Very true. The 'panic' I meant was in terms of preparation, readiness, etc., not driving. Texans, New Yorkers, and who ever else who know, already know.

I've driven my AWD Sienna with OEM run-flats on the LIE that wasn't plowed, at 70mph. As bad as those run-flats were in terms of wear rate (softer compound), it performed just fine in the winter. I've also driven my lowered RWD 86 on local roads in Bethpage, NY that wasn't plowed, but I had changed from summer tires to good all-seasons and I did just fine. I was even able to reverse into my driveway which had even more snow than the roads and an incline.

It's not always the skills of the driver, but it is always the tires. ALWAYS. No matter how skilled a driver is, driving with racing slicks on an ice rink will yield similar results.

 

I did get my new GX out of the garage and it had absolutely no problems backing up my steep drive that still has ice up near the street. My OEM tires are the Michelin Defender LTX M/S.