L,
It's been 5 winters, since we lived in NY, but I used to switch out
the tars about the first weekish of Dec. I avoided Turkey weekend
because a lot of people were off and the tire joints were packed.
Even living in Warwick, NY, 45 miles NW of the City, with windeyazz
two lane Rt 17A to negotiate, I never felt pressured to get the
winter skins on much sooner than that. Sure we had snow in Oct.,
and Nov., but no blizzards and the ground is not frozen at that
point, so the few snows never stuck more than 30 mins.
The opins about the rubber performance below mid 40s ambient
temps, while technically accurate, does not take into account
the warming effect your tires generate, and I don't think you
are Autocrossing to work, doing 4 wheel drifts. I wouldn't sweat
it: change the tires out when it's convenient for you.
My goal is to never
be in snow the rest of my life...
BR,mD