I recently bought some lower end tyres (120$ a corner, 215/40/17 Federal SS595s) for my car, on the basis that i needed some but wasnt willing to shell out the 250$ a corner on the ones that were on originally (215/40/17 cont rainsport 1's). I've found the 595s grip far better than the rainsports, when they let go they are more predicatable. Less road noise, less sidewall flex on hard cornering, progressive let-go when you push it past the limit. And so far wearing better than the rainsports. Not quite as good in the wet as rainsports as they tend to get pulled about more by puddles, but otherwise awesome tyres for budget prices.
J