Should I buy a 2WD Skoda Octavia and fit winter tyres rather than buy the 4WD version?

I was very interested in your answer to MA of Stroud regarding the merits of a winter tyre-shod Porsche Carrera S rear wheel drive against the 4WD version without winter tyres. As I currently drive a Skoda Octavia 4x4 estate and am thinking of changing to another, would it makes more sense to buy the two-wheel drive version and fit winter tyres, and would the difference be as marked as you say it was with the Carrera? I have seen the Autocar video of two Yetis in the snow and the 4x4 version only wins on an acceleration test, but not climbing snow-covered hills.

Asked on 26 October 2013 by JM, Ruthin, N Wales

Answered by Honest John

A 991 C4S on Pilot Alpin AP4s (with ESP engaged) proved virtually uncrashable in the snow, while a front-drive Peugeot 2008 with 'Grip Control' (which included Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons tyres) was far more capable driving up a 3-in-I snow covered ski slop than a four-wheel drive on summer tyres.

Tags: winter tyres 4wd driving in snow

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