Will my 28 tricross tires stay upright in the snow/ice?

[Fastfwd]

I just bought a specialized tricross that comes with 28 tires. They have some slight grippiness on the sides but are slick in the middle. Will they handle a little snow and ice or am I better off getting real knobby tires if I want to take the bike out from time to time?

Approximately how much would it cost me for a second set on wheels? I don't want to change tires everytime I go from outside to trainer. I could probably just change the rear wheel.

[Daily Commute]

Nothing will help with ice except studs. If you put a studded tire on one wheel, it should be the front. As a general rule, front wheel collapses are much more dangerous than rear wheel collapses. But real wheel collapses are no fun, either, so it's better to get both.

The price of a second set of wheels varies on the quality. Check E-Bay or Criagslist for used. There are a gazillion online sites if you want new. Performancebike.com, Nashbar.com, Harris Cyclery, Sheldon Brown's site, Peter White's site are a few (Google will take you right to them).

[Mars]

Extra treads will not help on the ice.

I rode my first winter in NY and Vermont without studded tires. A guy I rode with for two other winters never did get them. We were both using 700cm cylcocross tires. You have to use a lot of caution crossing icy spots without studs, but it can be done. Stop pedaling, don't turn your wheel, and try to hold still as go over it.

[Joe Dog]

It would be worth it to get studs if you are going to ride much on ice. In snow, studs don't do that much for you, but they totally save your bacon on ice (which, by the way, you cannot see under snow). I no longer think it's safe to ride in winter without studs - I know several good riders who got hurt by going down on ice, so I don't recommend anyone ride without them in icy conditions.