If this winter is like most in the DFW area we'll get two or three winter storms between now and April. I don't need to cycle commute and plan to avoid riding if there's any hint of ice, but I do plan to try riding in snow on some nearby open fields. Mostly I'm curious to see how these 700x40 Michelin Protek Cross Max tires handle snow. So far they're fine all around all-terrain tires, including in the wet during our recent heavy rains.

Looking at the tread patterns and specs for your two sets of tires, I'd probably lean toward the Kenda Kwik Trax for the winter. The all-terrain pattern suits me better. The Schwalbes are probably better for pavement but my riding is about 75% smooth city pavement and 25% rough pavement with lots of sharp debris, rutted dirt, gravel and grass. I'm more comfortable with an all-terrain tread pattern. But flat resistance is a big factor for me as well.

When in doubt, test 'em out. Before settling on the Michelins I rode the original Specialized Hemispheres on as many different surfaces as I could manage, considering the weather hadn't turned bad yet. The Hemispheres cornered a little better, including on patches of loose sand/gravel and wet patches, while the Michelins feel a bit squirmy - probably due to the sharper shoulder - but still secure enough for my riding. The Hemispheres roll better on smooth pavement and feel lighter on uphills. The Michelins are considerably heavier. But the Michelins seem puncture-proof, while I had four flats in September with the Hemispheres. And while both ride well in grass and bare ground, wet and dry, the Michelins handle gravel better and feel more secure on rough gravel and smooth beach stones, and stop exceptionally well in wet grass and on wet pavement.

Another factor is the ride feel at various inflations. The Hemispheres felt pretty much that same from 70-90 psi. The Michelins offer a more versatile feeling ride from 50-80 psi depending on the riding surface.

And a major factor for me is the tire/rim grip. When flat, the Hemispheres roll right off the rims, taking along the tube and rim strip. The tires have very thin, flexible sidewalls. So the bike can't be rolled on a flat, not even a short distance. Very annoying, especially a couple of months ago when I was a few miles from home and had forgotten my pump. The Michelins have a tighter tire/rim fit and I need levers to pop the bead over the last bit of the rim. The sidewalls are much stiffer. While it makes for a heavier feeling ride I can roll the bike home on a flat if absolutely necessary - although I do carry a patch kit and sometimes a spare tube. Since the Hemispheres are so flexible they can be folded over into three or four loops, I can pack it on the rear rack as a spare tire without damaging the wire bead.

So, long story short, after testing both in similar conditions, I'm sticking with the Michelins for the winter. But if I rode mostly on smooth pavement, dry or wet (but not icy), I'd probably prefer the Hemispheres and even considered some smoother tread tires like the Maxxis Hookworms, or Schwalbe Marathon Supremes like yours.