[aerohead]

No doubt your concerns have been shared by many over brake-related issues.
The 'answer' was to provide some 'minimum' aspiration to the wheelcover.
Renault,for it's Vesta-II,provided one streamlined opening in the disk which coincided with the valve stem position.
On Ultralite,GM had very small penetrations near the outer extremity of the wheel.
GM's Pontiac Div. used larger ones on Trans Am Firebird.
There's a long list of concessions to 'practicality.'
As to snow issues,I have little to bring to the table.I've driven in white -out conditions over Raton Pass into Colorado,with snow all the way to Colorado Springs without event.And plowing County Line road,east out of Palmer Lake.
I would let safety be the over-arching priority.High mpg is kinda meaningless when you're dead amidst the twisted remains of your car at the bottom of a ravine.