I had an SVT Focus before the EVO and had 215/45/17 Michelin Pilot Alpin's for it that were only used for three months. I grew up in Miami and am now living in Maine, so snow tires are a must for me, seasons are still a novelty even though I no longer have a tan.

First off I know what has been said that 215/45/17 tires do not have the same load rating as 235/45/17, but Michelin's website said that the 215's are rated to go on a rim 7" - 8" so instead of throwing away $650 in tires, I said I'll give it a try. The site also says 1202 lbs per tire, so if the EVO is 3300lbs and my butt only ways 120lbs with the rest of my body attached, I don't think the tires are gonna pop from to heavy of a load. My risk, I know.

I loved the tires on the Focus and was able to compare other snow/winter tires on other SVT Foci and these came out the best in cold weather handling hands down.

So on to the EVO, I was expecting to get a call from the dealership saying "we're not gonna put these tires on your car" but not a peep. The stock rims stick out farther then the tires, and standing away from the car, it looks a bit undertired as well. But considering this is New England and we got our first snow fall yesterday, winter's not about your car looking good. I immediately noticed having narrower tires on backing out of the parking spot, a slightly smaller turning radius. I left the dealership and merged onto the expressway, the response isn't felt as quick from the steering wheel, but that's to be expected, a bit more numb, but still more responsive then 97% of most cars. The ride isn't a vast improvement overall, but bumps are absorbed only slightly better. Off ramp time, still sticks better than most cars, but just not as reassuring as the stock Advans. I still could notice that I was riding with narrower tires.

The three dirt roads towards my house were much more interesting and this is the only place they beat the Advans hands down.

Later this evening coming back from the movies, decided to take some real roads and see what the tires can do. There's a road by my house that is butter smooth (a rarity in Maine, obviously it hasn't been through a winter yet) and has 5 90 degree turns, very hilly and just a blast to drive. The speed limit is 35 mph and the turns only have skid marks that say slow down. With the stock Advans, I easily do 60 and slow down to 40 in second gear for the sharp turns. I was able to do the same, just with less stability, the backend wanted to come out, but was easily controlled back in, the confidence wasn't the same, but it consistantly took the turns in the same way. So once I learn their limits, it should be easy going.

I know they are snow tires, and I don't ever expect them to perform like summer compound tires. I just wanted to let folks know the differences before they buy their winter tires. I would definetely go with the stock size, if anything just to protect the rims a little better. I know from the focus that the Alpins can handle snow and ice well enough to get through a rural Maine winter. On an AWD vehicle they should be more than enough for anything that one would sanely drive in. In otherwords, if you drive on mainly cleared roads and still occasionaly need to get through uncleared roads and not vice-versa, the added performance of the Pilot Alpins are well worth it, in my opinion over a non "performance" winter tire.