Just came across this article this morning. All they're comparing is different Michelin's in the snow.
2009 Winter Tire Test - Comparison Tests

 

I found page 8, "What About All-Wheel Drive?" to be the most illuminating part of the tests. The trouble around here is one can never be sure when winter driving conditions will begin. Additionally, we get substantial breaks in our winter conditions where we have long periods of dry roads. Then, very suddenly, it can turn back into snow clogged street situations. So when it comes to tires and/or AWD it appears that their answer is, "It depends." Guess I'll just take it easy and continue with AS and AWD.

 

I drove my 08xS with all season tires last winter. Car performed well but my 02 WRX wagon with all season tires performed a lot better. Had I kept my xS I probably would of installed winter tires this year.

 

After years of 4WD (Audi, Toyota) and FWD (Honda, Nissan, Acura)vehicles I am two weeks into owning a G37S 6MT and am looking forward to defying all the naysayer's (Car and Driver not included) who say RWD is a bad way to go. Needless to say, the snow tires are on the 6MT. I live in CT and we see 5-10 days a year where the roads are treacherous.

 

Not a bad magazine...but sometimes I wonder what they are thinking...
or not. I find it strange and frustrating that they make no mention or
comparison of the Dunlop Sport Maxx which is a OE tire on the G37X
and in the same category as some of the tires tested......why
make such an obvious omission?

 

The comparison was not directed at the G37 in particular. It was to compare the different tires in a single company's line. What surprised me was how well the regular A/S HX MXM4 did compared to the Pilot Sport A/S in wet/dry and the Pilot Alpin in snow.

 

The winter tire/awd combo on my G has been an absolute delight in the extreme conditions we have endured here in Edmonton for the last week or so. It has been been as low as -46 C outside the City and -35 C in the City. At those temps, I doubt the MXM4 would do as well as it did in the C&D test. Accelerating on polished, icy roads is not as important when everyone else with lesser machinery is creeping along. The turning and braking traction afforded by good winter tires (on rear or all-wheel drive) is what keeps metal from getting bent.

 

My favorite quote from the article:

"That’s why our preferred choice is to buy a second set of tires to get through the winter—almost always cheaper than the price of all-wheel drive—while relishing the superior dynamics of rear-wheel drive the rest of the year."

My preferred choice as well. I just ordered a set of 18" winter wheels wrapped in Hankook IceBear tires. Should be arriving any day now.