I may get flamed for this, but IMHO the XF has NO business at least on Vermont roads in the winter studded tires or not. I am sure the XF is more than acceptable as a winter driver in more moderate parts of the country but in Vermont personally I would be scared to death to put this car on I-89 during the morning commute.

Vermont has an annual salt loading on state highways of 17.1 tons per mile per lane. Trust me, there is NO way you can remove that type of salt off you vehicle. Extended periods of well below freezing temperatures for extended periods make it virtually impossible to wash and remove salt with any regularity.

Ref: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs...35/017-030.pdf

Tired