If you don't really open the taps and let roll, quality studless tyres should be fine and even studded ones if you don't powerslide or do burnouts.60 in chicago today - way too soon for winter tires. I run 215 blizzaks all around on my m3, they'd literally be gone by the end of the week.
Here in Finland it's really late for snow, but still changed mine to Hakkapeliitta RSi studless winter tyres yesterday. Snow isn't far away anyway and at the end of november it's mandatory by law to use winter tyres.
BTW do any NA E46s have the cold weather kits installed?