I'm moving soon and I'd like to get rid of my MTB and my beater road bike and replace those with 1 do-it-all bike. I'm doing this half for space and half because I'm going to have a longer commute and the MTB is in very bad condition (I got it for free).

I'm thinking about either a Redline 925 or a Surly Steamroller. I might be able to get a pretty good deal on the 925. Supposedly 32 mm tires are fine on the 925, but the Steamroller is fine with 38s. Is that enough of a difference that it should influence my decision? I'll be moving back to Indiana, so it snows, but not all that often. I like to commute in anything besides an all-out blizzard.

I had been riding the MTB in the snow and 25 mm tires in everything else, so I'm not experienced with anything in between.

One consideration -- and someone correct me if I'm wrong -- the smallest studded tires are 35 mm Nokians, which I have. I ride a road bike with 28s for much of the winter if the roads are good too.

with the Redline, you won't have the option of using the most popular studded tire.

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=TR1110

Edit: Uh..yeah..what Jeff said.

Do you guys think studded tires are necessary? I made it all winter here without them, albeit with wider tires.

No, I don't think studded tires are necessary. I reserve the right to change my mind next year, though. That's why I'd prefer the Surly. It gives you the option of studded tires if you later decide to go that way.

Personally, I wouldn't get rid of both your existing bikes. I'd keep one for a bad weather bike and spare commuter. Then, I wouldn't have to worry about the tire width of the nice bike.

I'd say it depends on your other commuting options when the weather sucks. I biked all winter but on the icy days drove, mainly b/c while I might be fine on studded tires, I don't trust the idiot locals here in VA, for whom a snowstorm is another excuse to drive like jackasses in their SUV's.

I don't know what I'd pick out of those two bikes, but I'd lean towards the one that'd make me happier most of the time...

I think the Hakka W106 comes in a 700c x 35 model: see https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp for details.

If your conditions are mostly snow, rather than ice, you can save yourself the expense of studded tires. For me, the added manouverability and traction comes in handy just when you need it - but I've been riding a calgary winter, where we get a lot of ice.

This past week we've got a skiff of snow every day on the roads. For max grip i could run studs, but instead I ran my usual 28C slicks. Unless you get ice, there's not much point in studs. I'll qualify that by saying that they make a huge difference in climbing traction if there is snow on the ground. On the flats, fresh snow up to two inches or so has been no problem on slicks. As soon as I have to climb [or descend], that's when things get dicey and I need the studded tires.