Anyone know a quick and easy way to remove them?

 

Long, smokey burn outs clean the tires right up of those pesky studs.

Probably not the answer you where looking for... but the only easy way I know.

 

I've used a sharp pointed tool or a small flat screwdriver to get under them and pry up and then a pair of vice grips to pull them out. If they are worn down flat, then it is just pry and hope. Good luck, not a fun task.

 

Definitely a PITA to remove, I have used a screwdriver and pushed under the stud then just popped them out, but it is labor and time consuming

 

Big pair of angle nippers and a 12 pack....you can dig down to the shoulder and pluck them out....

 

Growing up and working in a big tire store off and on most of my life (when I wasn't trucking), I have had occasion to remove millions of ice studs.

There is no quick/easy way; however, the quickest/easiest I have found is to grab them with a pair of SHARP nail nippers; hardware store nail nippers meant for pulling small brads and finishing nails will work; but, best by far are a set of horse-shoe nail nippers as the jaws are somewhat rounded so that the "grabbers" are not hindered by being too flat.

If you do not remove the ice studs when the tire starts getting thin and the studs start getting short, the studs will lay over sideways and puncture the tire.
I have seen several cases where a single tire might have thirty leaks where the studs have penetrated the casing.

In my opinion, ice studs should be required winter driving equipment any time there is forecast snow or freezing rain; however, good ice chains are by far the best.