Just ordered a set of Michelin X-Ice on 15" steels for my 08 2LT from a local dealer.
Hub Caps, nuts, sensors, tires, wheels, mounted and balanced with free rotation for $830. I should have them next week.

 

I am up in Michigan in the heavy snow belt and still running the stock pilots and the 5 speed. Snow rubber is nice, but the stockers arent terrible... they make for great doughnuts in an empty parking lot.

 

Unfortunately I don't have that kind of dough for tires.

 

I'm so glad I put on the winter tires myself... Best $400 I spent on this car so far. As you can see weve been getting our share of snow here this year!

The front spoiler doesn't work so great in deep snow though! My wife almost got hung up backing down the driveway in 10" of snow one day!

 

blizzaks are good but wear very fast, be sure to use the narrower, but correct diameter, besides going, real snow tires stop better, it should be LAW no one should be allowed to drive without them in winter, would you like a smashed vehicle not to mention injuries that could have been prevented with proper equipment, don't take a knife to a gunfight

 

reading this thread reminds me why im payn off my jeep and keeping it instead of trading it in for the HHR SS lol the jeep is for the snowy days....just hopefully i dont get screwd and it snows while im out with the HHR lol

 

about a month and a half ago i broke my right leg in four places. today was the first time driving the ss in snow and i don't think it is as bad as everyone says it is. we got a nice dense layer of snow in chicago today and so far none of the roads are plowed. i learned how to drive in a 95 towncar and after a winter in that anything is better.

 

I found in the regular stuff it is okay and manageable....however there have been a couple dumpings of wet snow (instant snowball snow) and after an 1" or so, can't get enough traction to even move it a hair.

 

I noticed last night in the heavy snow I drove home in my the differance between tmy GMC Sonoma and the new HHR or other new car.

In my old GMC it was mostly no electronics accept for anti locks. You drove and controled the vehicle and mad it do what you wanted it to do.

The new cars icluding my SS you are not as much a driver as a manager. You tent to work to be smooth and manage the electronic Satability, Traction Contol and Anti locks. They tend to do all the work and all you can do is contol them.

In my GMC you steered with the gas pedal. You slid the truck to where you wanted it. You did not have to always be smooth.

The HHR is pretty much runs in the snow or ice well and the key is just being smooth.

Kick the electonics off it becomes the major push in the snow FWD and if the wheels lose traction under power you lose your steering.

I still perfer RWD but unless the snow is very deep there is no reason not to be able to get the HHR were your going. Ground clearance has always hurt many FWD vehicles

 

I got Continental's Extreme Contact tires on stock SS rims. They are all season, but quiet, and smooth...plus they work excellent in the snow. Cost for tires + install was $600. I never drove in the snow on the pilots, but have way better traction than my wife's Enclave! Anyone interested in buying some Pilots with only 3K miles on them?

-John S.
Waterford, MI