I can't decide what to get for tires, I have an awd subaru 2002 and live in upstate ny and get a bit nervous when driving in snow, so what would be the best tire for me? Any ideas?

I'm not a "car guy" so hang around for more posts, there's a lot of good advice here. This is just my experience...

we live in the midwest, Iowa, so we get harsh winters... sometimes a lot of snow, sometimes not.

if price, storage, and convenience were not an issue, my wife's car would have two sets of tires... all season, and then snow for the harsh months...

we have done this in the past... it means a financial investment, your needing to store the set not in use, and a commitment to getting them changed out. I do believe that snow tires are more responsive to starts and stops, and that they simply handle the snowy roads better. They are also noisier and less responsive in dry conditions.

we've not used two sets lately because when its nasty out she drives her car (2005 toy avalon) on well cleaned roads, and we take my 4x4 pathfinder if its really nasty.

so what do you experience in your main driving? A lot of highway miles? Do you like in an area that isn't cleaned as much? How much of the time is there snow on the ground?

you can get away with all season much of the time, if you know your car and you know when you should drive... but snow tires do, I think, offer you more traction when its messy, and its worth the extra money if you think you'll be slopping through lots of snow. I know we could tell the difference when we changed our tires out on her old BMW.

I live in the country and drive about 13 miles to work 1 way, big hills here and there, so I am thinking snow tires too.

Always snow tires on all four wheels. I know the weather in upstate NY (I used to be in southern Quebec) and even though you have a awd you can still hydroplane or have the back end come around on you. Were you inquiring as yo brand names of tires?

Sure brand names would help too! Thanks