diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfo.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfo.java
index 971f009ac6..7322ad3848 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfo.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfo.java
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import static org.springframework.beans.PropertyDescriptorUtils.*;
  * Decorator for a standard {@link BeanInfo} object, e.g. as created by
  * {@link Introspector#getBeanInfo(Class)}, designed to discover and register static
  * and/or non-void returning setter methods. For example:
- * <pre>{@code
+ * <pre class="code">
  * public class Bean {
  *     private Foo foo;
  *
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ import static org.springframework.beans.PropertyDescriptorUtils.*;
  *         this.foo = foo;
  *         return this;
  *     }
- * }}</pre>
+ * }</pre>
  * The standard JavaBeans {@code Introspector} will discover the {@code getFoo} read
  * method, but will bypass the {@code #setFoo(Foo)} write method, because its non-void
  * returning signature does not comply with the JavaBeans specification.
@@ -206,31 +206,31 @@ class ExtendedBeanInfo implements BeanInfo {
 	}
 
 	public BeanInfo[] getAdditionalBeanInfo() {
-		return delegate.getAdditionalBeanInfo();
+		return this.delegate.getAdditionalBeanInfo();
 	}
 
 	public BeanDescriptor getBeanDescriptor() {
-		return delegate.getBeanDescriptor();
+		return this.delegate.getBeanDescriptor();
 	}
 
 	public int getDefaultEventIndex() {
-		return delegate.getDefaultEventIndex();
+		return this.delegate.getDefaultEventIndex();
 	}
 
 	public int getDefaultPropertyIndex() {
-		return delegate.getDefaultPropertyIndex();
+		return this.delegate.getDefaultPropertyIndex();
 	}
 
 	public EventSetDescriptor[] getEventSetDescriptors() {
-		return delegate.getEventSetDescriptors();
+		return this.delegate.getEventSetDescriptors();
 	}
 
 	public Image getIcon(int iconKind) {
-		return delegate.getIcon(iconKind);
+		return this.delegate.getIcon(iconKind);
 	}
 
 	public MethodDescriptor[] getMethodDescriptors() {
-		return delegate.getMethodDescriptors();
+		return this.delegate.getMethodDescriptors();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ class SimplePropertyDescriptor extends PropertyDescriptor {
 				this.propertyType = findPropertyType(this.readMethod, this.writeMethod);
 			}
 			catch (IntrospectionException ex) {
-				// ignore, as does PropertyDescriptor#getPropertyType
+				// Ignore, as does PropertyDescriptor#getPropertyType
 			}
 		}
 		return this.propertyType;
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ class SimpleIndexedPropertyDescriptor extends IndexedPropertyDescriptor {
 				this.propertyType = findPropertyType(this.readMethod, this.writeMethod);
 			}
 			catch (IntrospectionException ex) {
-				// ignore, as does IndexedPropertyDescriptor#getPropertyType
+				// Ignore, as does IndexedPropertyDescriptor#getPropertyType
 			}
 		}
 		return this.propertyType;
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ class SimpleIndexedPropertyDescriptor extends IndexedPropertyDescriptor {
 						getName(), getPropertyType(), this.indexedReadMethod, this.indexedWriteMethod);
 			}
 			catch (IntrospectionException ex) {
-				// ignore, as does IndexedPropertyDescriptor#getIndexedPropertyType
+				// Ignore, as does IndexedPropertyDescriptor#getIndexedPropertyType
 			}
 		}
 		return this.indexedPropertyType;
@@ -473,14 +473,14 @@ class PropertyDescriptorUtils {
 		target.setShortDescription(source.getShortDescription());
 		target.setDisplayName(source.getDisplayName());
 
-		// copy all attributes (emulating behavior of private FeatureDescriptor#addTable)
+		// Copy all attributes (emulating behavior of private FeatureDescriptor#addTable)
 		Enumeration<String> keys = source.attributeNames();
 		while (keys.hasMoreElements()) {
 			String key = keys.nextElement();
 			target.setValue(key, source.getValue(key));
 		}
 
-		// see java.beans.PropertyDescriptor#PropertyDescriptor(PropertyDescriptor)
+		// See java.beans.PropertyDescriptor#PropertyDescriptor(PropertyDescriptor)
 		target.setPropertyEditorClass(source.getPropertyEditorClass());
 		target.setBound(source.isBound());
 		target.setConstrained(source.isConstrained());
@@ -494,24 +494,34 @@ class PropertyDescriptorUtils {
 		if (readMethod != null) {
 			Class<?>[] params = readMethod.getParameterTypes();
 			if (params.length != 0) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException("bad read method arg count: " + readMethod);
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Bad read method arg count: " + readMethod);
 			}
 			propertyType = readMethod.getReturnType();
 			if (propertyType == Void.TYPE) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException("read method "
-						+ readMethod.getName() + " returns void");
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Read method returns void: " + readMethod);
 			}
 		}
 		if (writeMethod != null) {
 			Class<?> params[] = writeMethod.getParameterTypes();
 			if (params.length != 1) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException("bad write method arg count: " + writeMethod);
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Bad write method arg count: " + writeMethod);
 			}
-			if (propertyType != null
-					&& !params[0].isAssignableFrom(propertyType)) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException("type mismatch between read and write methods");
+			if (propertyType != null) {
+				if (propertyType.isAssignableFrom(params[0])) {
+					// Write method's property type potentially more specific
+					propertyType = params[0];
+				}
+				else if (params[0].isAssignableFrom(propertyType)) {
+					// Proceed with read method's property type
+				}
+				else {
+					throw new IntrospectionException(
+							"Type mismatch between read and write methods: " + readMethod + " - " + writeMethod);
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				propertyType = params[0];
 			}
-			propertyType = params[0];
 		}
 		return propertyType;
 	}
@@ -523,44 +533,48 @@ class PropertyDescriptorUtils {
 			Method indexedReadMethod, Method indexedWriteMethod) throws IntrospectionException {
 
 		Class<?> indexedPropertyType = null;
-
 		if (indexedReadMethod != null) {
 			Class<?> params[] = indexedReadMethod.getParameterTypes();
 			if (params.length != 1) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException(
-						"bad indexed read method arg count");
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Bad indexed read method arg count: " + indexedReadMethod);
 			}
 			if (params[0] != Integer.TYPE) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException(
-						"non int index to indexed read method");
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Non int index to indexed read method: " + indexedReadMethod);
 			}
 			indexedPropertyType = indexedReadMethod.getReturnType();
 			if (indexedPropertyType == Void.TYPE) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException(
-						"indexed read method returns void");
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Indexed read method returns void: " + indexedReadMethod);
 			}
 		}
 		if (indexedWriteMethod != null) {
 			Class<?> params[] = indexedWriteMethod.getParameterTypes();
 			if (params.length != 2) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException(
-						"bad indexed write method arg count");
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Bad indexed write method arg count: " + indexedWriteMethod);
 			}
 			if (params[0] != Integer.TYPE) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException(
-						"non int index to indexed write method");
+				throw new IntrospectionException("Non int index to indexed write method: " + indexedWriteMethod);
 			}
-			if (indexedPropertyType != null && indexedPropertyType != params[1]) {
-				throw new IntrospectionException(
-						"type mismatch between indexed read and indexed write methods: " + name);
+			if (indexedPropertyType != null) {
+				if (indexedPropertyType.isAssignableFrom(params[1])) {
+					// Write method's property type potentially more specific
+					indexedPropertyType = params[1];
+				}
+				else if (params[1].isAssignableFrom(indexedPropertyType)) {
+					// Proceed with read method's property type
+				}
+				else {
+					throw new IntrospectionException("Type mismatch between indexed read and write methods: " +
+							indexedReadMethod + " - " + indexedWriteMethod);
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				indexedPropertyType = params[1];
 			}
-			indexedPropertyType = params[1];
 		}
-		if (propertyType != null
-				&& (!propertyType.isArray() ||
-						propertyType.getComponentType() != indexedPropertyType)) {
-			throw new IntrospectionException(
-					"type mismatch between indexed and non-indexed methods: " + name);
+		if (propertyType != null && (!propertyType.isArray() ||
+				propertyType.getComponentType() != indexedPropertyType)) {
+			throw new IntrospectionException("Type mismatch between indexed and non-indexed methods: " +
+					indexedReadMethod + " - " + indexedWriteMethod);
 		}
 		return indexedPropertyType;
 	}
@@ -581,15 +595,12 @@ class PropertyDescriptorUtils {
 			if (!compareMethods(pd1.getReadMethod(), pd2.getReadMethod())) {
 				return false;
 			}
-
 			if (!compareMethods(pd1.getWriteMethod(), pd2.getWriteMethod())) {
 				return false;
 			}
-
-			if (pd1.getPropertyType() == pd2.getPropertyType()
-					&& pd1.getPropertyEditorClass() == pd2.getPropertyEditorClass()
-					&& pd1.isBound() == pd2.isBound()
-					&& pd1.isConstrained() == pd2.isConstrained()) {
+			if (pd1.getPropertyType() == pd2.getPropertyType() &&
+					pd1.getPropertyEditorClass() == pd2.getPropertyEditorClass() &&
+					pd1.isBound() == pd2.isBound() && pd1.isConstrained() == pd2.isConstrained()) {
 				return true;
 			}
 		}
@@ -603,7 +614,7 @@ class PropertyDescriptorUtils {
 		if ((a == null) != (b == null)) {
 			return false;
 		}
-		if (a != null && b != null) {
+		if (a != null) {
 			if (!a.equals(b)) {
 				return false;
 			}
diff --git a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfoTests.java b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfoTests.java
index 30b2013d07..67f3b8cb5e 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfoTests.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/ExtendedBeanInfoTests.java
@@ -21,29 +21,19 @@ import java.beans.IndexedPropertyDescriptor;
 import java.beans.IntrospectionException;
 import java.beans.Introspector;
 import java.beans.PropertyDescriptor;
-
-import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.math.BigDecimal;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import org.springframework.core.JdkVersion;
 import org.springframework.tests.sample.beans.TestBean;
-import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
-
-
-import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.greaterThan;
-import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.lessThan;
-
 
 import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.equalTo;
 import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.is;
-
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
 /**
- * Unit tests for {@link ExtendedBeanInfo}.
- *
  * @author Chris Beams
  * @since 3.1
  */
@@ -207,10 +197,6 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 		}
 	}
 
-	interface Spr9453<T> {
-		T getProp();
-	}
-
 	@Test
 	public void cornerSpr9453() throws IntrospectionException {
 		final class Bean implements Spr9453<Class<?>> {
@@ -335,10 +321,8 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 		BeanInfo ebi = new ExtendedBeanInfo(bi);
 
 		assertThat(hasReadMethodForProperty(bi, "foo"), is(true));
-		assertThat(hasWriteMethodForProperty(bi, "foo"), is(false));
-
 		assertThat(hasReadMethodForProperty(ebi, "foo"), is(true));
-		assertThat(hasWriteMethodForProperty(ebi, "foo"), is(false));
+		assertEquals(hasWriteMethodForProperty(bi, "foo"), hasWriteMethodForProperty(ebi, "foo"));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -352,10 +336,8 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 		BeanInfo ebi = new ExtendedBeanInfo(bi);
 
 		assertThat(hasIndexedReadMethodForProperty(bi, "foos"), is(true));
-		assertThat(hasIndexedWriteMethodForProperty(bi, "foos"), is(false));
-
 		assertThat(hasIndexedReadMethodForProperty(ebi, "foos"), is(true));
-		assertThat(hasIndexedWriteMethodForProperty(ebi, "foos"), is(false));
+		assertEquals(hasIndexedWriteMethodForProperty(bi, "foos"), hasIndexedWriteMethodForProperty(ebi, "foos"));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -595,7 +577,6 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 		new ExtendedBeanInfo(Introspector.getBeanInfo(BigDecimal.class));
 	}
 
-
 	@Test
 	public void subclassWriteMethodWithCovariantReturnType() throws IntrospectionException {
 		@SuppressWarnings("unused") class B {
@@ -792,6 +773,7 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 	@Test
 	public void propertyDescriptorComparator() throws IntrospectionException {
 		PropertyDescriptorComparator c = new PropertyDescriptorComparator();
+
 		assertThat(c.compare(new PropertyDescriptor("a", null, null), new PropertyDescriptor("a", null, null)), equalTo(0));
 		assertThat(c.compare(new PropertyDescriptor("abc", null, null), new PropertyDescriptor("abc", null, null)), equalTo(0));
 		assertThat(c.compare(new PropertyDescriptor("a", null, null), new PropertyDescriptor("b", null, null)), lessThan(0));
@@ -863,31 +845,6 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 		new ExtendedBeanInfo(Introspector.getBeanInfo(LawLibrary.class));
 	}
 
-	interface Book { }
-
-	interface TextBook extends Book { }
-
-	interface LawBook extends TextBook { }
-
-	interface BookOperations {
-		Book getBook();
-		void setBook(Book book);
-	}
-
-	interface TextBookOperations extends BookOperations {
-		TextBook getBook();
-	}
-
-	abstract class Library {
-		public Book getBook() { return null; }
-		public void setBook(Book book) { }
-	}
-
-	class LawLibrary extends Library implements TextBookOperations {
-		public LawBook getBook() { return null; }
-	}
-
-
 	@Test
 	public void cornerSpr8949() throws IntrospectionException {
 		class A {
@@ -905,23 +862,10 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 
 		BeanInfo bi = Introspector.getBeanInfo(B.class);
 
-		/* first, demonstrate the 'problem':
-		 * java.beans.Introspector returns the "wrong" declaring class for overridden read
-		 * methods, which in turn violates expectations in {@link ExtendedBeanInfo} regarding
-		 * method equality. Spring's {@link ClassUtils#getMostSpecificMethod(Method, Class)}
-		 * helps out here, and is now put into use in ExtendedBeanInfo as well
-		 */
-		for (PropertyDescriptor pd : bi.getPropertyDescriptors()) {
-			if ("targetMethod".equals(pd.getName())) {
-				Method readMethod = pd.getReadMethod();
-				assertTrue(readMethod.getDeclaringClass().equals(A.class)); // we expected B!
-
-				Method msReadMethod = ClassUtils.getMostSpecificMethod(readMethod, B.class);
-				assertTrue(msReadMethod.getDeclaringClass().equals(B.class)); // and now we get it.
-			}
-		}
-
-		// and now demonstrate that we've indeed fixed the problem
+		// java.beans.Introspector returns the "wrong" declaring class for overridden read
+		// methods, which in turn violates expectations in {@link ExtendedBeanInfo} regarding
+		// method equality. Spring's {@link ClassUtils#getMostSpecificMethod(Method, Class)}
+		// helps out here, and is now put into use in ExtendedBeanInfo as well.
 		BeanInfo ebi = new ExtendedBeanInfo(bi);
 
 		assertThat(hasReadMethodForProperty(bi, "targetMethod"), is(true));
@@ -973,8 +917,56 @@ public class ExtendedBeanInfoTests {
 		}
 	}
 
+
+	interface Spr9453<T> {
+
+		T getProp();
+	}
+
+	interface Book {
+	}
+
+	interface TextBook extends Book {
+	}
+
+	interface LawBook extends TextBook {
+	}
+
+	interface BookOperations {
+
+		Book getBook();
+
+		void setBook(Book book);
+	}
+
+	interface TextBookOperations extends BookOperations {
+
+		@Override
+		TextBook getBook();
+	}
+
+	abstract class Library {
+
+		public Book getBook() {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		public void setBook(Book book) {
+		}
+	}
+
+	class LawLibrary extends Library implements TextBookOperations {
+
+		@Override
+		public LawBook getBook() {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
 	static class WithStaticWriteMethod {
+
 		public static void setProp1(String prop1) {
 		}
 	}
+
 }