I'll second the point about the value of tires. Bottom line is all your
traction depends on the tires, 2wd, 4wd, whatever, if the tires aren't
good, you won't get traction. We swear by Bridgestone Blizzaks, best
damned winter tire I've ever used. Last year I got one of my Isuzu
Troopers stuck in my driveway with studded tires, I hooked up my other
Trooper, with the Blizzaks and hauled it right out. That was the most
impressive example I could imagine. To have a set of studless tires not
only get a vehicle through where studded tires couldn't, but to also be
able to dead tow the stuck vehicle out, wow.

My 86 Vanagon was a nightmare on our driveway (which isn't steep, BTW
just heavily crowned), I couldn't get up it if there was more than an
inch of snow, even with so called mud and snow tires. I put a set of
Blizzaks on it a few years ago and the only time I have trouble now is
when we have more than a foot of snow. The Vanagon will never be as good
as my old 64 was, but with the Blizzaks, it does so well I decided not
to get the LSD. (then again I do own several real 4wds for the bad
times, if I had to depend on my Vanagon in the winter up here, I'd own a
Syncro with F&R LSDs and Blizzaks., but then we regularly get 150" or
more of snow up here over the winter and often have 3' of snow
accumulation much of the winter)

--

Marc Sayer
Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer (APDT member #062956)
Board member - Western States Great Dane Rescue Association
Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane Rescue Inc.
Oakridge, OR USA

My Homepage - http://gracieland.org
Deaf Dane Rescue  - http://deafdane.org
Western States Great Dane Rescue Association - http://wsgdra.org
RescueWatchdogs - http://rescuewatchdogs.org
Association of Pet Dog Trainers - http://APDT.com