13 minutes ago, BrianMay said:

 

Having just migrated from BMW for the last 20 years, I drove through all the winters but especially the 2010 winter using back roads in the Scottish Borders without any trouble at all.  FWD vs RWD is all about HOW rather than what you drive.

True, but no amount of driving skill will improve the grip of your tyres on the road surface. If the tyres don't grip then you are not going up that hill or stopping in a short distance. Yes, you can use your skill to anticipate the conditions and drive accordingly but the laws of physics remain the same!

^^^ Which is exactly why those with rear wheel drive may well fit suitable tyres for winter just as those with front wheel drive might.

Rear wheel drive can grip, and some are rear wheel drive with part time AWD coming in from the front, where a Haldex equipped Skoda is Front Wheel  drive with rear coming in.

Early Land rovers where rear wheel drive unless front selected, and Suzuki Jimny are rear wheel drive and do not always need front wheel drive selected if the right tyres are fitted.

7 hours ago, BrianMay said:

 

Having just migrated from BMW for the last 20 years, I drove through all the winters but especially the 2010 winter using back roads in the Scottish Borders without any trouble at all.  FWD vs RWD is all about HOW rather than what you drive.

Just so long as you can overcome the camber and not have to plow snow also, in my experience.......and you certainly don’t want to be in a hurry either.

 

Just tried,1.0 Octavia manual Bridgestone turranzas it was very good

Somewhere on You Tube is a tyre test. 2 Yetis. One 2 wheel drive with winter tyres, one 4 wheel drive on 'standard' tyres. The used the snow ramp in an Xscape ski centre - the two wheel drive went up through the snow the four wheel drive one did not make it. Proper tyres - now problem. I fitted  Cross Climates to my 4x4 Yeti and it worked fine in the recent snow 

Thing to remember is when stopping it does not matter if you have front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive, the ONLY parameter that matters is the friction between the tyres and the surface. Hence winter tyres or cross climates will keep you safer than summer tyres on any driven combination.

6 minutes ago, Expatman said:

Thing to remember is when stopping it does not matter if you have front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive, the ONLY parameter that matters is the friction between the tyres and the surface. Hence winter tyres or cross climates will keep you safer than summer tyres on any driven combination.

 

Just been out in my old Octavia with summer tyres in the snow and ice that has just hit us and OMG what a difference compared to my Superb shod in Continental TS850 winter tyres - It's like night and day.