Recently installed these on the ZHP. After driving last winter on summer tires, I was ready to give some all seasons a try.
Use Parameters: This car won't be tracked, so I wasn't worried about track grip. The ZHP sees use all year (with the exception of the few days when we have snow-covered roadways). I am a spirited driver-- not hard on the brakes, but definitely like pushing through the corners and twisties.
Decision Points: Used the following priorities in order-- 1) cost 1a) grip 2) steering response 3) straight line tracking 4) Comfort/road noise
After doing a ton of research, I settled on these tires based in large part on the video review I saw on TireRack.com.
Use so far: About 150 miles of mixed-condition driving. I've driven local roads and highway in the rain and on dry pavement.
Initial impressions: First off, tires are significantly quieter than either the Bridgestone Potenza RE040s that they replaced or the Ventus V4s that I had on the 325i. They also offer a slightly more comfortable ride.
Steering response is immediate-- exactly what I expected after the TireRack review.
Straight line tracking and center line feel is also very good with no wandering or tramlining.
Dry grip is very, very good-- especially for an all season tire with a UTQG treadwear grade of 420. These are fun tires and really feel like summer tires to me.
Wet grip is impressive as well-- I took a wide-lane highway off ramp in the rain last night and purposely pushed her to the point of traction-break. Took a lot of effort on my part to get her to break loose-- very happy here.
All this being said, it's very early. I'll follow up on this after a few thousand miles with some updated information.
As a side note for anyone who is thinking about these, Kumho is offering a $50 rebate on the purchase of four tires until the end of November.
Update: December 14, 2011, 2,500 miles on tires
Just wanted to share my thoughts after a few months and a few thousand miles.
I am extremely satisfied with these tires. Dry and wet traction remains very good, and the ride comfort and noise level are unchanged. I have noticed no change in grip now that the temps have been down in the 20s at night.
Still waiting for the first light snow just to see how they do, although I typically just leave her garaged when there's snow on the ground.
Also a quick share on wheel alignment-- I passed on an alignment when I bought these. My previous set had uneven inner-shoulder wear, but I attributed that to bad CABs.
Well, 2,500 in on these and I eyeballed the tread wear-- looked good. Took a tire tread depth gauge to them just to make sure, and sure as sh^t, i had a about 1/32 extra wear on the inner shoulder.
Next set, I'll just get an alignment when I get the tires (like I should have done this time).
Update: August 2013, 16,000 miles on tires
Just a quick update.
I'm around 16k miles on these now. Just checked the tread depth:
Fronts are at 9/32 (started at 10.5/32), rears are at 7/32 (started at 11/32). Tires are wearing evenly meaning I'm still looking at plenty of life in these things.
Couldn't be happier with these tires.