Almost completely off topic... but still talking about tires. If anybody is looking for a tire for serious winter use, I highly recommend the Bridgestone Blizzak tire.

I just finished (like about three hours ago) a twelve hundred mile trip from Fairbanks to Homer and back, most of it on polished ice.

I drove 70-75 MPH most of the time, many times going into corners at that speed where there were warning signs to slow to 55 MPH (these are summer time, dry pavement warnings) and in the whole trip only got the back end of the car to wiggle just a little bit (not enough to scare me, but enough to get my undivided attention) a few times.

The best way I can describe what it is like to drive those Blizzaks is this: On packed snow and ice, it's like driving on loose gravel. Very progressive and predictable, no sudden surprises. No studded tire I have ever tried can match them.

tanstaafl.