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Hi,
Maybe even more than the Snows vs All-Season debate is the width of the Tire. The stock widths for the Boxster are waay too wide for winter driving, they will plane too easy and do not have enough weight per sq. in. on them for safety.
Of course, if the roads are clear and dry, then the issue of S vs A-S is moot, they'll both provide the same level of control and safety.
But, in the muck, the slightly more soft compounds of the Snow tires won't mean nearly as much as the width. This is because your car weighs X, and all that weight is is borne by the Contact Patch (maybe 8"/tire x 4 for a total of 32"). Now, let's just use a rounded 3,000lbs. for the weight of the car, passenger, fuel, etc. That comes to 93.75lbs./sq. in. of contact patch. But, if by going to a narrower tire, and therefore a smaller Contact Patch, you would place more weight per sq. in. on the road which is going to be harder to break loose and will give more precise braking. Let's just say the narrower tires yielded a total Contact Patch of 24 sq. in., well now you are placing 125 lbs./sq. in. on the road.
Narrower tires will give you the best control and safety. The tires will be much less prone to planing up on the snow, traction will be much improved. I would go with 185 in front and 205 in the rear for optimal benefit (plus they'll be cheaper too). The aesthetics will change somewhat dramatically, but so what, it's Winter and no one is standing looking at your car anyway. Besides, think of your car's aesthetic if it has just sideswiped a guardrail or parked car because the tires gave way.
The Boxster in Winter is merely a conveyance anyway. A Car which must be used to get from A to B because the owner doesn't have another car. You shouldn't drive it with enthusiasm anyway - bad for the car in general and unless you know exactly what to expect of the road ahead, it's just foolhardy...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99
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