I really like the look of the virgos, and I'd like to have them on in the winter, but not if they're likely to get damaged. is it pretty easy to ruin them? if I hit a pot hole will the be trashed? also what's the best size studded tire to put on virgos (or steel rims if they're better for winter)
thanks

No Virgos in the winter.

Steel, 14-in, Volvo 240 rims at the junkyard = $5 or so each. Just spin them on a jacked-up front wheel while holding a long screwdriver or such steady against the fender with the tip near the wheel rim and look for side-to-side wobble or out of round evidence. Insist on a good set. There are plenty of good winter tire choices out there. I put Dunlop Graspic 185/70-14 (from Tire Rack) on all 4 corners of my son's 81 - he had no problems through a Canadian winter at college. His first winter driving experience.

The 185-70-14 is virtually identical in circumference to the 195/60-15 Volvo recommend for the Virgos - so your speedometer will read the same.

I got the "Volvo" (knockoff) set of wheel covers from IPD, and these masked the ratty steel wheels quite nicely.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

T-bone has it right. Off with the alloys for the winter, on again in the spring.
I bent two (flat spots) of my Virgos several winters ago. The road was covered with large chunks of mud (off a construction vehicle), I wasn't able to avoid them all, hit one at about 55....turned out to be mud covered rock....or frozen mud.....two nice flat spots on my otherwise perfect Virgos.

Steel wheels from then on for winter driving.
--
84, 242GLTi, 167K, 4+OD, in rehab; 89, 245 DL, 263K, M 47, daily driver; 93, 245, auto, 167K ; and other toys.

Eight,

I've found the Virgos are pretty soft wheels and easily dented and damaged. Also salty winter slush can be hard on alloy wheel finishes. I keep my snows mounted on steel wheels for all my Bricks and only use the alloys (including the Virgos) in the spring-fall. On my 944T/745T I run 195/65/15 snows, on the 240s 185/70/14 work well for me. I've run BS Blizzak and Yokohama Guardians as snow tires. The Yokos are IMO the best buy of the two and perform as well, if not better than the more expensive Bridgestones. My $.02