I rode the nashbars all last winter.. when it was dry and i didnt need the studs I rode them hard to preserve stud life(so they didn't touch).. when it was slippery I rode them softer so the studs would engage.. not bad for the money.. I too wasn't ready to drop the bucks for the good tires until I knew how much I would use them.. now that I'm addicted to winter riding it's a non-issue.. but these served me just fine, time will tell how long they last..