I've had good experiences with the Michelin Xice and Bridgestone Blizzak lines. I have yet to try Nokian Hakkapeliittas but I hear those are one of the best for ice and snow. The Blizzak DM-V2s I had on my last CX-9 were great for the 6 seasons I used them, and I probably could have gone another 2 or 3 seasons before replacing them.
I would recommend against steel wheels though. Go for a cheaper aftermarket 17" alloy wheel instead. Steel wheels end up developing visible surface rust after a couple of years, and they can be really heavy.