I live in New Jersey. We get a moderate amount of snow yearly. I have the use of another vehicle with 4wd in the really bad weather. Will snow tires help to prevent skidding or improve handling on the highway that is covered with packed snow or are they mostly beneficial for snow covered roads with some accumulation?

 

Yes

Yes

They are good for preventing a skid and good for ice traction / snow traction. Get the dunlop wintersports. I have had these on my BMW, Benz and now my LS and they are great.

They make a huge difference from the all season models. I have yet to get stuck (I live in Pittsburgh). And when it is snowing I take my LS (with snow tires) instead of my Range Rover (without snow tires) because the snow tires make such a huge difference. The way I see it, your biggest risk isn't being able to get going up a hill (where AWD can help), it is keeping your car from slamming into a tree (which AWD can't really help)

 

I've had experience with several brands (Michelin Artic Alpin, Bridgestone Blizzak and Dunlop) on my wife's car. It is amazing how well these tires will hold the road on packed snow and even glare ice. Plus they are relatively quiet on dry pavement.

 

I drive my LS everyday snow or no snow. I have put winter tires on and like Nospinzone says the winter tires make a huge difference.

I was able to get a set of stock rims from the dealer that someone took off

when they purchased a new car they only charged me $100. ea so I was lucky.

The car looks good with both sets of tires

 

i highly recommend them for winter climates. please don't use them once the weather warms up though. they wear out very fast in warm weather, as the tread compound was not designed for more than about 50* temps.
buy another set of cheap wheels to mount them on and then just swap wheels for winter so you dont' have to pay twice a year to mount and balance tires.

 

I agree that snow tires are a must. We've had a very snowy winter so far (over our annual average in mid-January) and w/ my Blizzaks I've had no trouble starting or stopping (though my traction control has flashed like crazy).

 

Snow tires make a world of difference. I would recommend Goodyear Nordic since it is cheaper. In my opinion, cheaper winter tires is better because they are all going to wear out much quicker than your regular tires anyway, and getting a more expensive brand/model isn't going to make it last much longer.

Even if the more expensive one does last longer, usually its a rule of thumb that the longer lasting = harder tread = worse snow performance.

 

I'm buying a set of Bridgestone Blizzak Revo 1's for my 94 LS400 as we get a little snow out here in Seattle, but I've been taking the LS up to the mountains for skiing trips and its pretty much a death trap.