As to which tires, for snow I like the meatiest knobbies (or paddles) I can get. Ice is a different animal, drill point sheet metal screws work well but need to be installed from the inside or they just get flung out. Also don't like pavement, dulls the crap out of them quick.. I'm down in Albany NY area. We don't get the snow we used too sadly. I have a daughter that lives just outside Tug Hill, that's a freaking snow globe! They don't measure in inches but rather in feet.. crazy!