[quote author=rubyred3 link=topic=134490.msg2895980#msg2895980 date=1233163621]
[quote author=TEXNTHREE link=topic=134490.msg2895677#msg2895677 date=1233154193]
I do find it funny that easterners (rubyred3) and midwesterners (AlvinRow) are commenting on southwest weather conditions.
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You don't have to live in Phoenix to know it doesn't snow there a lot. In fact, you don't even have to look it up on the internet (but I did, just to double check), its just common knowledge.
Summer only tires don't give up any rain performance to all season tires until you start talking about "extreme performance" category tires (Falken RT-615, Kumho XS, Dunlop Direzza Z1*, etc.).
Those dunlops aren't bad, just realize you won't see a significant improvement in dry handling over the RS-A's with them (or really any all season tire). The jump in performance you get with the larger tread blocks a summer only tire provides is significant. They are at least as good as the RS-A's though in traction. People seem to like the Kumho ASX as an all season performance tire as well. My buddy has them on his integra and they're "aight".
If you ever see yourself needing to drive the car in the snow, stay away from summer only tires, sure. I drive summer only tires in NC with no problem though, and we do see occasional snow (once or twice a year max). Its a tradeoff I'm willing to make. If you aren't, then you're best sticking with all seasons. Its a personal choice. I just see it as not much of a tradeoff at all given your location, considering its only snowed like twice in the past 20 years in Phoenix.
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Understandable...but like I stated previously, it's always nice to have a tire for conditions that you may meet elsewhere. You get out of the Phoenix valley and you'll experience snow; east, west, north, even south in the higher elevations. The year I was there, 2006, we got some light snow. Of course, it was a lack of driving than tires that caused several accidents. Again, I prefer to be prepared for all conditions especially since we don't drive sports cars.
I consider summer tires to be more "extreme"...all-seasons are passable in places that get light snow.