I've been using snow tires since 1950 when they first came out with the sawdust tread and they worked but didn't last long then they used walnut shells then glass and each one was an improvement but when the race cart driver invented the steel studds that was the greatest thing that could have happened to the car owner on snow and icey roads. It is really interesting the trial and error he put into this invention and how he finally goy the auto industry to acknownledge it.One other thing I want to mention if you buy snow tires from Les Schwab they won't put them on your car unless you put them on all 4 wheels. They have already been sued by people who only had them on the front or the back and had an accident and lost the case and paid a hefty fine