Originally Posted by seely
If you don't have the cheddah for the studded tire, a good knobby works reasonably well. Specialized Roll-X pros have been working well for me this season, even in some pretty icey situations that other tires have failed on.
A good point. I suspect a softer compound rubber will help, but that's a hunch.
Sometimes the top of the ice is a little soft if it's in the sun, that helps too. I ride on a lake occasionally with a guy who does not have studs. If it's a warm day above freezing, the ice is likely to be not as slippery. Watch out for the shade though.