Originally Posted by
asmac
You are correct. It was my misunderstanding and it did seem a bit odd. Here's how 45nrth describes the two options:
Concave Aluminum Carbide Studs
This stud features a carbide tip with a concave shape on the crown. The concave crown creates a very sharp attack angle to the surface, resulting in an unparalleled amount of traction. Any wear that occurs to the carbide crown creates an even sharper edge – continuously augmenting acceleration, braking and cornering performance as it ages.
Steel Carbide Studs
Using the same two-piece construction method as the Concave Aluminum Carbide product, the steel-carbide stud features a dome-shaped carbide tip with a steel base, making it a more economical stud for 45North’s 27tpi tire collection, while still providing excellent performance and longevity.
So you really are getting what you pay for there.