For 17, Goodyear Asym 2 is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best currently out there. The price is also valued.

Nexen wise, N8000 is cheaper but it is not where near GYA2, but it isn't a bad tire either, it is close to PS3 just slightly lose out in wet, but all in all the price is lower.

I think you mean Goodyear Excellence.

It is a general all around tire, while many people would say XM2 is better, I found Excellence more towards my taste because it has more feedback, being a general tire but with a treadwear rating of 240 though.

I have driven many Excellence, all of them are stock tire of the car (My sist's City, my mom's C200, my friend's Accord 2.0). XM2 on the other hand, I wouldn't say it's bad, but maybe I had bad luck with them, they degrade and dried out fast even for daily driven car (Kembara, and another 04 City).

But then Excellence price isn't that far from N8000, or even within Goodyear itself the Asymmetric 2, so it depends whether you want max performance or what.

Well if I can stop nicely and confidently on a C200, I don't think that claim is true , but well things are subjective.

You still can get other brand like Hankook or Yokohama Db.