I'm well aware of the value of a decent snow tire, beleive me. What I am unaware of though is what possible condition existed that would prevent me from even spinning the tires. Thats the problem.

The tires on the car are not the issue...a full set of Blizzaks would not have gotten me out of the situation I was in since the car would not allow me to do anything...they wouldn't have kept me out of that same situation either.