Philadelphia area resident, but I do head north to VT and Canada to ski in the winter. Winter performance is important, but not at the expense of ride comfort. I think I have BFGoodrich shoes at the moment, but they are noisy and uncomfortable.
Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 or Conti Crosscontact LX25 will be my next set. I work from home and drive infrequently, mostly local. Treadlife is a distant concern. How well they grip and how comfortable they feel is key for me. You basically have one square foot or so total of rubber keeping you glued to the road. Cheaping out on tires is always a bad bet.
Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 or Conti Crosscontact LX25 will be my next set. I work from home and drive infrequently, mostly local. Treadlife is a distant concern. How well they grip and how comfortable they feel is key for me. You basically have one square foot or so total of rubber keeping you glued to the road. Cheaping out on tires is always a bad bet.