Thanks folks for all this good information about winter tires and handling.

Can you help me with two questions.  I have a 84 Vanagon full camper which
I am hoping to use through the winter in the Northeast Mountains:
1)  What do you mean below by "use neutral."  Is the suggestion that
because of the van's weight distribution that the normal use of low gear to
help slow a vehicle causes the van to tail spin?

2) Is it unadvisable to run studded tires on the rear only?

3)  I assume the studded Nokian Hakkapelliita's are very noisy...?  Are
they good enough without the studs?

Thanks, Michael

At 10:08 AM 1/6/02 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 1/6/02 12:27:07 AM, steveis@SPEAKEASY.ORG writes:
>
><< 1) Though the Michelin Agilis is the only tire with a high enough weight
>and
>inflation rating for the heavy Westy, and though it's rated as a Mud and
>Snow tire, it works like Shinola in any snowy, icy, or slick situation >>
>
>In my experience, there is only one tire rated for the Vanagon which works in
>ALL conditions: the Nokian Hakkapelliita.
>
>Also to avoid swapping ends when descending an especially slippery grade, use
>neutral and judicious braking.
>
>Rich

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