Winter tires recommendations
 

I'm looking for a new set of winter tires for my 300CE. Does anyone have any experience with the General Altimax Artic? I had a performance Michelin snow tire but now I'm looking for something with better snow and ice traction. I do want something that is reasonably quiet and handles decently but again I would trade the performance snow tire for a lower speed rated snow tire. The Artics are available for $76 each from Tire Rack.

Technically, a performance snow tire should have better grip in ice and snow. You want to look for snow tires with Blizzak-like tread. Very tall tread blocks that are siped. I had a set of Dunlop Graspics last year, and even though they were 17" low profile, had no issues. A good snow tire is not going to handle well or be that quiet, but you can't have it all. Going off the TireRack site reviews is generally a solid idea. They have a good rating system.

I heard that the Blizzaks wear quite quickly and then winter performance is decreased. The tread pattern seems much less aggressive on the performance tires since they are H speed rated for the stock 195 65 15 size. What about the new X-ice 2s?

The Blizzak's as well as the Dunlops I had, have a special rubber compound for the first 40% or so of the tread block that enhances ice and snow traction. This is a softer compound which does indeed wear quicker when you drive on dry pavement. But this is the price you pay for being a tank in the snow. You will have more grip in the snow than you know what to do with. I could literally make panic stops in the snow with those Dunlops, drive down unplowed dirt roads, etc. You can't do that with any other non-Blizzak like tire, unless its studded. Your not looking for aggressive tread on snow tires, save that for the summertime, just those big squishy square tread blocks.