I'm currently looking at replacing the tires that came with my pre-owned 2006 STS4 V8 1SG, the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4's. Their current size is 235/50/R18 all around however looking through multiple threads and my car's build spec sheet the consensus is staggered tires (F235/50-18 and R255/45-18) is the recommended size / application for the STS.

I quickly browsed through TireRack.com as well as Sam's Club, and noticed the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus to be the best all around package based on reviews and capabilities. On the other hand they come with a hefty price tag ~$200 for fronts and ~$220 for rears.

FYI, I need snow capability without having dedicated snow tires.

Any other suggestions for tires based on first hand experience?
Any experience with the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus's?

Thanks!!

The MXM4's are garbage in my opinion, you will be SUPER happy with the Pilot Sport A/S Plus. They are an all season but nothing will ever replace a dedicated snow tire, you have 4wd which will help but will never replace them.

I haven't checked out what is available in your sizes but the Michelins are a great tire, good amounts of grip, good tread life, good balancing, good ride comfort, they are a great tire all around. Don't worry about the price tag, my winters were over $1400 just for the tires, $200 a piece is cheap for summers ;)

Not two hours ago I returned from my local Discount Tire store with four new Continental DWS All Season tires for my 05 RWD STS. After MUCH research the Continentals seemed to have very good test results and owner feedback. Went with the OEM staggered sizing. The tires were $142 and $146 each. I noticed an immediate improvement in ride and noise reduction vs. the Eagle F1's which were replaced. My only regret in two hours...... I really liked the agressive tread and sidewall style of the Eagles......... But, alas, I will move much better in the snow when it arrives.

Check out the Continentals in your research.

Not two hours ago I returned from my local Discount Tire store with four new Continental DWS All Season tires for my 05 RWD STS. After MUCH research the Continentals seemed to have very good test results and owner feedback. Went with the OEM staggered sizing. The tires were $142 and $146 each. I noticed an immediate improvement in ride and noise reduction vs. the Eagle F1's which were replaced. My only regret in two hours...... I really liked the agressive tread and sidewall style of the Eagles......... But, alas, I will move much better in the snow when it arrives.

Check out the Continentals in your research.

Hey. Same here. I had the eagle F1s did not last long at all. Very loud. I just put 4 Blizzaks on the wifes sts4 v6. Great price 105 from the rack. My STS I have the same, but just on the rears, my AWD Jag has Dunlop winter 3D's. I run snows year round on all cars. They seem to wear just as good if not better that the all seasons. Sound wise, not much of a change.. They can get a lil squishy in the summer, but I put a few more lbs. of air in to help that. Then again, I don't mind new tires every 30-40K. After that point, I want to try something else.

I wanted to check out those Conti's DWS's, but the wife needs a tank in the snow and for the price, I had to do the Blizzaks. Maybe next set.

Whatever you do, DO NOT do the MXM4's again.

Yeah I'm not planning on keeping the MXM4's for much longer after reading the reviews at TireRack with snow / cold weather usage. Plus the previous owner installed the same size all around (235/50/18) which while I don't think it should hurt it's NOT to the factory spec. Yes, I'm that picky with my investment. ;)

The Pilot Sport A/S Plus are looking better and better specially after AllGoNShow's comments. I already checked if I buy the tires online I can save roughly $300.00 which helps offset the store price.
Regarding the Continental DWS All Season tires after a quick web browsing I found a lot of complaints regarding road noise.
Regarding the Blizzaks I don't doubt they are a great winter tire but I need an all around solution.

I also bought the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus about three weeks ago in the staggered sizes. I had the original HX MXM4's which were total garbage. I noticed a huge improvement in the ride comfort and noise. I bought them based on the ratings on Tire Rack and the recommendation of the service manager I go to. I think they are the only high performance all season tire that also has a decent snow rating.

Not two hours ago I returned from my local Discount Tire store with four new Continental DWS All Season tires for my 05 RWD STS. After MUCH research the Continentals seemed to have very good test results and owner feedback. Went with the OEM staggered sizing. The tires were $142 and $146 each. I noticed an immediate improvement in ride and noise reduction vs. the Eagle F1's which were replaced. My only regret in two hours...... I really liked the agressive tread and sidewall style of the Eagles......... But, alas, I will move much better in the snow when it arrives.

Check out the Continentals in your research.

Did you get the DWS in 255/45R18 and 235/50R18? I've been looking at these tires too, and they don't come up on Tire Rack for the STS in this size.

Yeah I'm not planning on keeping the MXM4's for much longer after reading the reviews at TireRack with snow / cold weather usage. Plus the previous owner installed the same size all around (235/50/18) which while I don't think it should hurt it's NOT to the factory spec. Yes, I'm that picky with my investment. ;)

The Pilot Sport A/S Plus are looking better and better specially after AllGoNShow's comments. I already checked if I buy the tires online I can save roughly $300.00 which helps offset the store price.
Regarding the Continental DWS All Season tires after a quick web browsing I found a lot of complaints regarding road noise.
Regarding the Blizzaks I don't doubt they are a great winter tire but I need an all around solution.

But I am saying that the Blizzaks are a good all around solution... They are more like a beefy all season. There is another post on here about somebody having a great time with them. ( on the same page ) and if you are picky, so can get summer tires and have the best of both worlds. Don't get me wrong.. The Pilot Sports look nice, but that hard a tire on snow.. I just don't trust it.. I got a leason the hard way in my Jag.
Getting onto another highway from a clover leaf in a light rain/ice storm. The car drifted out on me, I featherd the gas looking for traction but only got it at the last second.. Needless to say, the drivers side door got a rash from the guard rail. Had I had just a tad more traction, I know I could of drove out of it... Second year on the winter tires year round and only a slight sign of use. Plus I have another set of all seasons on rims ready to go for it.. but I like the winter traction better year round. ESP if the wife or daughter is driving it. Just my .02 for anybody else .. on that note... I sure would like to try the Pilot sports... maybe when I live down south..:bouncy:

I'm currently looking at replacing the tires that came with my pre-owned 2006 STS4 V8 1SG, the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4's. Their current size is 235/50/R18 all around however looking through multiple threads and my car's build spec sheet the consensus is staggered tires (F235/50-18 and R255/45-18) is the recommended size / application for the STS.

Did you check the original build sheet for the car? If it came from the factory with same size all around then stick with that setup. Otherwise you have to get them installed by someone who can reset the computer to know it's running staggered.

Interesting to read about someone using Blizzaks year round. Anyone else doing that? I'm tempted with the crap handling I get on my original Michelins when the humidity is too high (e.g., sprinkling).

Did you check the original build sheet for the car? If it came from the factory with same size all around then stick with that setup. Otherwise you have to get them installed by someone who can reset the computer to know it's running staggered.

Interesting to read about someone using Blizzaks year round. Anyone else doing that? I'm tempted with the crap handling I get on my original Michelins when the humidity is too high (e.g., sprinkling).


I don't think you need to let the computer know as long as you stay within the various staggered and non staggered sizes. Even inadvertant backwards staggers don't trigger anything.

Did you get the DWS in 255/45R18 and 235/50R18? I've been looking at these tires too, and they don't come up on Tire Rack for the STS in this size.

I purchased the P235/50ZR17 front and P255/45ZR17 rear. Tire Rack did show them for the 17in wheels.

Light to mod snow = Michelin pluses are good.
Heavy snow = Blizzaks.

Or, load trunk with a couple of manhole covers. They take up little room.

Did you check the original build sheet for the car? If it came from the factory with same size all around then stick with that setup. Otherwise you have to get them installed by someone who can reset the computer to know it's running staggered.

Interesting to read about someone using Blizzaks year round. Anyone else doing that? I'm tempted with the crap handling I get on my original Michelins when the humidity is too high (e.g., sprinkling).

@MacMuse : My car's build sheet state the car was equipped from the factory with staggered sizes (F235/50-R18 and R255/45-R18). The previous owner however installed (235/50-R18) in all four corners. I am going to change it back to staggered since that is how it came OEM.

@next2pool : Correct, as long as the numbers offset each other (increase the width plus decrease the ratio or decrease the width plus increase the ratio. Either one within the same wheel diameter there should be no need for adjustments.

I purchased the P235/50ZR17 front and P255/45ZR17 rear. Tire Rack did show them for the 17in wheels.

Ahhh...I have the 18" option wheel/tire package on my car. As far as I can tell the DWS is not available in the OEM 18 size.

Yeah. with the taller gear option in my rear end... I would get traction control active all the time , even in rain.. and that is not getting on it..
Now with the blizzaks. I have to try to get the traction control to come on and it is not easy. I even have a pair of Thule snow chains that I throw in the trunk in October, just in case. I almost got run over in 3 inches of snow in Hartford a few years ago. Car almost came to a stop . The more gas I gave it, the more brake the traction control would apply.. As I went to punch on the hazards, I hit the TC off button and Baaa Vooof.. tore up the tiny hill sideways.. Folks stopped beeping at that point and I had fun a plenty...

Traction control is great for a quick traction fix, but when in snow, it works overtime burning up the brakes. And even in the summer, If I took a corner too quick, traction control would be holding me back... Not even a steep turn, just trying to power out straight.

All set now ...

Personally, I think the traction control takes much too long to recover or let go. Just activating TC while accelerating out of a corner or a puddle of water, it takes forever to let go, which at times can be alarming when you have traffic coming at you and you have no acceleration. Years ago when I was still at GM's engineering staff, I was involved in the early development of these systems and know that much of what I'm complaining about is a software tuning issue that is not consistantly applied across GM's line-up.