David, your "owner's book" is not the same as mine, if it even suggests snows on the rear and anything else on the front.  Maybe the Canadian market owner's manual is aimed at people who have to deal with 'real winter', but our '91 is very definite about snows all around, not just on the rear.

I've been using snows all around since I had a '76 rwd Toyota Corolla.  On snowy roads, don't trust your life to anything less.

And if your state/province allows studded snows, then go with those.  Nothing else has that kind of good ice traction.  (Alas, Ontario does not allow snow tires, though I have been sorely tempted to 'import' some from Quebec, which does allow them, especially Ontario has no vehicle safety inspection in which they would be caught....)

James
Ottawa, ON

> Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 13:14:38 -0500
> From: mcneely4@COX.NET
> Subject: Re: I rather drive the Vanagon (snow tires)
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> ---- Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >
> > I went out and got two snow tires to put on the rear. Yes, I know that's
> > not a great idea, but money was tight. I've since gotten the other pair for
> > a full set.
> 
> So, help me out here.  Back in the day, before front wheel drive, we always mounted a pair of snow tires on the rear, regular highway tires on the front, and if we mounted chains we put them on the rear.  My owner's book for the Vanagon says to do it that way.  Here in Oklahoma I don't bother with snow tires, though we occasionally get some pretty intense storms and my city never plows anything except arterials (the ones designated "Emergency Snow Route").  I will be moving to Spokane, WA, where snow is just a fact of life for 4-5 months.  Should I put snow tires on the rear only, or on both front and rear of my Vanagon?  I realize that some people just park it for the winter, too.
> 
> David McNeely