If I were in the market (I'm waiting until next year to buy rims and tires for my Jetta TDI), I would by the Nokians. I've researched it as thouroughly as I care to, and none of the others come close to these tires for snow and ice traction. They also have rated much higher in wear than the Bridgestones or Michelins.
Not that those are bad tires either, but I like to buy the best out there. In items such as this, price is usually secondary to me.:)

Just to clarify, I started this thread in NOVEMBER 2002.

Anyway, I did end up buying a set (4) Dunlop Graspic's from the Tire Rack. This is my second season with them and they worked GREAT! They were also not as pricey as the Blizzaks, the Graspic's were $300 for all 4 tires - 215 60R 16's.

Nokian Hakka Q's are dedicated snow and ice - the WR's are a year round all season snow and ice tire.
They cost more than all the others, but they are the best.

www.etires.com