I've never used studded tires and don't expect to. With practice I got comfortable riding across glare ice, slowly and carefully.

I do thump into the pavement about once a winter when the ice is hidden under snow that hasn't been cleared. This has always been at slow speeds under difficult conditions and has never caused more than minor damage.

I get a bit more wear and tear on the bike in the winter, but not enough to make me switch bikes.