> Also check to see when you can run them

I was driving my van up to Canada (Toronto) for a computer show in the middle of the winter from MA and they made me remove my studded tires before I crossed customs. Luckily, for long trips I always carry two spare tires. Of course they were under all the computer stuff and it took a couple of hours to unload the van and change the tires.

 

Unless you drive on nothing but sheer ice all the time you can get away without them. Get a dedicated set of snow tires like the Blizzaks or look for a good M&S rated tire that has plenty of sipping and you will be set. Good luck to you!!

 

Being a Tennessean, I confess I hate winter more than about anything. Here, usually, we have rain that changes to freezing rain (such fun!) and then it snows. The terrain here is quite hilly. The roads were laid out by drunken epileptic snakes during an earthquake, too. You will have a sharp curve at the bottom of a steep hill. (Nope, I am afraid I am not exaggerating.) The ice and snow really is a challenge. I have used studded tires since 1976. I love them!! As was posted, an aggressive, siped, snow tread tire is great for snow; however, for ice, I prefer studded tires over anything.
One winter, we got (for us) a large snowfall. It hit in the middle of the day. I had to drive a bit over 30 miles to get home from work. I had a 2WD 1974 F100 with a 240Six and a 3..03 three-speed manual transmission, and an open 9-inch Ford rearend. I also had studded tires. I did make it home safely and without sliding around on the ice and snow. They closed down I-40 and I-65 completely. It was that bad. But, how did I, a Southerner and not a snow-lover, make it? Insofar as I am concerned, it was solely due to the aggressive tread and the tire studs.