Help me pick new tires from Costco

[JEDI]

2005 mazda3i, 150k miles, 16" tires

wet + light snow traction is priority.
i've slid and did a 180 in light rain on Walmart Viva2 tires. On Goodyear Integrity's I crashed my old car when it hit a slushy patch in a light rain/ice mix.

i buy my tires from Costco now.
I loved my BF goodrich Traction T/A, but they no longer sell those.

I've narrowed down my list to 3 tires at Costco (all have good wet tractrion):
Michelin - Primacy™ MXV4 $140 (currently on my Mazda3, tread down to 3/32")
Michelin - Primacy™ MXM4 $140 (better gas milage due to low rolling resistance??)
Bridgestone - Turanza Serenity Plus $140 (better wet traction than the MXV4 but worse light snow traction)

Tirerack ratings:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=GTAS
MXV4 is #1, MXM4 is #3, Serenity Plus isnt listed but Serenity is #4

I like the MXV4 but the MXM4 caught my eye because it implies better gas milage due to it's lower rolling resistance.
Also, The MXM4 advertises that it Stops 29' Shorter in Wet Conditions than Goodyear® Assurance® ComforTred, which is #2 on Tirerack's list.

For the Serenity Plus, Tireracks road test (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=166) said it had better wet traction than the MXV4.


So which would you buy if wet + light snow traction was your priority?
(I'm leaning towards the MXM4.)

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

What did you ever do about the struts? Did you do it yourself? Did you get an alignment after replacing struts?

 

[JEDI]

What did you ever do about the struts? Did you do it yourself? Did you get an alignment after replacing struts?

never did the struts but did replace the broken engine mount.
(dealer quoted $150 plus 1 1/2 labor @ $100/hr. did it myself in 30min and the part costs $50 at Advanced auto parts. stupid ripoff dealership!)

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Replacing the struts will improve your handling. I'd suggest replacing struts yourself, get alignment, then get your tires. You will feel like you're riding in a new car again.

 

[JEDI]

Replacing the struts will improve your handling. I'd suggest replacing struts yourself, get alignment, then get your tires. You will feel like you're riding in a new car again.

but i dont notice a problem w/my handling

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

but i dont notice a problem w/my handling

150k on original struts? I think more likely that you've gotten use to the poor ride quality and consider it normal.

 

[angry hampster]

Don't buy LRR tires if you expect traction.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Why don't you just find someone who'll price match Tire Rack's price on the Continental ExtremeContact DWS? $112+shipping is better than $140.
Or if you really suck that bad at driving in the snow, get some steel wheels and some snow tires.