Buy a separate set of four rims fitted with winter compound tyres and fit them from November until March. This prevents damage to wheels and rims and the expense of swapping tyres twice a year. These people specialise in winter wheel and tyre combinations and can give you best advice: www.mytyres.co.uk and www.event-tyres.co.uk. These specialise in smaller rims for deeper profile tyres of the same rolling circumference that you may need to fit winter tyres to a car already fitted with 18-inch or 20-inch wheels: www.Wheel-Base.co.uk ; www.rarerims.co.uk.

Do not even dream of fitting them to two wheels only. That will severely destabilise the car under wet braking and during slippery descents. Yes, chains are a pain. Autosocks are easier but can only be used on soft snow.