If you've ever had a front wheel blowout. you'd soon change youre mind, I had two last year on fast decents and its more scarier than your front wheel slipping away, over 12 months on, fast decents still terrify me in case it happens. I have been using Conti 4000GP S and on the back get just over 3000 miles from new, and if I move a front to the back that was originnaly new, the mileage then goes up to 5000+ miles.
At the moment I have gone over to Maxxis Re-Fuse for winter based on recomendations and done about a 1000 miles on them and very impressed with them so far. If I get good mileage and they withstand punctures, then I will make them my all year round tyre. Rolling resistance is supposed to be not so good, but I notice no difference between my Conti's and the Maxiss and have no problem riding on fast club rides unlike some other winter tyres.