Much the same as BC driving!  We have an Audi 5000 Quattro and I figured
with the "invincible" quattro drive train who needs anything but all season
tires.  Wrong!  Even with all wheel drive and the center differential locked
I still managed to do three complete circles on an ice covered road (not
intentional) and if it wasn't for the driveway the car stopped on it would
have been in a very deep ditch.  Now there is four studded snow tires and a
driver who is a little more prepared both physically and mentally!

-- David Marshall - Volkswagen Enthusiast - Quesnel, BC, Canada   --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 79 VW Iltis, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westfalia        --
-- 85 VW Cabriolet, 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page        http://www.volkswagen.org  --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning  http://www.fastforward.ca  --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list)  --

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of John Rodgers
Sent: November 17, 2000 6:12 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: NOT a Fryeday Funnie

I don't think it was ALL the tires fault....then maybe it was.

Vanagons handle very differently than the earlier buses. When I bought my 85
GL in Alaska, the first winters drive with ice/snow on the road gave me the
same treatment you got. I was shocked...so very different than my '68
air-cooled bus. After I spun out in the middle of a straight but uphill
road, I tried to regain my composure and went straight to the tire shop. Got
Goodyear studded Alaska winter tires all around. Never a problem again.
Those puppies were like cat claws gripping the ground.

I had been driving for 20 years in Alaska and never owned a studded tire or
chains. But the way the "85 GL handled, studs in winter were a must. But
after I put them on winter driving was a snap.

My $0.05 worth.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

John Klun wrote:

>
> This has been my first vanagon driving experience in the snow and I
> didn't like it.  I used to have an Aerostar van and it was better in the
> snow.  Maybe it was the tires...