In reply to mes32:
> Interested in people's opinions on this. Just moved to Glasgow and wanting to do plenty of winter climbing. I've got a bog standard car and when I've driven up from the south before have always been fine on normal tyres and not even thought twice about it. Now I'm up here full-time and wanting to grab weather windows when I can, is it worth changing to a full set of winter tyres?
Perhaps, but far from necessary. I've lived (and climbed) in Scotland for 25 years, and have never bothered with winter tyres, including when I was living in Aberdeenshire. There are all sorts of arguments as to why they are better (outlined above), and I won't try to contradict them. I will just say that I have never had a strong enough motivation to go out and get some myself despite having seen what they can do when I've rented cars in Norway.
A few thoughts:
1. Although the hills get a lot of snow, the roads and parking for the crags is generally fairly low and there will only be a handful of weekends in a year where you have to drive on snow for any great distance.
2. The roads are generally kept pretty well gritted and clear of snow, except during heavy snow and high winds. These are normally not ideal conditions for climbing, and living in Glasgow, you will have much more opportunity to be selective with conditions.
3. If there are problems with snow on the road, you will generally be stuck in traffic rather than snow, or the roads will be closed completely. Tyres do not help with this.
4. The tyre profile will probably have as much impact as the tyres. I have seen an old micra cope easily in conditions where a sporty Audi with winter tyres was unable to move. This may sway you one way or the other depending on what you drive.
I would say that if you have the time and money, then winter tyres are probably a good idea and just go and get them. Otherwise, see how you get on for the first year and you will have a much better idea of whether they will make a difference to you.