Although the volume of cold weather tyres sold in the UK hints at a sun-kissed climate far out of kilter with reality, in other European countries the winter tyre market is big business and swapping over to winter rubber a seasonal duty for all motorists. For this reason, Continental has expressed dismay at the presence of numerous so-called winter tyres on the market; although these bear the much trusted M+S mark, the German manufacturer reports the tyres in question are “not or only slightly suitable for winter”. According to Conti, these M+S marked tyres are really all-season or summer tyres “produced cheaply in the Far East”, and therefore consumers should check carefully whether a tyre really is a winter tyre before making a purchase.