I'm pretty sure I can at least get Hakkapeliitta C tires somewhere.  Is
this really the only severe service emblem tire left for a vanagon with 14
inch wheels?

In that case, I would probably get two, and run those in front and the 3
other half-worn C2's I already have in a rotation on the two back wheels
and the spare carrier, hoping this leads to eventually close wear situation.

On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 8:54 PM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 5:01 PM, pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> >  My goals are:
> > real winter performance (severe service emblem)
> > good for year round use (long tread life).  Ideally, not as loud us the
> > C2's. fits my factory steel wheels and has the load rating necessary for
> a
> > very stable ride.
> >
>
> Your info is the same as what others have encountered, the Hakka CS is
> discontinued.  Or at least not available in the US.  And Nokian apparently
> does not make some of their other winter tires in 185 or 195R14 sizes.  I
> went to 15" wheels to deal with this problem but that is not the most
> economic solution.
>
> One positive note on Nokian tires.  Last fal I and others reported that
> Discount Tires could no longer get Nokian tires because of the new
> marketing arrangement between Nokian and Tire Factory.  But Discount is
> still showing Nokian tires on their website.  So today I stopped at my
> local Discount Tire and asked.  With a couple of phone calls and a lot of
> snooping on the computer the local manager concluded that indeed he could
> get Nokian tires but it would take a little hunting on his part.  He agreed
> that the situation was like this:  A good manager that knows what he is
> doing at your local Discount tire can probably get you Nokian tires.  And
> the drama continues.....
>