Traveling on November 18 to California

XSE or SE model (19" or 17" wheels) ?

 

It's a heavy FWD car with lots of torque. Just take it easy - I'm sure you've got plenty of experience driving in the snow with a FWD.
I've driven in white-out conditions with a much lighter first generation Acura Integra without snow tires or chains. You just need to compensate with longer trailing distances and try not to break traction. It was a bit easier to control with a 5-speed tranny.
When all else fails, just get behind a big rig - let them blaze a trail for you and follow their tire prints. Stay a good distance back to avoid all the road debris they throw up and make sure you utilize your B gear rather than your brakes. Brakes tend to break traction and you can goose the accelerator to regain traction if you begin to slide/lose traction.
You may also want to turn-off traction controls in deep snow or white-out conditions, where you can't see the road. Not sure how these new cars will behave in those conditions, you'll just have to wing it. My old Integra didn't have any of those, so I didn't have to fight the computer along with the road.

 

Incorrect. Michelin makes X-Ice Snows in both 195/60-17 and 195/50-19.

OTOH, you may have waited too long to get them delivered and installed before you have to leave. Tire Rack says they can get the 17" version to you by the 14th, but they can't get the 19" to you until the 18th.

 

The I-70 mtn corridor is very deceiving, especially Vail Pass. Tread carefully

 

Get some chains. There's predicted to be a storm this weekend.

 

Special Cable chains ?