I began driving in Northumberland, where winters used to last from October to April and snow from November to March. I drove all sorts of cars in deep snow, including a 1949 Rover P3. Basically I am repeating extremely well known advice from Germany, Austria and Italy. Worst: RWD on summers. Next worst: FWD on summers. Next worst: AWD on summers (though, of course, depends on level of sophistication of the AWD system). Better: RWD on full winters. Better still: FWD on full winters. Best of the lot: AWD on full winters. Even better: AWD with studded winters or with chains.

Not only that, at less than 8 degrees centigrade, any car on cold weather tyres stops in about half the distance of one on summer tyres, whether 4WD or not.