I've heard the handling doesn't live up to expectations also, with a lot of body roll. I'll upgrade the bars/bushings on my 6MT as soon as they're available.
As far as tires, in my experience, they play a big part in both handling and braking proformance. Motor Trend recorded a 126 ft. stop in their Dec. test of the 6MT, so the Pilots seem to work much better (and I'm not a big fan of Michelin's).