Potenza RE960AS Pole Position VS ExtremeContact DWS

[AVIDMOTION]

I am looking to get two rear all season tires, I had myself convinced with the DWS since they are rated #1 in the Ultra High Performance All-Season category. I see that they went up in price 35 bucks a tire since I last researched them. The 960 is #3 (Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus is #2). The 960 excels in dry and cornering, and ok in snow. The DWS is great in snow and wet. Here is a cut and paste of TIRERACK's survey where I always gather my info.



.................................................. ....hydro Wet corner dry resp snow ride noise wear
Continental ExtremeContact DWS.............9.0 9.1 8.2 8.8 8.2 8.6 8.9 8.6 8.7
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus....................8.8 8.9 8.8 9.1 8.9 7.6 8.8 8.2 8.1
Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS..................8.7 8.8 8.8 9.0 8.7 7.2 8.7 8.6 8.5

............................................... stock weight/cost 275/40
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 24lbs / 236.00 29lbs/249.00
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus 27lbs /319.00 32lbs/369.00
Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS 255/40= 31lbs / 212.00sale 33lb/243.00sale

Any opinions? I have bolt on's and need dry traction, wet is needed for saftey and a must is I drive in snow and HAVE to get to work and from work. I love my GY EAGLE GT's which get terrible write ups and ratings. They are like slicks to me, when they had treads I floor it in the rain. But snow the car was a death trap. Lowering the pressure helped immensely but I would like to "upgrade" snow capibility without losing any dry traction. Suggestions or opinions or experience appreciated. thanks!

[AVIDMOTION]

After all that research I found another one I like, GENERAL GMAX and the reviews are excellent comparable to the Extreme dws except in snow-too new, no snow experience yet in the reviews. Bonus is that it is cheap. Stock size 188.00 bucks in the 275/40/19 size I want for the rear they are 214.00. This size weighs only 29lbs too. Next to the DWS the width is 9.3 for the DWS and 9.6 for the Gmax. Do you think the 275/40 will be ok on a stock rim with stock suspension?

[texn884]

The Generals seem to be a decent tire also and for the price which is great. :)

[dandragonrage]

I had the RE960AS on my last car (99 Camaro Z28) and they managed in the snow but weren't "good" by any means. I would call them "just okay" in the dry, not that great but manageable in the rain (meaning you have to be pretty light on the throttle but they're not going to kill you if you're not an idiot), and barely adequate in the snow.

I would not trade my separate summer/winter sets for them... not by a long-shot.

I haven't owned the DWS but my DW (summer tires) are AMAZING, as are my WS70 snows. The combination is WORLDS better in ALL conditions (as long as I have the right tire on for said conditions, which is not too hard to do)

[AVIDMOTION]

I went with the General G max 275/35/19 from tirerack 218 a tire, 25.11 to ship two to me. Weighs 27 lb a tire, lighter then the stock sized Eagles GT 29lbs and the stock sized Summer re050a 30lbs!

[Chewy]

My experience with UHP A/S tires has made me a firm believer that they make summer tires and winter tires for a reason. Not saying these aren't good, but no UHP tires I've used were worth a damn in the snow.

Chris

[AVIDMOTION]

Got them mounted and balenced, so far so good. No noise, responsive, great traction looks great. more to follow when they break in, after I burn off the lube

[texn884]

Take some pictures of them on the car.

[AVIDMOTION]

I got some already. And some of the steel belts sticking out of my old Eagle Gt's, and with each tire next to each other so you can see the size difference. The 275/35 are 3 inches wider then the stock tires.

[TireDoc]

I have Blizzak LM snow tires for winter, and I can tell you that even they will struggle through accumulations over a couple inches. Customer surveys are just that, their opinions based on how the tires compared to whatever they had before. There is no tire that is "excellent" in snow for a RWD car. Having said that, the Conti will give you better snow capability than anything else we have in the category.

[Panzer Leader]

I have had the 960 Poles before. Not a bad tire. They are being phased out for the 970s. I have been really satisfied with my 050As that came OEM 45K miles and not near the wear bars. These are being phased out also.

[texn884]

I like the Potenzas like you Panzer my second set is up to almost 45,000 and still good rubber left.

[Chooch]

I have the GMAX and from a dry and wet prespective, they are very good, wet grip is excellent. The only complaint I have is they seem a bit loud and have a highway humm, but the radio turned up a natch of two removes that. I bought these because of price, wear rating and the fact that living in NY, gives me some ability to use longer before I change over to the dedicated snows I have. With this car, dedicated snows are if you can afford it, really give it full year use.

[AVIDMOTION]

I really like these Gmax tires, the price was right and so far quite favorable performance in dry and extremely good in rain. Still breaking in too. I dont exspect much in the way of a snow tire, if it is better then my terrible in the snow GY Eagle GT's then I will be really happy.

[Panzer Leader]

Ordered new tires today. Michelin Super Sports 245-45-18 (OEM Rims) These are their new Summer Sport Tire. The Bridgestone 050As have been great. Always balanced and no uneven treadwear. I have an extra 18" OEM Rim and I will keep the best of the OEM "STONES" to use as a full size spare. We will see how the Michelins hold up. Hopefully, they will do well on the trip up to Bettendorf.