I winter ride in Winnipeg. It's the winter riders version of picnicking in Kandahar. Studs are good for ice and if you can get away with riding without them then by all means. Most times in a City there will not be ice on every road or sidewalk (usually sidewalks are the icey ones by comparison). This means you are pushing slowwww studs on pavement for most of your journey when the tires not need be studded. I usually try and ride a partially studded tire (studs more oriented on the outside edge of the tire) and right now am trying to manage with a non-studded arrangement but still a tire suited for winter (
Marathon GT365).