Blizzacks it is then. Problem solved. Thanks everyone.

 

If you want an awesome year-round tire check out the new Bridgestone Potenza's. They have great handling on dry and are a very good snow tire. As for studs, I started driving in the snow and still live in the snow. Studs only make a different on black ice or when there is a little layer of snow on the road when they can grab the asphalt or something hard. They make a huge difference in these cases otherwise they're just an awesome snow tire. I got rid of my studs but wish I still had them for the winter. As for the whole legal issue they are between certain dates set in your area and if you have them on outside the date period you just get a fix-it type of ticket.

 

If you want a tire that will be great in the snow but will be equally great in the dry - giving amazingly little to a summer only (but not recommended for all year driving due to extra stickiness and wear) - I cannot recommend more highly the Vredsteen Wintrac Extremes. Yeah they are pricy - but well worth it. First of all snow tires are a must for snow IMO - even and especially with quattro - you can do anything in anything with a good snow tire - no worries. And the Vreds are high performance also - did the Dragon in NC-Tenn in them last year - in wet and dry - at amazing speeds - faster then anyone I saw out there. I regularly out handle BMWs and Porsches on high speed sweepers (blow around them on the corners) - in my snow tires! Think about it. I am not at all lying. The other brands are very good in snow I am sure - but for the extra edge - IMO - its the Vreds. Check them out.