OK DJ that would be my kind of solution- thanks and I do think tkamiya has a point, the vehicle was sold with what was promo'd as high performance tires- but since I travel a lot between 'snow country' and the south I'm not sure I want to change tires yet- but I plan to go on over a read the Farmer's Almanac- but will also try Ryan's suggestion once we're dug out; now that I feel more comfortable that I will not do some irretrievable damage, perhaps I was too cautious- after all it is a Mercedes, worked hard for -