I have just skimmed through this thread as I need to replace my ContiWinterContact TS850 with some summer rubber.
I can concur with what Teutonic_Tamer was saying to some extent. I had GY ASY 2 on my GTi and it was the worst feeling imaginable. For a starter the GY's looked under inflated, felt very unstable and when going around roundabouts/fast bends on B roads it felt like the wheel rim was moving/folding over the outside of the tyre sidewall. So I got ride as soon as I could and when back to Pirelli PZero Rossos (now discontinued) and loved them. Stiff sidewalls, lots of grip and felt very stable. Then when I needed to replace them and heard that they are now being replaced with the PZero tyre. I though, are these going to be the same as the Rosso's, stiff sidewalls, lots of grip and confidence that I like. Yes! Yes they did and thought these are a fantastic tyre in the dry and an even better in the rain. My only down side to them was the wear rate - 5.5k miles ( and I was heard similar milage elsewhere of 6k). The tread pattern is soft - lots of grip - I would rather have a tyre like this than say a ditch finder tyre. At my previous job, one of these install guys was a tyre fitter by trade and he said that Contis and Pirellis where the hardest tyres to fir because of their stiff sidewalls.
But from reading this thread, I am a little unsure as to what I should get next. It won't be the GY ASY 3's thats for sure. The Conti's that I am running now are ok and have been okay over this very mild wet winter. I am kind of regretting purchasing them. They only work when the temperature is below 0. Above this they are average and the grip is nowhere to be found. I think if I was to purchase again I would get the Sottozero 3 instead.
I have narrowed it down to ContiSportContact 5 or the PZero (again). I don't like Michelin or Bridgestone (although I do see most of the new VAG cars with these tyres fitted). That would leave Dunlop.
Judging by what has been said that the Conti is the best to choose from?