Sorry but this advice is kinda ridiculous. I commute year-round on 35mm tires, but including Canadian winters. I've never really felt like wider tires would be beneficial, except 2-3 super snowy days a year. 50mm is wider than most people use for mountain biking here, let alone commuting.

I’ve found the tyre compound matters more for grip rather than tyre thickness - specifically for commute cycling on smooth road and paved surfaces.

MTB tyre compounds tend to be much more grippy/rubbery, whereas hybrid & commuter tyre compounds tend to be less grippy to reduce rolling resistance (like Schwalbe road cruisers, land cruisers)

Wide tyres and tread patterns absolutely help, but I think they have their own distinct advantages, like cushioning from rough road surfaces and keeping traction on loose/soft surfaces.

That said I still feel a little bit uncomfortable on my slim 700Cs but they have not failed me yet lol.