i just pulled the trigger on a dark blue 09 with 25k on the clock. it is replacing both a jaguar s-type and mazda6 wagon. i took my time finding something i would like to drive as well as my wife (lucky she drives stick) with the kids... this fit the bill after looking at many options. i plan on driving it all year round. do many of you do this? and did you opt for a set of winter wheels with more agressive all seasons? i spotted a set of 17's that i can put a little more rubber on. im in north jersey and though its not exactly canada , it can get pretty ugly at times. im thinking the front wheel drive in itself will give an edge over many vehicles of this type. im not talking about forging through 8" of unplowed snow , but just the usual thick crappy stuff thats left behind the plows. she will have agarage to sleep in at least... next to her 07 solstice friend.

looking forward to learning about these vehicles... i do most of my own work , anything that doesnt require a lift.

 

Welcome to the site domer94. I have made it thru lots of snow on all season tires, couple different kinds.

 

welcome to the forum!...the SS does ok in the snow....tires mean everything...lots of tread or snow tires are needed

 

thanks gents. i am having the ss shipped up from texas next week , so i havent got a chance to check out the rubber on there. problem is my experience with 18" in wheels in the nyc are hasnt been stellar. though much paving has been done , potholes are brutal by the time spring rolls in! bent rims galore. i was thinking of picking up some 17's i saw on fleabay that looked like old cragars. that extra tire hwight makes all the difference. good to hear positive comments though! i was hoping i didnt choose this vehicle with my emotions alone!

 

Time to buy a cheap beater. My '08 SS stays in the barn when it snows or when the roads are salty, which has saved it immensely. I have an old Isuzu pickup for getting to work for the few months that the outdoor environment gets really harsh. We use my wife's SUV if the family needs to ride.

 

17" wheels may not work if you have brembo front brakes??? I keep mine garaged. My best advice would be snow tires on all 4 wheels when temps go under 45, keep them aired up to 35 psi cold

 

X2 about the Brembos.
If you do put 17's on, just remember that you can't go much taller in a tire choice. The stock 18's are already close to the strut spring perch. I think that the max tire height you can go is about 26.1 inches.

 

Ok I live here is the snow belt south of Lake Erie in Ohio. The HHR SS is fine in snow.

I use a set of Goodyear Assurance Tripletreds in 16" for my winter tires. I have done the forgig through the 8" of snow with no problem. You will find the car will make it through deep snow even pushing it with the air dam at times. So far the snow and Ice has not damaged it. The IC at times has been packed with snow.

The FWD means littel as the traction control and stability control make the vehicle to the point an idiot on bald tires could almost drive it.

The one weak spot are the factory Pilot tires. They dry traction is only fair and wet traction is very poor. I have not used mine in the snow as I wanted to protect the wheels but other have made it throught but better tires will make it better.

Some preach snow tires and they will help but there is no need to go for those unless you deal with lots of ice. They also wear out sooner.

Use care on the brakes as if you do have Brembo's I think you will have to go with the larger wheels. The standars will work fine with 16" and 17".

The truth is FWD is not better traction. It is just easier to point and gas for those with poor winter driving skills. In fact the FWD is the major traction issue in the dry as when you get on it the weight transfers to the rear of the car unloading the front and then the tire spin. The FWD and more traction is a lie but the electronic aides more than make up for it. In fact this is the most boring car as you can not really get it to slide easy or put a tire wrong.

The stone chips are the only real issue in the winter.

 

thanks for all the input. yes i didnt think of the brake clearance. so if i see the rubber is questionable when the car gets here, i will probably swing for a good rated all season on the 18's. again , we have nothing close to snowbelt great lakes kind of snow! just sloppy crap every now and again. if it is a bad storm... my ass isnt leaving the house anyway!

 

These ride very well and work in the water and snow. gmax03