I’ve gone through 4 sets of those and currently have them on two cars. It’s a very well balanced tire (in the metaphorical sense); I would classify it as very good at most everything, while being the absolute best at nothing. It has a supportive sidewall, which makes cornering quite satisfying, even though they do not provide the highest level of cornering grip. In this respect, I much prefer them to the MMX (their sidewall collapses in a most unsatisfying way under cornering, despite otherwise being rather firm). I also find the Pirellis predictable when they start to slide. Road noise is good, not quite as muted as say a new DWS, but they also don’t rumble a lot more when worn. I’ve also driven on them in a serious snowstorm; pretty decent for an all-season and, as far as I could tell, no worse than other M+S all seasons.
It’s been a while since I’ve had the AS3, but I liked them a lot. A bit more harsh then the Pirellis perhaps but with very good grip. For year-round giggles on above-US-average tarmac, I’d get the AS3. For about the same performance and a bit more comfort, without the roly-poly feel, I’d get the Pirellis again. The MMX should be relegated to Prius duty in dry locations with flat terrain.
