I've never driven with snow tires before, so I don't know if they are really necessary. They do a pretty good job of keeping the snow plowed, but the plows are not there when it is late at night (driving back from a party). I got around with crappy all seasons (Stock 2 x Dunlop SP40's and 2 x General AmeriGS). The time I had trouble driving up the hill, I had to back up and go forward again a few times because of the way the road was curved I would eventually hit the curb if I kept on going forward. I tried steering it many different ways, but the car just wouldn't respond how I wanted it to.