You've asked a similar question before, Tony, and there's some good advice on that thread.

For what my experience is worth, I've had two Octavia vRS estates with 225 x 40 x 18 tyres - the first time in 40 years of driving FWD cars that I've had trouble in snow, for the reasons that you're well aware of - fat wheels and low-profile tyres.

I had Avon winter tyres fitted to the first Octavia - excellent in snow but very expensive. This last winter on the current car I bought 16" steel wheels from my Skoda dealer, Jewsons of Oxford, @ £52 each, and Kleber Quadraxer 205 x 55 x 16 all-weather tyres @ £72 each from National Tyres of Henley. I had them on from November to Easter and they should do two more winters. Tyre shops charge £15 - £20 a wheel to change tyres on the same wheels, but, bless them, National put my summer tyres, stull attached to thye 18" alloys, back on for free. So this way of doing it is starting to pay for itself.

At 63 I'm no boy-racer but I like to get a move on, and to be honest I noticed hardly any difference between the sets of wheels and tyres - except of course the winter tyres' much better grip in the little ice and snow that we had in the South this winter.

I have a Saab 9-5 Aero, with the same size summer tyres as your Golf, running 265bhp. In the winter, I follow the Saab recommendation and use 205x55x16 94H on it with no issues. And the rolling radius of these is almost identical to the 225x45x17s, so there are no problems with the speedo misreading, fuel consumption etc. I obviously have a second set of wheels, although I use alloys as they were the easiest to find.

HTH

Logic says to get winter tyres in the same size as what I have got on now, but I have heard that wide-ish sporty tyre tyres like mine, are not great on snow and slush, but that smaller/skinnier tyres are better.

My question is whether I should get winter tyres in the same size as I already have and am used to driving on, or to go for something smaller/skinnier.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing from you!

I'd stick to the same size. Modern winters especially in temperate climates like ours don't need skinny winter tyres.

I ran Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes on a Lancer, in 225/45-18 and the car was unstoppable in the ice and snow of 3 years ago, actually leaving me having to tow the neighbour's Range Rover up the road! On that car the Wintracs were easily as good in the summer as my summer tyres (OE fit Yokohama A10A), and in the wet the winters were better.

I've also run Dunlop winters on a Mondeo, and they were excellent in all conditions.

.What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are - save your money! A 2l diesel lump over the front wheels in a tiny car will drag you through most snow, which in England lasts about six hours before you can see the tarmac again, unless you are a Pennine farmer. The snow won't hold you up but the BMW in front will. Gritting has never been as intensive as it is now, yet the motor industry has the nerve to encourage everyone to have a set of winter tyres!

But if you must, skinny and chunky for snow and mud; fat and smooth for sand.