I have the conti's and I don't think that they are loud at all. From what I have experienced, you will never find an ultra- quiet performance tire. If you want to hear real road noise, drive in a 350Z. Considering that I live in Michigan, having a 3 season tire isn't really an option... I wont be driving my xfire in the snow, but I'm sure that I will get caught in some cold weather and ice at some point in time. The Pilot sports offer no grip when it gets a little bit slick outside. My guess would be that the pilots will offer less tread life as well, considering that they are made of a grippier compound, which will be more likely to wear faster. Just my opinion..