[ainarssems]

I have no winter tyres at the moment for the same reason by the time i get a set of wheels to put them on and fit them the snow will be gone... Its an expence thats only valid in the uk for a couple of weeks and then it melts and pandamonium is over ...

It's not just about snow and ice, winter tyres perform better then summer tyres in cold ( below 5-7C) and wet. 18" tyres are cheaper then 20" and you save on wear on summer tyres. Avoid possible damage to summer tyres and wheels and protect them from salt. Money you invest in second set of wheels can be recovered from selling them on at later stage. If you keep same car for several years second set of wheels with winter tyres is the way to go. If you swap cars that cannot use the same wheels every couple of months then it is debatable. Only downside is initial investment in second set of wheels as that money cannot be used on something else. Over the time it pays back.