Winter tires?

I have seen many different types of winter gear over the past few winters where I was in Scaninavia. Finland a few years back I met a guy who made his own winter (snow) running shoes. He would take older shoes and punch tacks or nails through the bottom to ave better traction on the ice. I never did ask him if that worked on Nike Air shoes....This winter I saw many bikes on the road with winter tires. Like their 4 wheeled counterparts they had spikes running up through them. There were passages while walking to the office (as we always do) where I was slipping like crazy in my work shoes but they could gingerly make all the climbs and the corners without laying it out all over the pavement.I have never had need for these types of winter crutches. When the weather gets that hairy I usually call it a day and head to the the gym or go swimming. But this week might be different. Here is the forecast for the next few days in Cologne - race day is Monday.The elevation there is really not interesting. The race starts in Leverkusn which is on the Rhein and heads up into the hills towards the east. I don't think there is much more than 250m or 800 feet max. But the weather has just gone mad. I watched out the winder here today as it began with B-B sized hail which grew to marble sized. Then there was a mix of sleet and rain until mid afternoon. But there are 3 more days and much can change. Just wondering about those winter tires...Parrothead