AZX, you should edit your post to add that 'summer AND ALL SEASON tires are blocks of rubber under a certain temperature'.

this would make your comments more correct and accurate. winter tires use softer compounds which help not only in the snow, but also in just the cold, as you have pointed out.

there are 'no season' tires that are using softer compounds and getting better rating in the winter conditions. of course, this comes at the expense of tire life and great rolling resistance.