Should snow tires be narrow or wide?

First, let me give you my experience level...9 years in Alaska, 3 years in upstate New York (Snowtown USA), 3 years in northern Utah (in the mountains where the Olympics were). Let's just say, I have driven in a LOT of snow. Now for the answer I think you are looking for:

It depends mostly on the type of snow you generally have in your area. If it is very cold and you have mostly powder snow, then narrower tires would be your best bet because it will push the snow out of the way much easier. Powder snow on the highway is most often associated with the appearance of dust in your rear view mirror. BTW, if the temperature is very cold and you have powder snow, it is very hard and sometimes impossible to make a snowball...it just falls apart when you let go of it.

If on the other hand, you get mostly wet snow (makes a snowball easily and tightly) a wider tire would be your best bet since it has more channels in the surface with which to grip the snow. Since it is wider, it will also tend to ride up away from the ice formed on the roadway itself from the compacted snow of other drivers.

That all being said, once the snow on the roadway turns to ice the only way you are going to get sufficient traction to be really safe is with the use of studded tires. The difference in traction is actually VERY dramatic.

Depending upon how much you drive in the snow, chains may be in order and they are much easier to apply to narrow tires. The wider the tire, the less clearance you have from the car's body parts. Chain damage can get very expensive extremely quickly. NOTE: Chains do virtually nothing for you on sheer ice and sometimes actually lessen your traction because steel is hard and skates across the ice easily.

This depends on the snow conditions and how you intend to operate you vehicle.

Narrow tires tend to produce more traction until they dig in and the chassis touches the ground and you are stuck.

Wider tires tend to not dig in so deep but can slip more on a snow surface.

These basics do not apply to ice covered by snow or icy conditions.

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I need to add (from poster #1) about studded tires, chains on etc. You need to check with the DOT of the state you are in or traveling through. Stud tires AND/OR chains may be very well illegal to use in said states. This would be up to you to verify. Even a simply check with the State (of interest) Highway Patrol would be able to assist this question. Personally, out here in the upper midwest, both have been illegal to use for several decades. They are very destructive to roadways, highways and interstates. If you are 'outback', they may be wonderful, but with most people who live in areas who need them--having a 4X4 of some sorts, they absolutely have been made illegal for use in many states. Good Luck on deciding if you can use in your area.