TinyElviss

In good 'ol Western PA we certainly get our share of Winter.... temps down to zero (good for killing off bugs and pests) and then there is snow. Or lack of it. Last year I used our snow thrower 5 times. The year before that I used it 3 times. I hauled the Toro out of storage yesterday. Last years' oil looks like it just came out of the bottle.

If I buy dedicated winter tires and there is little snow, I still derive the benefit of the tread compound being more suited to lower temperatures than my stock Pirelli's. And while my Big Black Beast is capable of tooling around at thrill-inducing speeds, I am somewhat more careful in the winter in general and don't really push it all that much when the temps fall to near-freezing.

I've found some relatively inexpensive wheels ($275-$325 ea) that I thought I'd put some Blizzaks on. Any experiences with these tires being loud on the highway? Will lesser-quality wheels significantly affect the dynamics of the car? Am I over-thinking this and should I just put the Blizzaks on my beautiful twin five-spoke OEM's? If snow and ice and slush are the main reasons for winter tires and we are predicting another mild winter, should I bother at all (and wear out the Pirelli's that I'm not crazy about sooner so I can swap them for Michelins?).

Your experiences and comments are welcomed!!!