[Sir Trev]

The real world difference between A and C ratings will not be noticeable to most people, so I wouldn't sweat it.

I deliberately choose Michelin Cross Climate all season whenever I need tyres on the car. Summer use seems no different to the OEM fit tyres they replace but they (seem to) feel better in the cold. I have more confidence in them in winter but it might be psychological of course because of their Three Peak Rating. The magazine comparisons I read suggest they're summer tyres that are tweaked to be a lot better in winter while keeping pretty much all of their summer characteristics, and unless you're a driving ace you'd never notice anyway. They'll never be as good as full winter tyres on snow/ice but I'm happy with the mix and just work from home when it's really cold.