Very good choice.frontrangeleaf said:FWIW, we just purchased new Vredstein Wintrac Pro snow tires in 205/55R17 XL size.
In Colorado like you, I chose a stronger ice/snow tire in a tire & brand I've had great luck with over the years with: "Michelin X-Ice Snow".
Vredestein Wintrac Pro tires are better in the wet.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=284
The Michelins might last longer (I leave them on year around) since that company came up with tread compounds which do great for winter traction and yet still stay intact better, using some proprietary tech of theirs.
Also, getting XL provides an extra strength margin, as does keeping the speed rating up at T or above (H,V,W,Y,Z all good).
Clever going to the 205/55R17 size, only causing a 1/5 inch increase in ride height , & should fit nicely compared to the 215/50R17 OEM size I stayed with on my SV+.
They are a pretty good source of tire test info. I use Tire Rack's tests, since they appear to go technically deep enough to see differences.frontrangeleaf said:This tire was also recently recommended by Consumer Reports, for what that's worth.
Car and Driver, also a decent source, tests tires once in a rare while, and a few years ago found Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires to be the best snow/ice tire. Hakkapeliittas likely wear too fast though, and don't do great when it's warm outside.
Bridgestone Blizzaks have been the gold standard for many years, and still do well, although I've found they give up slightly too much performance in warm or wet conditions, and wear pretty fast.