[doughboy]

It's the 255/35/18 winter that is hard to get.

Even if you find a pair now, what if you get a bad puncture and need a new one in January, no chance - all sold out.

225/40/18 (front staggered standard) is eady to get as that size is a common sport hatch size. My VRED wintrac extreme were £149 in that size and available at loads of places. The MV3 reps (8J all round) were £300, so £900 for a full set that will sell on with the car (still hardly worn after 3 winters)

Others on here have put non-staggered tyres on staggered wheels for winters, you could run 225/40/18 on front and rear staggered rims as the rear rim in only 13mm wider.

Also, the premium increase for 'modified wheels' which would allow ANY combination of winter/summer/tyres/alloys/spacers is minimal and easily recovered / justified in the savings buying rep wheels and common tyre sizes.