Thank you Wray, Steve Ringley, Colorado Tim and Gordon Hull for the feedback on my question regarding handling characteristics of the 760 wagon.

My situation is a long, regular 60 mile to 90 mile commute as well as to the mountains. I don't use studs except as necessary at that moment. My question arose because this is a 2nd 15" wheel currently owned volvo (the other is a '93 850 glt + our '82 244 (14" wheels). The bolt pattern is different between the '82 and '93, but the '82 and '89 are the same using the stock steel wheels.

The '93 is excellent with the "wintertrac" etc, which the '89 doesn't have

and isn't an issue. Both my previous wagons were light in the rear end and had trouble.

The 2nd post by Gordon is correct concerning asphalt degredation, siting heavy weight vehicle use, not "normal weight" vehicular travel.

Two points here;

1- The "I-5 freight corridor" is a sensitive topic in Washington as the big rigs don't pay user fees to repair the wear they cause.

2- The Washington State patrol tells me when "studs or chains are required for travel", the "new technology" studless snow tires are not a substitute

and the vehicle would be turned back without chains.

Yet there are often times when chains are overkill for the actual road conditions up here. Colorado Tims' point of the narrow tires is an interesting concept but the volvo people I've talked with site possible stability concerns.

So, i'll repost when I've done something, or not done anything

thanks again