Are the Michelin Defenders T+H my overall best option if I am looking for good traction in snow/ice?

I've had defenders before I made like $60,000 I think on the 90,000 advertised.. at the point they came off they look like racing slicks and they were almost white I don't like my tires to look like that so now I run cheaper tires and change them more often since it doesn't cost me much to change them I do most of it myself and I rather change the shoes more often than have them more pliable and nicer on the car rather than have them be on there for 75,000 mi and look like pure terror when you take them off of course if you have a garage and you rarely drive the car and all these other things then there you go

 

Asking a question like this, it REALLY helps to be more specific on your location.

That said, consider "all-weather" tires. Nokian is kinda the godfather of this concept, has one-or-two tires that are somewhere between an all-season and full-fledged winter tire (aka snow tire). They're intended for year-round use, but have superior traction to all-seasons, have the mountain/snowflake badge on the sidewall. I believe they're also behind the more budget brand Nordman.

Michelin also, has the Cross-Climate. And there's more becoming available. TireRack might allow you to filter for "all-weather", or "4-season"?

 

They do Mendel and there's buttloads of them all the way from cheap Polish stuff all the way up to the high end Jesus I can't even think of the name of them now but very good mounted snows and all weather too

 

I like my Defenders. Not as good as snow tires, but good enough for Michigan winters for me. I have 60,000 miles on them now with maybe 10-15K left.

 

I bought in October the Michelin X Tour A/S T + H for $118.99 plus 23.48 installation, fees. Total with taxes was $482.72 for 4 tires after a $110 instant rebate. This tire is the Costco version of the identical Michelin Defender which was ranked second from the top on Consumer reports for all season tires. The top tire was General Altimax RT43 but I trust Michelin more.

After 5000 miles they perform excellent. However, snow traction is nowhere near the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 snow tires I had used in my Prius.

 

The blizzak.is a super nice snow alot type tyre I've used in remote W Mass areas. Loved em I've also had Altima not quite as good not that model. But similar

 

Costco currently has BF Goodrich and Michelin tires on sale. With tax they tend to be $120 each installed with road hazard warranty and lifetime free rotations

 

We have Michelin Defender T+H tires on our 2006 Prius now. I've think they are doing well for us. They have gotten a good bit more expensive since we put them on in 2019, but then so have a of things.

 

You might check out the Nokian WR G4 All-Weather tire. As Mendel Liesk noted above, All-Weather tires can meet the snow demands and stay on year-round. Had the previous generation (G3) on a Honda Accord and loved the convenience of not having to change tires for the winter and still felt like I was in control during the winter.