For those considering winter set-ups
 

I found this very interesting article by car and driver where 4 Michelin tires are tested in cold weather dry, wet, and snow. There seems to be a large focus on the bad weather performance of winter tires on forums and I don't often see this type of data shown.

As you can see from the results, as you gain snow traction you lose non-snow (wet and dry cold weather) traction.

Not trying to persuade anyone to go with one type of tire over another, I just found this data to be very interesting and not often discussed in snow tire selection threads.

The tires and results are

- Pilot Sport A/S (Ultra High Performance All Season)
http://media.caranddriver.com/images...s-original.jpg

- Pilot MXM4 (Grand Touring All Season)
http://media.caranddriver.com/images...s-original.jpg

- Pilot Alpin PA3 (Performance Winter)
http://media.caranddriver.com/images...s-original.jpg

- X-Ice Xi2 (Studless Ice and Snow)

http://media.caranddriver.com/images...s-original.jpg

Loved my Conti's last year. Not a performance snow tire, but I'm more concerned with not getting stuck than cutting hot (cold?) lap times.

We like the Michelin X-ice....especially because they're affordable.
Great performance in slush and most snowy conditions....too bad they don't offer these in our size.

We'll be going with Continental Extreme Winter Contact. Good price and good tire.
We have these on our FG2 Civic Si, and has good dry and deep snow performance.

I put some Michelin Alpin A4 on my BRZ a few days ago, 205/50R17 on stock rims.

im thinking about hankook ipike on stock wheels, heard it was best bang winter tires

No. It's a budget option with subpar grip on ice for people too scared to deviate from OEM size. If you shop around for different sizes, far superior options (Conti EWC, Blizzaks WS70, X-ice Xi2/Xi3) won't cost more.

I just put Goodyear F1 Asymmetric All-season tires on my FR-S and so far they are awesome in the wet! We'll have to see about the snow.