How do you think the HHR handles in the snow?
Senior Member
Joined: 03-19-2009
Posts: 296
From: Connecticut
My HHR is absolutely HORRIBLE in the snow. I am using stock tires but this car definitly needs snow tires. It's my wife's car and she gets driven in if its crappy for work. So there are not that many times that she needs to drive in crappy weather.
MOSTLY tire related but on ANY incline, if the car is stopped, its not going to be able to accelerate, just spins..... I had a few times on a flat road surface with some snow that the back end wants to fish tail out.
IMO I think the car has too high center of gravity and too little weight in the back as with exceptions of the seats is basically a hollow cavity.
MOSTLY tire related but on ANY incline, if the car is stopped, its not going to be able to accelerate, just spins..... I had a few times on a flat road surface with some snow that the back end wants to fish tail out.
IMO I think the car has too high center of gravity and too little weight in the back as with exceptions of the seats is basically a hollow cavity.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-04-2010
Posts: 1,584
From: Imported from Detroit
Please don't get yourself killed. 
You're too valuable of a member. I thought you guys got 2 feets and the interstates were impassable?? They made it sound like the roads were a death trap on the news... We only got 5" the other day here in Northern WI, I don't really think we were in the path of this latest storm.
You're too valuable of a member. I thought you guys got 2 feets and the interstates were impassable?? They made it sound like the roads were a death trap on the news... We only got 5" the other day here in Northern WI, I don't really think we were in the path of this latest storm.They were... but after some great efforts by the plow guys for the cities and county, the roads have been getting great. Back to dry on allot/most of them, so I may even wash the HHR today...
People just need good tires and that is all. THe HHR will go really well in the snow without drama.
The only thing that hurts it are bad tires or people who just can drive in the snow.
I have had 2 days of 4 inches of snow. Over an inch of ice and more snow on the ice last night. I never had an issue getting to work.
The only thing that hurts it are bad tires or people who just can drive in the snow.
I have had 2 days of 4 inches of snow. Over an inch of ice and more snow on the ice last night. I never had an issue getting to work.
I have been told the problem lies in the tires, however, I'm not sure... some of the problem is in the pedal on the right side... the one between the brake pedal and the center console.
I find it so odd that a few have so many issues in the snow.
I have 290 HP and Triple Treads and have no issue getting any where and to be honest it is down right boring to drive in the snow.
I have no magical skills for snow driving.
I would say from comment here and from what I see on the road some folke either have unrealistic expectations or just can't drive in the snow. I don't know how to explain it any other way. We can blame tires to a point but it still takes someone who know how to adjust to weather. But even with that GM has made the HHR pretty easy to drive with all the electronic aides.
Anything short if 4 wheel drive is not going to be much better. But even they won't stop any better.
I am not here to mash any toes but I know what I have and I don't understand what other expect. I get as much or more snow than most here and the HHR shines even with out any specail tires.
I have 290 HP and Triple Treads and have no issue getting any where and to be honest it is down right boring to drive in the snow.
I have no magical skills for snow driving.
I would say from comment here and from what I see on the road some folke either have unrealistic expectations or just can't drive in the snow. I don't know how to explain it any other way. We can blame tires to a point but it still takes someone who know how to adjust to weather. But even with that GM has made the HHR pretty easy to drive with all the electronic aides.
Anything short if 4 wheel drive is not going to be much better. But even they won't stop any better.
I am not here to mash any toes but I know what I have and I don't understand what other expect. I get as much or more snow than most here and the HHR shines even with out any specail tires.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-10-2008
Posts: 681
From: NJ
My HHR is absolutely HORRIBLE in the snow. I am using stock tires but this car definitly needs snow tires. It's my wife's car and she gets driven in if its crappy for work. So there are not that many times that she needs to drive in crappy weather.
MOSTLY tire related but on ANY incline, if the car is stopped, its not going to be able to accelerate, just spins..... I had a few times on a flat road surface with some snow that the back end wants to fish tail out.
IMO I think the car has too high center of gravity and too little weight in the back as with exceptions of the seats is basically a hollow cavity.
MOSTLY tire related but on ANY incline, if the car is stopped, its not going to be able to accelerate, just spins..... I had a few times on a flat road surface with some snow that the back end wants to fish tail out.
IMO I think the car has too high center of gravity and too little weight in the back as with exceptions of the seats is basically a hollow cavity.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
First all thanks, now I feel like part of the family. I wasn't too sure there for a while, that Hillsdale guy keeps his cards tight to his chest as the saying may go.
They were... but after some great efforts by the plow guys for the cities and county, the roads have been getting great. Back to dry on allot/most of them, so I may even wash the HHR today...
I have been told the problem lies in the tires, however, I'm not sure... some of the problem is in the pedal on the right side... the one between the brake pedal and the center console.
I know the wife wants snow tires on her Fiesta...
They were... but after some great efforts by the plow guys for the cities and county, the roads have been getting great. Back to dry on allot/most of them, so I may even wash the HHR today...
I have been told the problem lies in the tires, however, I'm not sure... some of the problem is in the pedal on the right side... the one between the brake pedal and the center console.
I know the wife wants snow tires on her Fiesta...
I am starting to think it is more a case of a lose nut behind the wheel.
More and more people are losing the skill of how to drive in bad weather since most of the cars do it for them. Hell we got car that park themselves so I expect a fading of the simple skill of parking the car.
What would may of you have that are having trouble have done with rwd and bias ply tires?
The HHR with a good set of all season tires is a point and shoot game nothing more. I would give the benifit of the doubt if I did not drive one daily for the last three winters. But I know what it is like in the worst of conditions and I have yet to have a issue or pucker monment.
Note I have good car control skills but nothing near world rally like skills.
I think it is a case that the smarter our cars get the more dumb downed the drivers skills become.
I went to parking lots when I was 16 and learned how to control a car in the snow. Boot leg turns and all. Today you can't even take a kid to teach them good car skills unless you have a car you can shut off the electronic aids.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-28-2009
Posts: 154
From: south carolina
Snow tires?
You don't need snow tires. Both Michellin and Goodyear sell tires which have directional tread (for rain) and the center rib in the tread is molded with silica (sand) in the rubber during the molding process. With the stock Firestones on, you can forget it. Horrible tire for any weather. I went to 16" rims so I could use a 55 series tire and not screw up the speedo/odometer. I bought a set of Michellin Hydro edge tires last spring, and in January (a couple weeks ago) we got 8" in up state S.C. No problem at all that Monday morning with the snow, or the rest of the week with the resulting ice. I can't bragg enough about the Michellins. However, there is also the fact that as a teenager, I took the time to practice when it snowed around here. A practice time that was evidently shunned by many of the over 50 crowd in my city. There are tons of great tires out there, and with the right rubber and a modest amount of skill, you should have no problemo!
Senior Member
Joined: 01-28-2009
Posts: 154
From: south carolina
My HHR is absolutely HORRIBLE in the snow. I am using stock tires but this car definitly needs snow tires. It's my wife's car and she gets driven in if its crappy for work. So there are not that many times that she needs to drive in crappy weather.
MOSTLY tire related but on ANY incline, if the car is stopped, its not going to be able to accelerate, just spins..... I had a few times on a flat road surface with some snow that the back end wants to fish tail out.
IMO I think the car has too high center of gravity and too little weight in the back as with exceptions of the seats is basically a hollow cavity.
MOSTLY tire related but on ANY incline, if the car is stopped, its not going to be able to accelerate, just spins..... I had a few times on a flat road surface with some snow that the back end wants to fish tail out.
IMO I think the car has too high center of gravity and too little weight in the back as with exceptions of the seats is basically a hollow cavity.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-20-2009
Posts: 1,392
From: Howell Michigan
I have a 08 SS with stock tires on it.. and I was able to get out of my parking spot with out doing any shoveling.. It was awesome.Don't get me wrong it didnt just pull out but if can work it back and forth(not rocking) but pulling forward as far as you can go, stop completely and then back up and stop completely when you can no longer move. I found it works best if you dont spin the tires because then you dont dig holes. The snow i was in was not light either it was hard packed from the snow plows passing where I park. I had snow everywhere around and under my car. Sorry the pics are a little dark but i am trying to show how much snow I drove out of.
This was the back.
and this was at the front door.
This was the back.
and this was at the front door.