the daily needs a new set of tyres in the next month or so, ive been toying with the idea of fitting a set of winter tyres to it as its not the best in the bad weather, just wandering what there like as want to use them from September to march time, are they noisier than normal tyres? also there are cheap sets online on eBay and the likes are they any good or worth going for brand name at double the price?

thanks

Assuming you mean proper winter tyres with either snowflake or mountain symbols rather than just M+S marked (which a lot of the cheap sets are). They're slightly noisier, handling isn't as good (the tread blocks move more due to the extra cuts) in the dry and they'll wear faster. The additional grip in snow is very impresive. Stopping distances are shorter once the temp drops below 7'c in both dry and wet.
Proper winter tyres have softer compound for better low temp grip, have larger tread cut and have zig-zag cuts in the tread blocksthat grip the snow as the tread blocks distort to give extra grip. M+S (mud and slush not snow) tyres have wider cut tread and softer compound.

However remember winter tyres have less wet weather grip at normal temperatures, what the change over temperature is will depend on compound but I have seen it quoted as 3c.

Also the wear rate at normal temperatures is higher.

I had a set of Dunlop Winter Tyres on my 406 last winter and they were awesome. Will definately be getting another set come October.

Got a set of avon ice touring winter tyres sat in the garage waiting to go on my merc once the bad weather arrives, bound to be an improvement over the contisports !

ive had my winter tyres on since last november , the stopping distance in snow is quite impressive , they have lots of sipes for wet weather .

they alter the amount of sillica for the temperature difference .

although not so good as new , i bought a cheap set off ebay , and they were miles better than nearly bald low profiles .

you can tell theyres a difference in grip at normal temps , and they are slightly noisier .