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Nobody, don't care whether it's a car manufacturer, or tire manufacturer, suggests it's okay to use high performance summer tires when it gets COLD out, let alone have much of any traction. A summer, high-performance tire's rubber is designed to stay stable at high speeds in hot temperatures, so it tends to be a bit harder than a winter or all-season tire. Rubber gets harder as it both ages, and when the temperature drops. So, that makes a high-performance, summer tire with usually few sipes (those are what allows it to grip on the ice and snow) almost like driving on slicks...it is both dangerous, and, IMHO, foolish, to try to use them in the winter when there may be any ice or snow, and just being that cold, with the rubber now much stiffer, can cause them to literally crack. Because they can't conform to the road surface because they're so hard, your stopping and cornering will be compromised. Now, if you're really lucky, avoid any snow or ice or emergency stop, or hard acceleration, you MIGHT get by, but all it would take is once and if you're lucky, you just ruin your tires, but might have much more serious consequences. In some places, driving with summer tires in the winter would get your vehicle impounded and a heavy fine. Not that common in the US, though, but if you're involved in any accident, the lawyers will have a field day!
Everyone also suggests that for best winter performance that you select a smaller wheel and narrower tires which cut through snow better instead of floating, and the taller sidewalls help prevent wheel and tire damage should you hit something that was hidden by that snow. Going -1, -2, or maybe -3 in rim size, if it will fit, is a good choice.
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