I know a couple of folks who do use winter tyres, but they live well up in the highlands, with long dirt tracks up mountainsides to their homes.

Even when Aviemore was closed a couple of years ago due to snow (with the family and I stuck in a hotel in Aviemore) we were the first car that could leave as the roads were cleared. And this was the Impreza with Bridgestones. Okay, so it took an hour or two longer to get home, but even without the high/low ratio selector that you get on the non-WRX or STI spec Scoobs you can get safely through an awful lot of nastiness as long as you take it steady.

Andy - I'll check which Kumhos Craig has on the P1 (he's coming round later) and I agree on the F1s - which is why I have them on the Impreza as it is now Claire's car. I just don't like their grip level when near the limit. Bridgestones always held a lot longer and had a gentle breakaway, whereas F1s have a more snappy break at lower force.