One thing I did want to point about the Conti DWS is that the DWS also acts as a tread wear indicator on the tire...as they get wore down, the S will start to disappear, then W then D...but at that point they need to be replaced

But once the S is wore down, they loose some capabilities as a snow tire. Anyways, if the snow is that bad in my neck of the woods, I'll take out the Fiancees' Escape if I need to get some place, since the SHO has zero ground clearance when it comes to snow and the Escape is good up to snow a couple feet...I drove home from PA to Jersey a few winters ago when we got hit really good with snow and I was driving in snow that was up to my hips in spots (I'm 6'2!) with it and never got stuck...its a good little truck for that type of stuff