Thompson - this topic has been discussed at length on Pprune. 170 to 5 was judged by LGW pilots to be the ideal.
Like javelin, I cannot see the problem in the wind conditions you quote - assuming you are flying a swept-wing jet, and assuming you would be adding 'quite a lot' to Vref in those conditions (enough for several mums and grannies
), and with a (small but positive) headwind component, 160 to 4 would only give you, say, 20-30kts to lose in 4 miles?
But when the weather is poor, I think it should be up to the pilots discretion.
If you really cannot hack it, ATC ask you to let them know in good time, rather than at 10 miles, and they normally accommodate.