try reading wheels (motor?) magazine latest edition they've just done a tyre test. don't have mine anymore otherwise i'd quote results. when you look at the rankings you'll see there is really stuff all between them. you could argue that a tyre that stops more quickly than another is worth getting even at extra $ but then you might also find that tyre has less dry cornering grip; theyre all a compromise to some extent.
not as much of an upset as last time when the Maxxis Victra was found to be very competitive overall at significantly less $, bt interesting anyway.