how good are studded tires?
it gets me up an iced over hill, where FWD cars and 4WD cars/trucks with all season slide off to the side.
true story.
but studs really are only 25% of the equation.
other things to consider:
Tire width, tread aggressiveness and where you intend to use them.

short list of CX tire or knobby tire performance in winter. If you're absolutely set on getting knobby tires, get ones designed for mud with a soft compound.

ice = no good
packed snow = not the best, but managable
packed snow hit at an angle = no good
ploughed roads = ok
salted or sanded roads = ok
front wheel getting stuck in a rut = no good
powder snow or deep snow = use really fat tires with aggressive treads
slush = ok