Originally Posted by
mpghm
In summary: fast rolling and grippy on ice.
No such thing exists. You can have fast rolling, or you can have grippy on ice. Never both.
Originally Posted by
mpghm
I'll likely put a studded tire on the front, but what about non-studded options? Something like Marathon Extreme or a cross tire that would be useful the rest of the year.
On ice, no amount of tread, or shape or size of tread will make any difference at all. Slicks, inverted tread, knobbies, cyclocross nubbies all work the same on ice--they slide.
So you can save money on tires by staying with whatever summer tires you presently use, or you can save on broken bones, time off work and doctor bills (although I guess that's not an issue in Canada) by using studs.
Or, just avoid riding on icy days. That's both cheap and safe.