Update.
Got the cheap Maxxis.
Toured Brittany. Ideal weather - all dry. The rear 'steps out' a bit, like a 70's Honda 4 if pushed hard through a corner ... and the Bikes heavily loaded.

No brown underwear moments though - quite predictable. After the first time.

(thank the gods Mrs Og was used to this from previous experience with me and Hondas!

)
Since then it's been mostly commuting, sadly not much in the way of decent spins.

Now then,
in the wet - they're poxy.

white lines, overbanding, drains, manhole covers - any excuse - they skip and slither.
Getting the pressure right seems to be crucial.
What that pressure is - i have no idea

. I'm still fiddling about with that.

Sometimes they're good / sometimes sheite. In the wet.
Still - i'm getting i reckon 2/3rds of the performance for 1/2 the price of a pair of BT45s.
Mustn't grumble.
