Since my 2013 Elantra is on a three year lease with only two years left should I try to get by with only two front snow tires, four good snow tires, or snow tires alread on rims. I live in Buffalo.!

Never, ever, ever, EVER buy only 2 snow tires. If you put them on the front in a front-wheel drive, thinking those are the traction wheels, the rear end will go loose on you and go into uncontrollable spins on the highway. You will kill yourself. The idiot tire dealers seem to be clueless of this. But all 4 tires and you will be fine - all the same size and type and quality. Don't buy trash snow tires either. You need to get quality. Sell them later if you have to on Craig's list. I recommend Nokian Hakkapeliita 8 or 7 or R. Studded if state allows it. Some others are good, but many are very poor.

Buffalo gets enough snow to justify a separate set of wheels and snow tires, if you have a place to store them. If not, then get some snowflake-rated all-weather tires like the Nokian WR-G3