Tire recommendations

[MichaeL BecK <mbeck@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I just about lost it going around a corner in a rainfall last week, so I 
guess it's that time again for me to buy tires and as always, it's a pain. 
There's hardly any selection and it's expensive. But anyway, I guess that's 
a tradeoff for driving a superb road handler.
Anyway, I was hoping to get some input from you guys...this is for a 1997 328i
I'm a fairly aggressive driver, love those curvy mountain roads. I've yet 
to get a set of tires to last more than a year (usually about 10 months and 
then I push them another month or so until Fall / Winter comes). So 
obviously warranty, etc. is not a big concern since that's a bunch of BS 
anyway.
  I've had Conti Z rated(factory set), Michelin V rated and now Dunlop Z 
rated. The Michelins were definitely the nicest and best wearing, but then 
again they also cost almost $900 for the set.
Anyway, I've looked around town and it looks like my options this year are 
a Cooper Cobra W rated (what ever that is) for $520, a Firestone Firehawk 
SVX V rated for $730 and a Michelin Sport AS for $865.
Does anyone have any experience with any of these. I'm leaning towards the 
Firestones, decent price and I at least know the name. The Coopers are 
alluring in price, but I don't know ANYTHING about that tire.

Thanks,

_Mike_

------------------------------