I bought Schwalbe Marathon Winter HS396 tires. Says online to ride them for 25 miles on asphalt.

My question(s)... is that suggested 25 miles on the lowest tire pressure? I didn't think about it till today, but I started off with the tires inflated to 80 psi, when the range for the tire is 35 to 85 psi. Second question, by 'asphalt' I am wondering if they mean road surfaces in general, not necessarily true 'asphalt'. A lot of the roads in my area are concrete.

I want to be ready when we get our first snow, but I also want to get off this rig and back onto my road bike for my commutes ;-)

You're correct that they just mean paved surfaces. The whole purpose of breaking them in is just to make sure any loose studs get driven all the way in before you start riding aggressively. If you wanted, you could do it by hand before installing the tires.

I'd just throw 'em on and run them over pavement at the most appropriate pressure for the conditions. Typically on the high end. This is what I've always done, and I think I've only lost one stud (due to my own stupidity -- was playing on a curb).

My Nokian studs are all there, 20 years on * (IDK if the rubber compounds are different . it seems long wearing in the Finnish made tires.)
My Schwalbes are street tires.

*Icy storms 2 separate weeks last winter.. usually a week per winter..


To run super low pressure the use of sew up Glue to stick 1 tire bead to the rim so it doesn't creep around was suggested..
The tire shifting with the tube, causing the tube's stem to shear off , since the Hole remains the un moved same.

Yes, low pressure to make sure that the outer rows of studs make contact with the ground.
--
Ragnar

You're asking too much from the tire. It's tire, it lacks a brain and has no way of knowing what a road is paved with. It does "know" hard from soft by feel, but that's all it knows.

But you knew that already.