Snow Tire Recommendation

[ricematthews]

Larry:

As I made it through last winter without snows, I am at a similar crossroads
for myself yet again.

Also shopping at Tire Rack, my early favorite is the Good Year Ultra Grip
Ice.  Very highly reviewed by the users on Tire Rack's site (albeit a
relatively small number have reviewed them).  Other research I have been
able to gather makes them look darn good too.  Where I live in southeastern
PA, dry performance is a big necessity and the Dunlop Graspic's sound
downright scary in the dry.  The Firestone Winterfires also sound decent for
the price, but I think I may spring for the GY's.  What size tire is she
looking for?

-Mark

*************************************

Not to start a big thread here, but I'm trying to help my
mother purchase a set of snows. Anyone have any
experience with Dunlop Graspic DS-1's or Firestone
Winterfires? My mom is driving a 2002 VW Passat
GLX 4 Motion and she is not usually in a situation
where she MUST be somewhere in the winter (she's
retired). Her general winter situations are light snow
and freezing rain, so I'm looking for good ice performance
and packed snow rather than pure snow abilities.

However, being that I have not been impressed with
Michelin Artic Alpin snow performance on my late
Dad's Subaru, (they stopped okay with non ABS
brakes, and easily took off BUT, didn't turn worth
a damn on fresh snow and felt unstable in the fresh
stuff) I don't want to go that route.

You may be able to tell that I'm shopping TireRack,
(need snow rims) otherwise I'd actually just go get her
Kelly Pacemarks. She is NOT a performance driver,
and doesn't want to spend much, so don't even bother
with Nokians and other Hi Perf snows.

Thanks for any advice.

LL - NY