Wife's 90 240- 5 spd with brand new Nordman 1s (Hakka 01s), unstudded, 185/70r14 at 36 psi can't make it up our driveway (hill) in reverse with a few inches of hardpack snow. My '92 wagon, with unstudded Hakka 2s, same size, at 38 psi, goes right up. My wife is from Texas and quite annoyed about being "trapped in her own driveway".

Granted, it would help if she wouldn't spin the tires and pack the snow into ice, but what gives? Are Hakka 2s that much better than Hakka 1s? I ran Hakka 1s for years and always thought they were excellent tires. Is 36 psi too low for good packed snow grip? Wife doesn't like firm ride with higher air pressure.

Or are wagons simply that much more superior in the snow? Went skiing this am and the roads here in upstate NY were plenty bad by the time I left. The wagon is always a joy to drive in bad weather.

Any thoughts?