do you need snow's? in town/southern Maine, optional. should you put snow's on, yes!!!! they will help you stop better than AS. most of our winter safe classes, we ban AS. Ask Nigel how many of the NASIOC guys ate snow banks with their STi's when they tried to run the slalom on RE 92'S, they are no longer allowed to come with those on the cars.
you can run AS during the winter, heck I was still running RE-070's on the STi when we got our first snow up here a month ago. could I get around? yup. did I have to drive like a friken granny. Hell YES!!!!
HAKKA's!!! they are more expensive, but have a higher speed rating and handle better than most!