Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,162
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Whew! A 4.5lb pair of tires on a single speed...that'll get you strong!
My inclination is to think that those would be overkill in IA, but I don't know the weather, your route, surface conditions, distance, or how badly you need to get through no matter the weather.
I am highly averse to getting filthy on a commute, however, and unless you have to ride on hard-packed snow and ice, I think that some riding skills and choice route selection could get a non-studded tire through the winter snowfalls just fine until the roads clear (as they have for many years in my case; I tried some 26" studded tires back in '90, and found them an annoying waste).