DarkArsenic

i think it has to do with the limits of the tire, since they are all-seasons the limits are lower and therefore feels more fun since you are coming closer to the limit of the tire. summer perf tires limits you aren't really going to be reaching out on the street so you feel like you have to push it harder.

rpg51

I think this is definitely part of it. But, there is also a lighter steering feel. I think its two different things.

ncrx

sidewall stiffness and different construction of the tire impacts steering feel. as well as tire stretch/ rim width / rim and tire combined weight/ rim stiffness.

for example
bridgestone re71r 205/50/15 on a 6inch rim feels vague and mushy
bridgestone re71r 205/50/15 on a 7 inch rim feels precise and responsive (stretch/support/sidewall stiffness)
bridgestone re71r 205/50/15 on a 7.5 inch rim feels even more precise and responsive
bridgestone re71r 255/40/17 on a 9inch rim feels precise and responsive (re71r sidewalls are reasonably stiff)
bfg rival s 1.5 255/40/17 on a 9 inch rim feels more vague and less responsive (bfg rival sidewalls are softer and have a different construction)

two different tires with different compounds construction from different manufacturers will never feel the same. They all have their own compounds methods of construction and design goals.

rpg51

Interesting. Makes a lot of sense. We rarely have the ability to compare tires on different wheels and using different sizes and models, etc. Seems its a bit of a crap shoot. But one take from your observations might be that erring on the side of wider rim width for the tire size could give better responsiveness, all other things being equal. This would seem to support the notion that mounting wider tires than stock on oem sized wheels might not give the best results from responsiveness perspective, which has been my subjective experience. For example, a common "upgrade" is to use the larger CR tire sizes on stock wheels. I tried that and I did not like it. If you prioritize maximum grip over general responsiveness, maybe. But that is not where I am at when selecting wheel/tire combinations for my street driven S.