I had the stock wheels and Conti A/S on last winter, we had quite a bit of snows and never had an issue. No real slip or slide, no real problems with traction except for the one time we had about 8' of really heavy snow, with significant ice build up, and everyone was going like 10mph, and as long as we all kept moving the Cross was just fine. Would I like to drive like that or out in the rural areas alot-no. Then I'd put true winter tires on it. But for 95% of the winter it really was fine.