I've found the continental extreme winter contact tires to be just amazing on a vanagon with 15" or 16" rims. Blizzard are equally amazing but with a lower Load rating. The continentals really rock in every situation I've thrown at them. They transformed the vanagon from a bad winter car to a performance winter car. 
The Nokians are good for 14" rims but I do not like them quite as bit as the continentals. They just handle soooooooo well. 

Just my 2cents. 

-craig

On Dec 18, 2013, at 2:58 PM, Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM> wrote:

> I second the compromise aspect of snow vs. winter/ice performance.  It
> seems to me that the mud/snow/deep tread tires work great on packed
> powder (or snow you can pack into powder yourself with your tire) but
> as Dennis points out failing on ice. Just experienced the former last
> night in Boston!
> 
> -Jim Akiba
> 
> On Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 9:32 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> With the alloy wheels (not a standard option until 87) you can go with a
>> 225/70-14 tire. This will be slightly taller and 40mm wider than stock. The
>> standard load index for this size is 98 or 99 which is a small step above
>> the 97 the factory205/70-14XL tires had from the factory. There a number of
>> tire choices still available in this size including a Nokian.
>> 
>> Do note that the term "Snow" tires is fading and now the move is towards
>> "winter" performance. Part of this is that tires that have really deep
>> grooves and stuff to go through deep snow then fail on icy roads or even
>> slush.  It's all about compromise and which characteristics are real
>> important. "Winter" tires should also be used on all 4 wheels. Nokian also
>> has some good options for all-season tires that also work very well in
>> Winter.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> Dake Collins
>> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 8:09 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: snow tires
>> 
>> Wu-Wei, my '84 Westy with standard 14" alloy rims, has informed me with
>> great enthusiasm and a sense of urgency that she needs new snow tires for
>> Christmas. I've looked around the Belfast Maine area and I get conflicting
>> opinions of little or no value so I'm turning to my trusted sources on "the
>> List" - What are your recommendations for snow tires?
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks & Happy Holidays,
>> 
>> Dake 'Ian' Collins
>> Wu-Wei '84 Westy