Decided on Michelin PSS tire but fearful that we have below freezing weather a couple of months a year, North Georgia mountains. Will they be OK , hate to give up and go to the AS3 tires.

 

Get a cheap second set for the winter.

 

+1. I use the stock wheels for winter. I bought the NM wheels for summer and run PSS tires on them. I run some winter tires otherwise. I don't have to worry that way.

 

Anytime you are near freezing temps, all summer tires will be unsafe to drive on. All Season would be the way to go unless you get winter tires.

For the MINI if you don't want to give up much on handling and performance then an Ultra High Performance All Season tire is the best to look for. Within that class of tire some are more comfort oriented some more performance oriented so shop wisely.

 

PSS's will be fine in near freezing temps, as long as it is either dry or wet, but their performance will degrade compared to the grip you get out of them in the summer. I drove on autobahn in a pouring 35F rain, at varying speeds (up to 170 km/h recommended break-in max speed), and PSS's were rock solid.

However, they will be absolutely worthless in ice and snow.
I would not even bother trying to drive out of a garage on PSS's (or any other summer tire) in those conditions. But then again, you live in GA, and they shut down streets and highways when it snows. So you wont be physically able to drive anyway.

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P.S.: I am a big fan of dedicated winter wheels for winter driving on all my cars, when appropriate. I would not consider owning a set if I lived in GA, unless it was in the mountains.