as mentioned in the other thread about winter riding, there's no one-size-fits-all winter tire. different conditions in different areas warrant different tire choices. for me, i ride in the city, so cutting through snow isn't a common obstacle i face, but riding over black ice and hard pack that's turned into ice are common obstacles, so for me, studded tires are the way to go. i ride Schawlbe Marathon Winters (700x35). not fat. not skinny. just filled with a crapload of studs.