-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

I live in Soldotna, Alaska. The first time out of the blocks on the first
day of icey snow with my '85 GL I did a nice brodie in the middle of the
highway. Had on a brand new set of goodyear all weather radials too. Up
until that moment, in 26 years of driving in Alaska, I never had a studded
tire on any of my vehicles. Didn't need them. But this time.........I went
straight to the Goodyear dealer, had studded tires installed, and from then
on it was like I had claws gripping the road. Loved driveing that winter.
Those studs were wonderful. In Spring I swithched back to my all weathers.
Still running Goodyears.......can't say right this minute what they are, but
not the typical highsided truck tire. Don't need'em for where I am and the
kind of driving I am doing now. Softer, smoother rided more desirable, and
safe enough. But......if I go back to driving marginal roads, the truck
tires go back on.

John Rodgers
'85 GL Driver visiting in Alabama
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

Date: Monday, 23-Mar-98 02:14 PM

From: Fred Younger             \ Internet:    (f1y@csm1.doit.wisc.edu)
To:   Vanagon@VANAGON.COM      \ Internet:    (vanagon@vanagon.com)

Subject: Re: Poor Traction

I've read a number of posts from people who are getting great traction and
didn't want you to feel totally alone.  Your experience matches mine with an
85 vanagon GL and a 91 vanagon GL.

I wonder if the traction-rich folks could tell us traction-impaired ones
exactly which tires they're using, and if they use different tires in the
summer.

------------
Slipping and Sliding in Wisconsin Fred Younger

>from sh@interlog.com
>
> We've only been out in the recently acquired bus (82 Westfalia) a couple
of
> times on slippery, snowy roads.  While I knew that any van, and especially
> VW vans, handle more poorly than regular cars, I was surprised at how bad
> it really is.  The slightest glaze on the road, and the van wheels start
> spinning.  It regularily gets stuck simply parked on the snowy street in
> front of the house.  Yesterday, at Albion Hills conservation area, the VW
> was spinning its wheels on several grades that other vehicles had no
> problems with.
>
> Tires (not snow tires) are in reasonable shape.  Is this typical of
> Vanagons?

-------- REPLY, End of original message --------