For what it's worth, I've been buying "mid range" tyres for a few years now, and typically their performance in the dry is indistinguishable from premium makes (subjectively), but in the wet tends to suffer. I find looking out of the window helps with this latter, though
I've had numerous sets of Falken, Kumho and Avon tyres in the last 10 years or so, and would rate them pretty much in that order, with the Avons in a rather poor third place, and the other two pretty much tied for 1st.
The reference to KwikFit own brand above was interesting - I wonder if these were Champiro? A friend ran a set of these on his Octavia for a while, including a punishing track day at Brunters some years ago, and had nothing but praise for them. I passengered and was impressed by the grip. Didn't get to drive, though.
Oh, and I hate Contis!
Oh, again, a friend with many many Nurburgring laps under his belt always swore by P-Zero Neros ... takes all sorts.