Awesome and interesting.
Ben. If you don't think the difference is major, it is. When I first started putting them on the wife's VW I tested the diff on the K-Mart "ice lot". Stopping, handling, and acceleration are like you are in a different vehicle. The VW is naturally good in snow and light ice, but this makes it simply amazing. This definitely adds significantly to her safety in the winter.
I expect similar results with the Lexus. Snow tire tech has come a long way, and is to me, worth the investment on at least her vehicle. They will last you four to six years if the VW is any indicator. On at Thanksgiving off in April.
Lots of folks seem to think AWD or 4WD is the answer to these things, but it isn't. They have the same traction surface areas that they would have had without it. So stopping doesn't change at all or gets less controllable (multi-point engine braking). Yes, they can be more efficient at acceleration and plowing through deeper snow, but those features do not replace quality tires and safe driving technique. I have always been amazed at the morons that think because they have AWD/4WD they can bust down a snow and ice covered highway at 75 MPH. Sigh...