"And here I thought a pair of studded tires would have been a waste of my $ around here for the typical winter with a couple days of snow/ice on the ground." ~ EKW in DC

Definitely NOT a waste of money. They only have to save you once... Nokians, with carbide studs wil last a loooong time. The studs will last as long as the tire itself according to Peter Jon White. Put them on in the fall and forget about them until you remember them because they just saved you from a nasty wipe...

Besides, If you are running on your studs, you are saving your summer rubber. Just don't ride too hard on things other than ice and snow. The studs won't wear fast but they can be ripped out.