Over the 7 winters that I have had this car, I have done well using the "winter" mode even with summer tires. Fortunately we have not had the snow that you get in Chicago, but the car has never missed a beat.

The ultimate test was last winter. My car had bald tires (due to driving with an alignment misadjustment). While waiting for my snow tires to arrive, I got was at work in a surprise snow storm. The winter mode kept me from spinning my wheels as I struggled home. I was much more concerned about stopping and turning than about my ability to go.

BTW, in that same evening, my wife did a spinout in her Toyota 4WD and snapped the axle when she hit. I just mention that to verify that conditions were ugly.

Try the Winter, but drive cautiously, you still have to stop and turn.