Winter Cycling - MORE studded tires...

For a few winters I've been commuting with the Nokian Mount & Ground. These seem to be working OK for pavement that has the occasional ice spots but these have a mere 160 studs. I've been looking at beefier tires such as the "Nokian Extreme" with 294 studs.
For those that have more experience with different studded tires, are they worth the money? See any performance differences?
There are some trails I'd like to take if they could handle several inches of snow. The M&G's don't seem to handle snow very well.
Ideas?

If better performance in the snow is your aim, more studs probably won't help, but a more aggressive tread pattern will. Studs are useful for ice....not so much for snow.

The Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro has 361 wolfram carbide studs.

More studs probably aren't going to help you in the deep snow. A different tread pattern might. Try lowering your tire pressure. Not so low that you'll get pinch flats, but pretty low

Schwalbe Marathon Winter, does a better job i'll say
it's designed more like a BMX tire, than a road tire.

on normal days i ride the Schwalbe Moe Joe, which is a BMX threaded tire, and is amazing on every road condition, except deep packed icey snow.

I have found the Schwalbe Marathon Winter lacking in the tread department for riding in the snow.
With a 3 inch snow base over a 1/2 crust the tire just didn't get in deep enough for the treads or studs to be helpful and I would start to get some fish tailing, I'll give them the rest of the winter and see but
I'm seriously considering a better tread and give a little on number of studs for maybe next year.

I have the Nokian Freddie Revenz Lite and have used several different Nokians including M&G's. The wider 2,3" Freddie's really makes a difference. Had a really nice 4 hour ride today that included tarmac, singletrack, ski tracks and fireroads. Felt secure most of the way. They are expensive but worth it if you ride a lot during the winter months. The Icespiker Pro also gets good reviews.

See http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

Seems to be a lot of good info. He echoes the Schwalbe Marathon Winter as being good for ice and pavement but not snow.

I have no other insight, as I am newly awaiting my first pair of studs as we speak.

Thanks for all the insights.
And slcbob, very informative article from Peter White.

When it snows here, it's rough going until they plow. I think a good solution is a beefier set of knobbies on a seperate wheelset for snow days, and my usual mount and grounds on regular days after they've plowed and exposed the ice patches.

When it snows here, it's rough going until they plow. I think a good solution is a beefier set of knobbies on a seperate wheelset for snow days, and my usual mount and grounds on regular days after they've plowed and exposed the ice patches.[/QUOTE]


I was going to buy a pair of Schwalbes this year but instead went with a new Panaracer Smoke in the back with an Fire XC pro in the front. I used the Smoke way back in the day and it never let me down. I usually don't see much ice on my rides but do ride in a lot of snow. The smoke has wide lugs and it should corner well. This weekend Spokane is slated to get a large amount of snow so this will be the first snow ride of the year for me.

I have a Nokian Haaka 106 on the front. It has served me well on ice, deep snow, and smooth pavement for four winters going on five. The Marathon winter appears to be a better tire for ice (more spikes), but a less beefy pattern, and maybe not so suitable for deep snow.

FWIW I have a Marathon snow stud in the rear - the whole pump up to reduce noise/friction deal seems to work well, but the studs have worn down some after two winters.

The Marathon winter appears to be a better tire for ice (more spikes), but a less beefy pattern, and maybe not so suitable for deep snow.

FWIW I have a Marathon snow stud in the rear - the whole pump up to reduce noise/friction deal seems to work well, but the studs have worn down some after two winters.
I read somewhere that I can't seem to find to double-check at the moment that the Marathon Winter with carbide studs replaces a Marathon something else with non-carbide studs from the last year or two. Perhaps that's what you had? I'm hoping that's the case, for my own sake. Consistent thread in lots of places that non-carbide wears out quickly, don't waste your money on it.

Also consistent that the Marathon Winter is not for deep snow.

Again, just regurgitating, still awaiting some snow / ice / new tires / personal experience this winter.