Originally Posted by
Tundra_Man
Absolutely worth it if you're planning on commuting all winter. They're especially useful in the late winter when you start to get lots of freeze/thaw cycles and the black ice forms where you can't see it.
One day last season in the early spring we were getting some freezing rain. I was riding home on the MUP when I came across a guy walking in the snow along side of the pavement. He asked, "How are you staying upright?" I stopped to chat, immediately hit the ground and then realized the frozen asphalt was too slick for me to stand on. However the studs were letting me ride on it without any trouble.
I just replaced my old pair of studded tires with a new set. The old pair lasted me 7 winters. The studs were still in good shape, but the sidewalls were starting to crack and bulge from age.
The way I see it, I set of studded tires is cheaper than a trip to the ER for a broken collarbone.
Done and done. I've got a set of the 2 row Schwalbe Winter studded tires, a set of Kool Stop dual compound brake pads, and a new chain in the mail from amazon for my beater mountain bike to use on snow days. I should probably get a set of fenders for this bike as well...but honestly I'll probably be wearing snow pants anyway when I'm on this bike. I've got a mild case of buyers remorse over getting the 2 row instead of 4 row studs....but they were $35 each and I really don't anticipate any wild and aggressive cornering in 20 degree weather with snow/ice regardless of what kind of tires I've got. Once November/December hits...my goals change from getting faster on the bike/improving handling to just getting on it everyday and getting miles in.
And yeah regarding cost. I figure if studded tires get me on the bike even 10 or 15 days I would have driven to work...I've paid for them in gas money alone.