Rachael,

It's a proven fact studded tires help tremendously when operating a vehicle. Why do you think these truckers use chains in Turnagain Pass when snow is deep and the ice is treacherous?  I've been in Alaska for 43 years and driven with studded and unstudded tires.  The studded tires makes all the difference in the world when trying to control a vehicle. 

Furthermore, someone earlier mentioned that studded tires creates the ruts in the road and this is not true.  It's the materials used in addition to the warm/cold effect on the asphalt.