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Which car to replace my BMW 520d will be more reliable and easier to handle in winter?

My current BMW 520d auto estate company car is due for replacement soon. I commute between Sheffield and Macclesfield at an average of 35,000 year. The current car is very comfortable and suits my needs very well, but the car struggles with the slightest amount of snow and winter driving generally. I would be grateful if you could recommend a suitable replacement automatic estate in a similar price bracket, which would be an equal specification to the current car, but be reliable in the winter and able to deal with winter driving conditions.

Asked on 24 March 2012 by AR, via email

Answered by Honest John
It's not the car, it's the tyres. According to ‘Which?’, Michelin Alpin 4s are the best winter tyres.

According to www.tyrereviews.co.uk, the best winter tyres are: Goodyear UltraGrip 8, Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D, Nokian WR A3, Continental WinterContact TS 830 P and Michelin Alpin A4.

The best all weather tyres (Auto Bild test) are: Vredestein Quatrac 3, Goodyear Vector 4Seasons, Hankook Optimo 4S, Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS and Bridgestone A001.
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