I was looking at the thread from last October "car recs for ski trips". Many people noted that it's generally the tires, not the car, that are key.

I'm sure we agree that snow tires are not needed in the DC area. But of course I take winter trips to Snowshoe and also the northeast. My vehicle is a 2007 4Runner. Generally does very well. I can only think of one embarrassing episode when I couldn't make it up the last turn into the Shoe, because the guy in front of me was going so slow that I didn't have enough momentum. Got a tow from a helpful local. Then the guy at the guy at the TOTW check-in desk told me "you should have put on snow tires!" Yeah thanks man.

I don't have the option to have winter tires on a second set of rims that I can switch to in the winter. I don't have a garage to store them in, and there aren't any "tire storage" places around here like there are in some northern states. Also, I'm not going to drive my 4Runner out west. When we go to UT or CO, I rent something at the other end.

Where that leaves me, I think, is that I need all-season tires I can drive year-round but that still provide good performance on the rare days when there is significant snow (or worse, ice) on the ground. Several people in the other thread recommended Michelin CrossClimate 2. Any other recommendations based on experience?

What I currently have are Michelin Defenders and they're at best "ok" in the snow.

Looking around now, it looks like the Crossclimate 2 tests better in snow than the Weathergrip, but when I bought my tires, there were many rankings that clearly showed the Weathergrip as the best in the category.

Stephen wrote:

I got Firestone Weathergrip on my AWD Sienna.  I completely agree that snow tires do not make sense around here.  I came to the exact same conclusions: what is the best all season tire that I can get?  I researched ratings for snow and ice and the Firestone Weathergrip is what I came up with.  I don't care how it drives outside the snow, but they seem as good as any other tires I've had.  I've never really spent much money on tires before, though, and some people seem very particular, so I'm not sure my opinion about that should carry much weight.  But, in the ice and snow, they've definitely been the best all season tire that I've owned.  I carry chains, and I've never needed them with those tires.  Only on a steep hill or if the snow is deeper than my clearance would I have any problems.

Mongo wrote:

My vehicle is a 2007 4Runner. Generally does very well.

Driving a 2009 Lexus GX470. This vehicle shares many parts and wheel dimensions with your 4Runner.

I don't have the option to have winter tires on a second set of rims that I can switch to in the winter.

I did this for a number of years but now only run one set of wheels/tires.

Several people in the other thread recommended Michelin CrossClimate 2. Any other recommendations based on experience?

I have heard good things about the CC2's

What I currently have are Michelin Defenders and they're at best "ok" in the snow.

I did have the Defenders but I'm back to the X-Ice winter tire. They ride like an all season radial and have a 40K tread wear. I like the handling and performance in heavy rain. You don't have to worry about hydroplaning.

The best tires I have ever owned are the Vredestein 17" winter tires. I have driven them in 18" locally and 24" one time in the Catskills. They plowed right through everything. Incredible grip and performance with this tire.

I had studded Nokian tires years ago on different vehicles. These are very noisy but never had to put chains on and never got stuck even when I lived in Tahoe with many large storms.

My husband put Michelin CrossClimate2 tires on my RAV4 before I drove out to Colorado in December 2023.  While I haven't had to drive on snow that much, I've been happy with them.  In Colorado again this week.  Did a stop test on the short road to the house my friends and I stay in.  In the shade so there was a few inches of snow that hadn't melted yet.  Felt good.

My friend who drove from TN also has the CrossClimate2.