#1)
Avon M550 A/S
$104/tire from TireRack.com
225/45/17
#2) Rhode Island (New England)
#3) Daily driver and short 8-9 mile mud rally.
#4) Highway/City 70/30
#5) Re92s, Semperit Sport Grips
#6)
I have 1800 miles on the tires... 1,014 miles of which were during the past weekend while attending the "48 Hours of Tri-State" (http://www.48hrs.info) charity drive-a-thon. I've encountered everything but ice thus far.
Dry: The tires stick great to the dry road. They feel much smoother than the re92s and provide much more traction. Understeer has drastically been reduced.
Wet: The tires are still extremely sticky in the wet. They feel too smooth...as if they are gliding on butter...which may seem out of control, but they go in the direction you point them too. This will take some getting used to, but they are more than competent. I did notice some increased understeer in the wet, but I was finicking with the pressure all day, so that might of been my fault.
Snow/Slush/Mud: I've had the opportunity to drive these in 4-5inches of SnowMud (not sure exactly what to call it) and they preformed great for an all season. During 40mph rally in the SnowMud, of course the the wheel jerked around a little bit and had a couple of small sliding moments, but I was really impressed. I couldn't plow through like my dedicated snows, but I felt confident that I would not get stuck.
Pressure: 40psi all around felt dangerous. 38psi was good, a little harsh ride. I'm using 36F/34R and I really like this setting.
Conclusion: The Avons can't compete with dedicated summer tires and dedicated winters, but this is a great all-season. Keeping 36/34psi shows reduced understeer, remarkable wet and dry traction, and acceptable snow traction. This is a great all-season tire, and when considering its price of only ~$100, one could argue it is one of the best choices for someone seeking all-year use.