I'll go along with Cullen's choice. Not sure what specific letters are on
mine, but they have great traction and don't make the van sway or wallow..
  I live just up the highway from Bend near the Dalles, Or. and yeah, you
will likely want some snow tires for your van, especially since Bend is much
higher than The Dalles...But you won't get my personal favorite...Freezing
Rain... quite so often as we get here in the Gorge.  Two years ago, it came
down and closed I-84 for about 2 full days because there was about 6 solid
inches of ice everywhere, interspersed by melted spots (Temporary potholes?)
that were breaking axles on semis...Ugg!
  You will probably want some extra weight in the rear of the van, too.  Get
some sandbags so if you get stuck on ice you can toss some under your tires
to get going.  I store the wood pellets for my auxiliary house heater over
the engine deck lid in my van..4 sixty lb bags right over the drive
wheels..does wonders for your traction..
  You can probably get the boys at Les Schwab to order them even if they
don't stock them.  I got mine from the other 'local' tire guys, the Tire
Factory..Mine are wearing very well, drove em to the desert and left em on
down there all winter and they still look almost full tread.
  Don Hanson

From:    Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET>
Subject:The absolute best tire I have encountered in Vermont without getting
into
studs are Nokia Hakkepalita RSI.