Hey everyone:

This is not only my first post, but I'm new to the whole HHR thing, having bought a 2010 LT Panel just 2 months ago. Before I ask for your help, I just want to say, "I get you guys now!" The HHR is a sleeper vehicle that many just don't know about or appreciate. Got rid of my F-150 and in just 2 months have saved over $500.00 in gas? Handles better, rides better, accelerates just as well, and on and on!

Gonna be doing a lot of light mods. I do vehicle graphics, so it's already wrapped, but it really needs wheels, so here's the question I need you expert advise on:

DO I UPGRADE TO 17"'s OR 18"s? Don't want to mess up the ride, but I know the SS comes with 18"s (with a different suspension of course). I've had vehicles before that rode well on 45 series tires but will I notice a much stiffer ride bumper all the way to 18's?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

First WELCOME to the group.. Ton's of wheel option's and you should get some replies soon,, Im still running stock,, Had my 2011 a few months now,, Please post Pics of your Wrap > No pics mean it never happened :) Also to get you started try the search box, it may or may not get you some info you need!

 

you got a 2.4 so go with the 18's
go big or go home lol
plus the 18's fill the gap better especially if u want to lower it a bit

 

Welcome to the site.
Fwiw. My SS is still on the original Michelin 225/45/18's. They ride very rough and stiff. You can feel every pebble in the road. Plus they're noisey.
If you go to 18's, you'll have to use a tire that has a shorter sidewall, which usually results in a harsher ride. You can't put a much taller tire on a HHR to make up the sidewall size difference.

 

Personally, I would go 18's. Might as well go all out.

 

Welcome to the site jaylansburg. I would go with 18". See it happened twice.

This might help......https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show....php?t=3033%27

 

Thanks for the help so far on 17"s or 18"s everyone. Since I first posted I closed a deal with XXR Wheels on a tuner kind of looking wheel, model 001. They can only offer it to me in 18", so since the deal is too good to pass up, I think the decision has been made for me!

I'm somewhat of an older guy; I love the look of 18"s but let's just hope my kidneys don't drop out! If I can't take the ride, I'll drop down to 17"s.

BTW "SS FAN", your's is about as clean a panel as I have ever seen! Nice work! Unfortunately, mine will look a bit custom, but it won't exactly have a "clean" look about it.

I post a pick of how it looks now, and the proposed graphics changes I'm going to make when I re-do the design, as soon as I can figure out how to post images (Or someone can maybe guide me through it, please).

Thanks again!

 

Thanks, with a couple of them I have got a chance to try some tires, the Gmax03 on 18's are way smoother than the 17's with the stock tire, nicest riding ultra high performance tire I have tried, mine have 40k on them now still going strong.

Did you look in the link ?https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show....php?t=3033%27.... you need to resize them first https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...=post+pictures,.... then manage attachment, below typing box, like this...

 

SS Fan:

Thanks again for Gmax03 tip. I figured out how to post pics so here's the links:

https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil.../3/pic_ccg.jpg

https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...ed-black_6.jpg

https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...layout_jpg.jpg

First pic is how the truck looks now -- I'm not happy.

2nd link shows the XXR wheel that I'll be getting next week. I wanted a retro 5 spoke but I will make this work with mostly black graphics, and drop the whole neo/retro theme.

3rd link is the new, more modern (but similar) graphics package that I will be doing. FYI: While I create graphics for fleet and street, most of what I do these days is graphics for police cars and related equipment.

 

I just upgraded from 16's to 18's, I put 18x8 Pontiac g6 wheels on with 225/40-18 tires.speedo is spot on!! The ride is a bit rougher and acceleration seems a bit sluggish and my in city mileage seems to have dropped 1-2 mpg, Highway is the same...but the difference in the way it makes the car look is worth everything in my opinion. I will be posting pics soon of my two -tone and wheel upgrade, (waiting till I get my Chevy center caps)....hope this helps