Different Front/Rear tire sizes ...
 

My 2011 HHR 2LT 2.4L auto trans,currently has 215/50-17's on it.
I have just found a rather large cut in the sidewall of one of my tires and know that it needs to be replaced. Wasn't really planning on a set of new tires just yet but, given the condition of those tires with a little bit of checking and dry rotting on them ... I find myself needing 2 new tires for the rear.

I got to thinking of my previous HHR, a 2006 model 2.2 L w/5 speed. The last several years I owned it ... I ran two different size tires on it. 195's up front and 235s on the rear. I liked the rake and stance it gave the car without being overdone. However, that car had no anti-lock brakes on it. It tracked and handled just fine the rest of the time I had it.

This '11 model, has anti-lock brakes on it and I'm wondering if anyone out there, has run two different size tires such as those I mentioned and had any issues with it setting off an anti-lock malfunction light or creating an issue with the anti-lock function altogether?

I have not replaced the tires yet but I'm considering this.

I would think there is a small bit of Tolerance in the anti-lock computer programming but, not sure if it would compensate for that kind of difference in tire size.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...a1069d0b84.jpg

When the wheels spin at different rates the ABS and ESC go crazy trying to correct. Don't even try it.

“Staggered” tires look silly to anyone who knows it’s front wheel drive. Just my opinion. But I also don’t care what anyone thinks. I want them all the same size so I can rotate them.

Same size is best! I have not attempted the staggering, so, can’t confirm the ABS giving notice it’s not happy!

Thanks for the responses.
I kind of figured the ABS & ESC were going to be an issue with the idea.
Heading out soon to find some tires.

The "purist" in me concerning the front drive and wheel sizes is a non player after spending a number of years in the hot rod/street rod community. I'm still a bit of a purist, I find it to be sacrilege putting a Chevy motor in a Ford, etc but, it was and still is pretty much the standard. Only a Willys Coupe can have any brand of power with a Chrysler Hemi being the personal favorite for those cars.
Keeping my personal quirks of "purism" in mind ...
The design for the HHR came from the '49 Suburban ... never a front drive vehicle.
The HHR, sure would have been an interesting car with a rear drive set-up and V6 (Turbocharged or Supercharged). Although, a V6 in the current front drive could be a possibility ... 🤔 😎


for the current tire issue ... 🤔 ... sure wouldn't mind a set of Old School Cragar S/S on the car though but, don't think they ever made them in 5 x 110 pattern. 🙄
The OEM chromed plastic wheels on it have some small scrapes in the chrome from the previous owner.
But, that can be a project for another time 🙂

I'm keeping things simple and staying with the same size tires and stock wheels.

Thanks again for the responses 😎

I like to think these Foose Legends are an improvement on the Cragar SS, which can’ really look right with modern offsets anyway.

They still make them but unfortunately they were discontinued in the one size they made that will fit an HHR, 18 17 x 8 with a +35 mm offset.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...84c8226a6.jpeg

Chevy in a Chevy. RWD

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gene...r-build-48646/


American racing has nice rims

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/tire...-wheels-10049/

Those Foose wheels are pretty sharp 😎
I'd imagine a set of 4 would be a bit $$$
Somebody on here also showed their HHR with a set of Torq Thrust wheels. They were old style dark color but, looked pretty nice with that Red body.
This Magna Steel (or Mocha) I think would better suited to Chrome, polished alloys, or something bright .... 🤔

My '06 Had the stock machined alloys and I liked them.
These plastic fantastics (as I've heard them called 😄) on the '11 look nice until they get scraped. Fortunately the scrapes are not as bad as they could be. Seen a few that were really ugly.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b201633296.jpg
Couple of new Firestones on the rear.

Currently in South FL ...
TiresPlus, got me out of there in less than an hour. 🙂
Help make that 600mile drive back home to NW FLin a couple days, a tad less worrisome.

I have changed more than a few tires by the side of the road and if I never have to do it again ... it wouldn't make me unhappy at all 😄

That LS powered HHR is quite the achievement 😎

Will look over them American Racing site soon.

A long time ago, I acquired a set of Centerline Aluminum race wheels from a friend of mine who wanted something different for his 63 Impala. I had a Chevy Van (a shag carpeted party wagon) that, they seemed to fit under nicely.
Supposedly, illegal for the street, I ran them anyway. M50 sized rear rims/tires, 70/narrow 60 sized fronts. Hard to keep balanced since the "stick on" weights back in the late 70's didn't stick too well. I personally liked the looks of them but, the M50's interfered with my sliding door even with an extender link on it. That was the issue with any van and wide rear tires. Especially a short wheel base van.

i traded them back to him, for use on his newly bought 72 Nova. He worked at a body shop and radiused/ flared his fenderwells and the Centerlines looked so much better on it.

I traded the Short WB '72 Chevy, for a Long WB 73 GMC. Ended-up with a set of Keystone classics on it because they were less $$ than Cragar S/S.
L60-15's on mildly dished 15x8's Rear (with that very important sliding door extender bar!) and H70-15's on std offset 15x6's up front.
Kept them on it the entire 3 years I had it.

Enough story telling for now though 😄

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fba407b4e.jpeg
I bought these used last fall , 2006 2LT 17” alloys
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...cdca2a1f0.jpeg
I polished the Cobalt SS 18” rims.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b482ca313.jpeg
Cobalt 18” SS rims in gunmetal fnish
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...89288b244.jpeg
My 2011 2LT with 17” plastic fantastic rims. I run these for the winter tires
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...db405087b.jpeg
My favourite rims on an HHR , 16 inch Wheel Vintiques rally rims and baby moons.