...but I'm assuming you either 1) don't drive your MINI in the winter on the PSS tires or 2) have dedicated tires for Iowa winter conditions.... Yes?

Oops..read balance of the thread and see you DO have dedicated snow tires....so PSS spring thru early fall; snows when PSS turn into hockey pucks with near freezing weather. On my current '08 Miata, just removed my snows last weekend; they went on back in mid-November. Thanks for your feedback on the PSS tires....if I can't live with the RFLTs on our R59, those or Bridgestone S-04's would be my Summer tires of choice...budget will dictate which one ;-)

 

I don't think either tire will be good in dirt, especially if the dirt gets wet and slick. I'd say if your willing to make the change in late April, PSS would be just fine.