UKPassats

Due to family curcumstances over the next few months, also living on a estate that has various hilly roads and having a sloping drive to the house ..........I was thinking of fitting two winter tyres for the first time in my driving life, to the original 18 inch wheels[/size] of my 170 Estate.
Can anybody recommend a particular make, and do they make a difference, are they worth it ?
A friend suggest Kumho Winter Tyres and have priced them at £158.00 each!