First thing I did, was find a second set, with snows on this forum. Picked them up from LemansX5.

I can tell you for sure, my 20s with Conti DWS, do not come anywhere near the traction of snows on 18" wheels, in the snow. Learned that snows are just smart move in the winter.

I bet the OP didn't expect to get a lesson in winter driving ethics when he initially posted.

Winter wheel/tire setup
 

Bought some used style 130 rims off of Craigslist for $100 and put new Hankook DynaPro ATM (RF10) tires on them. This setup has proven to be stable in torrential downpours of rain and also with our current snow and ice we have had in the Portland Oregon area. Have also driven through the eastern Oregon desert with snow and ice with no issues.

The only time the X5 slides around now is when I want it to;)

01 E53 3.0i here too

I run a 17in set of Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1s. The X5 goes through anything with proper snow tires. They're $112ea at TireRack.com

My daily driver, an E46 330i has a set of 17in Nokians; they're just as good.

How the laws work in Germany: You are fined $95 per non-winter tire found on your vehicle between November and March.

In Switzerland: Any accident is your fault if you don't have winter tires.

US culture is different though. Yurrup is a nanny state. We 'mericans don't need no more steenking laws. Look at all the firearm laws on the books already, unenforced. We need car nuts like ourselves to educate our friends and family about winter tires!

Rant off

When I said "ticket-able offense" in my prior post, was referring to something along the line of how Switzerland sees it. When there is an accident, any vehicles with summer compound tires are noted in the accident report as "improper equipment", with a fine for the vehicles owner, NOT driver (if driver is not owner).

I'd vote for that. But I've lived in yurrup so long that I may be tainted. :D

I lived in Michigan for many years. I never owned a set of winter tires. If driving on ice and snow is a problem after a few weeks of winter, I wouldn't expect winter tires are going to help.

In parts of Canada its the same. I think my province should have this rule. TOO many idiots driving on glare ice at times with bald summers or all seasons. CANADA CAN NOT USE ALL SEASONS IN WINTER. We have ONE season in WINTER and its called WINTER!!!!!!

All seasons are great in summers cause they handle rain/water on roads even better than many summer tires (which are basically designed for dry/bare roads).

Even Summer (especialllly summers) and All season tires have their rubber compund change properties when the temps drop. Even on bare dry roads, summer tires turn to plastic when it gets to 7° C/44 °F and colder. So its smarter to have winter tires which HAVE a rubber compound that can deal with colder temps and still stay rubber.
UGH this topic just makes me upset.

the answer is NO regarless.
But how expensive they have to be depends on weather conditions.
Ice tires cost a bit more than snow tires... Brands... But either way, a LIFE costs much more than any set of winter tires...

Doesn't matter much what tires you have on for a glare of ice.