Do NOT only fit two winter tyres, either to the front or back. Either stick to four summers and don't drive if you can't, or put on FOUR winters.
For a good example of why not, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cBSWEhimdA
You are potentially putting other people's lives at risk, as well as your own. I am shocked that people on this thread have had garages let them only put front winters on. It's like sending someone out on 4 bald tyres.
You, sir, are a cretin for suggesting that people should stick to summer tyres over winters (even if only on the front).
Are you another shandy drinking southerner living on the south coast?
Do you live in the real world?
In snow, getting traction is the problem...even on summer tyres you'll get where you want to go if you can keep forward motion...winter tyres allow you to keep forward motion. In order to keep forward motion, you need to keep the driven wheels providing traction...the front wheels.
Where did I suggest people stick to summer tyres over winters? I'm just saying if you can't afford four winter tyres, don't bother with them at all. I have a set of (FOUR!) conti 830Ps waiting to be fitted tomorrow.
It's not a complicated concept. I'll put it in a simple 1,2,3 scenario to make it easier for you to grasp:
1. Bob fits two front winter tyres
2. Bob loves the extra traction and speeds away, happily overtaking losers with their summer tyres
3. Bob panics as child runs out from between parked cars and tries to swerve to avoid, but instead of keeping control spins onto pavement and runs over mother with pram.
Or:
1. Bob leaves four summer tyres on and either can't get off his drive, gets bus or bikes in or has day off work
Or:
1. Bob leaves four summer tyres on manages to get off drive but realising he has no grip drives around slowly and scared for his own life / car
Or:
1. Bob fits four winter tyres
2. Bob speeds around
3. Bob panics as child runs out but successfully swerves around / brakes with shorter shopping distance and remains on road.
OK, maybe that's not made it simple enough for you to grasp but my point is that because of the increased grip you are more likely to drive faster and will be caught out in the event of an emergency manoeuvre, or just going around a corner a bit too fast or not being able to brake in time. You may not be running "illegal" tyres but you could still be responsible for the injury or death of someone or yourself. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid.
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