text: I quit using studded tires in the 70's.  For Anchorage most of the time studs are worse or add no additional traction.  On bare dry or wet roads you will slide more with studs than with good non-studded tires.  In soft snow deep enough for no tire pavement contact they add absolutely zero value.  If I lived in a place like Valdez where there are a lot of icy warm conditions and low commute miles I might consider studded tires.  I've tested many different scenarios of winter tires over the years because I love driving year-round.  I find that a good set of stud-less winter tires with a narrow profile (while maintaining stock diameter of the tire) provides very good traction overall.  In deep snow the narrow profile cuts through the snow like ice skates providing very good directional stability.  The narrow profiles will cut into the soft snow pack instead of floating like wide tires and reach hard pack quickly for better traction. On ice they are as good as studded tires!