RE730 In the dry, these tires afforded so much grip it was spooky, even during the break-in period. It was very difficult to get the car to slide, and when it did slide, breakaway was always slow and predictable. The sidewalls are extremely stiff, and do not roll perceptibly. In most cases, my cornering speed was determined more by my own fear-factor than the true performance limits of the tire. The tires are very confidence inspiring, and grip well enough to discipline the rather nose-heavy understeer characteristics of the Mk IV GTI. In the wet, even on recently damp surfaces the tire grips very well. It does hydroplane a bit in very heavy rain, especially when 3/4 through the tread depth. However, until that point, there is quite a lot of usable grip. I have never driven a match for these tires in the wet. They will communicate with a bit of scrubbing noise prior to breaking away, so as long as you listen, you can stay out of trouble.

I use Blizzak Mz-01's. Sure they're soft but that's what they're made for:snow & ice.

I'm coming off a set of Dunlop Sp5000s and the stock Michellins. Driving is all highly spirited street driving only, no AutoX. Plenty of heavy rain driving, some light snow use. Total Miles Michellin: 28k Dunlop: 23k Kumho: 20k (expected) Wet Traction Dunlops, superb .. wet Dunlops like dry Michellins. could drive at highway speeds in monsoon and car tracked perfectly straight. Amazing. Dry Traction Dunlops, hard to peel (very sticky). Can take corners significantly faster than with Michellins. On one of my favorite corners can take it at least 10mph faster (wide off-camber left sweeper going into a sharp off camber right S). Panic Stops Dunlops, hardly ever kicked on the ABS High Speed Maneouvers Dunlops, can do some wild ****te .. a little squeamish doing funny stuff at 120+ speeds. Overall much better than the Michellins Snow Dunlops get a big thumbs up. But, if you've got the extra scratch, go for the Dunlops.

I currently have a set of the blizzaks (ws-50's) and am pretty happy with'em. They are a bit soft but they did rate the highest for snow traction.