I'm reminded of the recent glut of posts across the internet showing BMW's with snow chains on the front tyres

Well, having read those, I'm amazed the Michelin one makes the claims that it does at the bottom, and the comment about traction balance is just bizarre - it comes from a point of view that the car having no grip at the front should continue to do so; obviously it is easier to control the front wheels than the rear, but that doesn't mean to say that you want a car which has less front grip, as the grip at the front is precisely what allows you to control the car; having grip at the rear isn't much use as the wheels can't steer you, move you forward or brake you! The tyresafe one also seems to be making something of "industry research" that is then extrapolated into far more than it should be; the rear puncture claim is probably when a car is cornering heavily and a rear puncture occurs, when oversteer would be inevitable. I'd like to see the original research and all the conditions of the tests, rather than a 2-line precis of it.

Either way, neither are talking about winter tyres, and again, with the majority of braking effort in all cars being at the front, and all the traction being at the front in an FWD car, I know I'd still rather have the grip there than anywhere else. And given the complete toss that the IAM have been giving on the news about driving in ice/snow recently, I'm happy to take my own advice rather than the complete *******s they've been dishing out!

The IAM..Institute of a**eholes & morons..Ten to two shuffling idiots..No wonder insurers stopped giving them discounts. They found out these lot were causing and having thousands of accidents. Saw an IAM member who just passed said test 2 days previously reverse his motor straight into a wall! What an eeejit!

Thanks for all the attention given to the question. At the moment the car's stuck in my garage at the bottom of the hill. There's been few cars stuck and spinning so there's quite a shine to the road now. The old carpet under the drive wheels worked a treat a couple of times but for the hassle involved I've been taking the No. 64 instead. The Fabia's still getting about ok on standard tyres but we don't bring it all the way down. My wife went flat on her back walking to it this morning, thankfully she didn't hurt herself, and the car was a bit more stable than her once we got going. It's that cold that the bottle of screen wash concentrate in the boot looks like a catering size Slush Puppy.

Based on the advice given I don't think I'll be putting winter tyres on the front only but will give the next set of tyres I buy a great deal more scrutiny. I always put my old tyres on the back and that's where it's slid on the two occasions when it has. I may just get a new pair of all weather tyres to make sure there's plenty of tread at both ends.

Thanks again,