Great Lakes - Chicagoans - Studded Tires?

Hey folks,
This will be my first full winter riding in the city, and too much reading on bike forums has caused me to worry if I'll be needing studded tires? Frankly, my commute is all on either bike lanes or wide-enough-and-de-facto-bike lanes, and my social/errand riding is already decreasing with the temperature. So, what I'm saying is that I'll be mostly on well-cared for roads for a measly 5 mile round trip commute. I do intend to ride everyday, regardless of conditions, so I want to be careful, but I also don't have money to throw around if it isn't really necessary.

Thoughts?

One of the best. I use these, well worth the dough
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/COMPTRSTUD/TR1103

Not necessary. The streets are plowed here faster than you can say "Is it snowing?", and the lakefront path is plowed not long after that. Your enemies this winter are neither cold nor ice but salt and strange looks from people, their teeth still chattering from having waited 20 minutes for a bus or just as long for their car to get warm, who exclaim, "I can't believe you rode in this!" as you arrive at work, on time and toasty from the exercise..

I have Nokians and recommend them. My bike path is never plowed and when riding on the shoulders, they really help because they are rarely clean.

I'm in the same boat citylove. I only have a 5 mile commute, so studs seem a bit execssive. I also ride to run errands and whatnot, but that usually has me on routes with bike lanes (like Halsted or Damen). Have those of you that ride in Chicago through the winter ever had serious problems with ice??? Is there enough snow to warrant switching back to knobbies on a MTB??? I'm cheap, but I figure studs are cheaper than a broken collar bone if really necessary.

There is slippery snow and black ice often when I ride. Falling bad once is way more than enough to justify the studs. They make more noise and are slow, but that just means you're getting a better workout and will that much faster on your rodie.

I am with Mr.Scrooby. Major city streets and the lakefront path are clear and dry the very second the last snow flake has fallen. Side streets may take a day or two. Riding during a snowstorm is another story, but how many of those days are there really? YOu can always take the CTA on those individual days

Ever since this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bilandic) guy was a Mayor, Chicago has had the best plowed streets in the country, bar none.....:)

Note that this may be a different story in suburbs, because it is based on local government
Duppie

I've always fared better on skinny, slick tires than fat, knobby ones. With less surface area, there's more pressure, so you get a better grip and have a better chance of breaking through any slush and getting to pavement.

But I'm one who's always puzzled at people who ride mountain bikes in the city. That's a separate discussion, however.

Thanks for all the thoughts, folks. Seems like I might trust my instincts and stick with my regular, sorta medium width slicks. Mr. Scrooby's ideas about surface areas and pressure make more sense to me, as well ... but I suppose my ideas of physics or whatever could be off.
Anyhow, thanks for the pleasant and informative responses, and happy winter riding!

But I'm one who's always puzzled at people who ride mountain bikes in the city. That's a separate discussion, however.

With the amount of salt this city uses, no way my steel road bike will see the light of day during the winter. Old Bessie, my 12 year old beater aluminum MTB, will do just fine.

I like the Tufo Diamonds. Not studded, but more aggressive than the average tread. And at $37, a good value.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=TUD28&tn=0

I've always fared better on skinny, slick tires than fat, knobby ones. With less surface area, there's more pressure, so you get a better grip and have a better chance of breaking through any slush and getting to pavement.

But I'm one who's always puzzled at people who ride mountain bikes in the city. That's a separate discussion, however.

While I am with Mr.Scrooby on the salting issue, I do not agree with that theory above. I think it's actually quite dangerous to ride these narrow slick tires in slush conditions. If that where true then why doesn't everybody ride narrow tires in the winter? I think the ideal tires are wider, preferrably with knobbies. Go to the winter riding forum or the commuting forum and you will see that the large majority agrees with riding larger, knobbier tires in the winter
I also think that given the snow plowing skills that the city of Chicago exhibits, studs may not be necessary, especially given the extra expense vs. the number of days you would need them

Duppie

Take a look at this (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8819316974060837645) video. Some dude doing winter commuting in Chicago. Gives some impression on what to expect.
It's a little long, but I skipped over the Auto Show part.
Duppie

Take a look at this (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8819316974060837645) video. Some dude doing winter commuting in Chicago. Gives some impression on what to expect.
It's a little long, but I skipped over the Auto Show part.
Duppie

nice vid...that guy rides some of the same places I ride