The Natural Philosopher gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

M&S (No, not the shop, just Mud + Snow tyres) will get an ordinary car
most places, add snow chains and everywhere is possible without
recourse to a Chelsea Tractor with the penalties of VED/MPG/CO2 and
guilt...

they will, IF you can afford to get a set of winter wheels.

I paid £40 for a second set of OEM alloys, and £50-60 IIRC each for
Vredestein SnowTrac2 tyres, last winter.

In continental Europe, such things are commonly available.

Here they are not.

Yes, they are.
www.camskill.co.uk