Please assume that I know absolutely nothing about winter driving and tell me what I can do now to prepare for the possibility of snow and ice on the road. Last winter I was marooned in my house because of the snow, despite the fact that the slopes I needed to negotiate weren't very steep. I know nothing so please could you cover these points? Is it the wheels or the tyres that should be changed or both?

When should this be done, ie routinely at a certain date or just when I think the weather is about to change (if it were possible to anticipate this)? If you know of a website that explains all this to a complete novice then that would be very helpful, but I think if you printed a guide of this sort then lots of your readers would be grateful.