Thanks @coleAK and @Heckraiser . I track the narrower-is-better logic for ground pressure vs. floating, but for my use case I'm not that concerned. Unless things get way out of hand (early 2015 comes to mind), the roads around here are generally plowed pretty quickly (and on the major interstates and state roads), with many roads pre-coated with brine and/or road salted, so my travels typically bring me into contact with limited snow cover, unless it's snowing at that moment. When there is precipitation it's much more typical to encounter anything from a wet sheen, to melt-then-refreeze, to slush, rather than perma-pack snow like I would think you'd have in AK or CO (at elevation). But much of my expected use case involves clear, cold/frozen pavement.
I will add Nokian's to my search, although their absence from Tire Rack means I would have to go to a tire store. According to Nokian, the Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV is the right non-studded tire, but Sullivan Tire (the only listed big chain dealer nearby) doesn't show the 285/60R18 as an available size, so I can't get a price...perhaps a special order would be needed.
I will add Nokian's to my search, although their absence from Tire Rack means I would have to go to a tire store. According to Nokian, the Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV is the right non-studded tire, but Sullivan Tire (the only listed big chain dealer nearby) doesn't show the 285/60R18 as an available size, so I can't get a price...perhaps a special order would be needed.