The chemical compounds in snow tires keep the rubber softer in cold temperatures and help improve traction, cornering, and stopping on ice (as well as snow). I can guarantee folks would have better control of their vehicles this evening if they had a good snow tire. They just work. It’s the reason Quebec requires them by law - prior to making them mandatory I recall they conducted a study that found something like 80% of winter accidents were caused by the small percentage of drivers who didn’t use them.