MA rider chiming in here. NYC correct? The 700 x35's should do you fine. I'm assuming the snow and ice are occasional with lots of melting. I use the nokian hakkapelitta( sp) in 700 x 35 on one of my dedicated winter commuters. Works well. They have tungsten carbide studs, that's what you want. I currently have 4 and 6 years on 2 sets of studs. The Innova are junk, plain steel and throw away after a year. The Hakkas are heavy, like 900 grams, sort of like pedaling in wet tar, but work very well. The advantage of a mt bike with say 2" tires and a front sus fork would be rutted and bumpy bike paths. I switch out the bikes depending on my freeze thaw cycles and snow fall. Also play with the psi some, less air for more ice. @ 235 lbs, I run between 30 and 45 psi. The side walls are very beefy, like a downhill type tire.