I quite enjoy my studded tires. The definite downside is road noise, especially in the first week or two before they get worn in a little. But they are phenomenal on ice, and especially black ice. Even when the roads are "greasy" with that fine blowing snow over them. I personally haven't noticed any drop in performance on snow either. They are basically a proper winter tire, so the treads to the work on the snow regardless of the little studs on the tire. It is on the ice where you can really feel them bite in.
Initially, the noise was enough where I actually doubted my decision. But after a couple of weeks, they got a fair bit quieter. Definitely noticeable still, but a reasonable trade-off for me personally. I'll probably get studs on my next set as well, as I find them well suited to Calgary's climate. We don't get a lot of snow compared with other Canadian cities, but we get a lot of freezing and thawing.
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