When I ran parts & accessories departments at Volvo dealers, and especially during the last six years or so, I stocked a few hundred tires all of the time and stocked and sold Pirelli's, Blizzak's, Vredestein's, Michelin's, just to name a few. Winter tire technology (notice we don't say "snow tires" any more because we usually drive on dry pavement in the winter) has advanced by light years in these few short years. Winter tires have been redeveloped using a composition which actually gets softer as the weather gets colder, allowing for far superior traction under all conditions encountered in winter driving. I run aggressive winter tires all year long and swear by them. Michelin Pilot Alpins probably ARE the best winter tires you can buy..... but they ARE costly.... but they DO give you an advantage - professional driver (I've driven with the pro in the Michelin clip) or average Joe, like me.
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