Changing winter tire combo
03-09-2009, 04:46 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-03-2008
Location: jerSSey, exit 5
Posts: 1,664
Interestingly I can only think of 1-2 days this winter where I could have used snow tires. On those days I just took the truck to work. Winters in my area have been very mild recently. although I did get to break out the snowblower last week when we got the first big storm in years.
03-11-2009, 07:16 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 09-14-2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 221
Yeah it's not only for use of the snow tires, my main concern is keeping th stock rims out of all this Ohio grime and salt that's on the roads in the winter. I only had a few times where I "really" needed the snow tires, but then again I don't know what it's like to drive in the winter with our stock tires. I hear it's not so great with them being so wide.
03-11-2009, 07:23 PM
#14
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Join Date: 07-05-2008
Location: Akron Ohio
Posts: 5,464
Yeah it's not only for use of the snow tires, my main concern is keeping th stock rims out of all this Ohio grime and salt that's on the roads in the winter. I only had a few times where I "really" needed the snow tires, but then again I don't know what it's like to drive in the winter with our stock tires. I hear it's not so great with them being so wide.
Your lucky as I had several weeks I did not know what it was like to be on pavement.
I am waiting on April as my main concern is the wheels and just getting dinged up form the road crud.
the stock tires while not great are not going to stand you if you have any kind of winter driving skills. FWD and the elctronic aides make the SS pretty much a brainless bad road drive even on the poorest of tires.
03-11-2009, 10:20 PM
#16
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Join Date: 04-12-2008
Location: Cedarburg, WI
Posts: 527
I can imagine your sense of urgency to get the real tires back on! I think that I need to celebrate a decent tax return this year by getting a GM Stage Kit myself! 
03-12-2009, 05:57 AM
#17
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Join Date: 07-05-2008
Location: Akron Ohio
Posts: 5,464
I know may say how the Blizakks worked in the snow but how well did they handle on dry roads?
While I miss the looks of the Stock 18" wheels I did not suffer enough loss of handling that made me not like driving on the all season tires. Also my wear was minimal at best.
I know on my old Sonoma once the 16's came off and the Wrangler GSA's all season tires went on it was like running track in dress shoes. The truck was willing top handle but the tires were twitchy and just did not have grip or stable feel I had with the 16" Eagles.
It drove like a different truck. Where the HHR changed little with my All Season 16" tires.
While I miss the looks of the Stock 18" wheels I did not suffer enough loss of handling that made me not like driving on the all season tires. Also my wear was minimal at best.
I know on my old Sonoma once the 16's came off and the Wrangler GSA's all season tires went on it was like running track in dress shoes. The truck was willing top handle but the tires were twitchy and just did not have grip or stable feel I had with the 16" Eagles.
It drove like a different truck. Where the HHR changed little with my All Season 16" tires.
Last edited by hyperv6; 03-12-2009 at 03:43 PM.
03-12-2009, 03:36 PM
#18
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 09-14-2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 221
I have the Firestone winterforce and I was very pleased. Some say they are loud, and I can hear minimal road noise, it's not unbearable. Obviousely with the higher sidewalls there is a little more roll in the tire, but all alround i'm very pleased.
