Scott Durrant answered  my Newbie questions too. Thanks. 
He said about snow tires:

>Don't run standard car tires (4-ply), they will burst.
>
>You want to run 8-ply tires.  These are light truck tires, but the Westys
>have a beefy suspension that will handle the stiff tires, Westys were
>designed for 8-ply.
>
>Most people will tell you to buy Yokohama or something like that; they are
>really hard to find.  Bridgestone makes an 8-ply that works great (I run
>them).  
>
>Unfortunately it is hard to find any 8-ply light truck tires studded.
>However, the tread looks good and most of the weight is over the axle that
>is providing the power; I had a bug that was great in the snow, bet the bus
>will be too.
 
I will have to check out the truck tires. It has Michelins right now, 
they are all pretty new.  

>What part of the country are you in?
>
Massachusetts, in the suburbs of Boston. We had record snows for two of 
the last three years. 

Thanks for the info. 

Maureen Stretch
91 Vanagon GL Westfalia