Geeze! I put winter tires on my car in November, every year I've lived here, in the UK!  What don't people understand about road grip and temperature? If it's seven degrees or below, regardless of conditions, you have better control. If it's snowing, snowed, wet, raining, icy you are better off. I'm lucky enough to still have my SAAB 95 so between the tires and the winter setting on the transmission and the fact that I neither tailgate nor speed (both winter sports here!) and always have my running lights on means that I've been fortunate and haven't had any incidents related to these factors.  I'm home for Christmas and am renting at Pearson so I sure hope the vehicle has the proper tires on it as I've got a two hour drive after a seven hour flight.