Insayne, do keep in mind that DDV and myself live in Western Washington where snow and ice are rarely and issue. Especially for DDV, since he drives like a quarter of a mile to work and back.
Shotwell might have done some more driving in snow in his 'tour, but the better guys to ask for winter weather driving recommendations are the New England states and midwest guys.
Oregon and Washington don't get much in the way of snow compared to Western Montana. I lived in Eastern Montana for several years when I was a kid and the issues there in the winter were black ice and hard packed snowdrifts, not as much out and out snowfall.
