Looks like I made it through my HHR's first winter without any trouble, but that's primarily because I took it very easy going over the mountains, and avoided gong at all when the weather was dicey. Kudos to the road crews of Oregon Dept. of Transportation for keeping those roads in as good shape as they were...

Last October, I hit some slush at the top of a mountain pass in my Focus wagon and rolled it in the snowbank, hence having the HHR now.

I don't need snow tires around home, as we rarely get snow or ice. I travel over the Cascade Mtns. from Eugene to Bend, Or. once a week on the average for work. My plan is to have a set of steelies (found a guy willing to sell all four for $50..) and mount studded tires, but only put them on the car when I need to go over the mountains. Looks like I need a new hydraulic floor jack, too....

Anybody else do this - not keeping your winter tires on for the whole season?

Oh and size ....215/55/16, right?