[ZIPNBYE]

Winter tires should always be as tall and narrow as possible while retaining the same rolling diameter. As such, taller tires will always offer a softer ride (side benefit, more so again if non run-flat) but the reason for so doing is to allow the tire tread to conform to the rougher roads in winter, maximizing grip. Narrower tires permit more traction by changing the contact patch area from square (or a transverse rectangle) to a longitudinal rectangle, thus offer more digging.