The Continental's got good snow ratings...higher than any other all season tire I've seen. Is it that much a trade off between these and dedicated snow tires?

 

Be careful not to have a false sense of security with our AWD in winter. It helps to get off in a straight line, but it won't prevent you from going in the ditch if you push it too far...

Snow mode will probably help you, but I don't think anything can "compensate" for the difference. If you have all-seasons, drive accordingly.

Now, imagine what that AWD and traction control could do with good winter tires?

Disclaimer: I am pro-winter tires.

 

The thing about winter tires is, as I've found out recently, it better be near 0F or below or snow/icy. Whatever advantage winter tires have in those conditions are quickly reversed when not.

Check the caranddriver test done recently, on wet ground, at 23F, in a panic braking situation, the winter tire took something like 30ft longer to stop vs. an (supposedly inferior below 45F) all-season tire. That's like a good 2 car lengths. Of course as it gets colder, the all-season tire degrades to the same performance as the winter tire.

What you gotta ask yourself is, for the majority of the time, are you driving in an environment where the tire performs better or worse than its counterpart.