Getting Continental Extreme DWS rubber put on tomorrow morning at Town Fair Tire. In the price they include a front end alignment and then try to upsell a rear wheel alignment as well for like an extra 50 bucks


I did some searching here and got differing answers on whether the HHR needs a rear alignment. Some say yes others say only the front on the HHR.


So any definitive answer if the HHR needs just a front end alignment or should I kick in the extra cash and have the rear done as well?


Thanks


Goose

 

good choice, I just had those put on a couple weeks ago.

For me, I might say go with the extra for the alignment, since I feel like I am a little out of alignment with mine now since the install. I have a road trip coming up so i'll figure it out after that.

What kind of a price did you get on them, and for what size, 16, 17, 18? Just seeing how it compared to the discount tire price. I was at $505 out the door installed for 17's.

 

Hey Goose
I have our Impala Police vehicle real wheels get an alignment once every 18 months in order to get good tire wear on them. I never new that a front wheel can get a rear wheel alignment but they can and it really help out on the tire wear. I get it done on my HHr every 18 months but then again I do a lot of driving. I am at 119.000 now and it rides like the day I purchased her.

Good luck with the new tires. I know you will enjoy the ride.

Rudy

 

Goose,

Nice to see you on the forum again! The HHR has no alignment adjustments in the rear. Z-Mans Impala is adjustable. It wouldn't hurt to get a frontend alignment with the new tires. Ask them to give you a copy of the Before and After Specs so you can see how far it was out and where they set it.

 

Thanks for the advice guys! I will only have them do the front wheels and will ask for that printout, good advice.

I think it will run about 550 dollars for the 16 inchers. That also includes the road hazard.

How do you like them? They seem to have pretty good reviews.


I'll give a report after I put a few miles on them


Goose


PS good to see some familiar faces!

 

so far I like them a lot. Initial road noise seems to be less. I drive down some brick roads on my way to work, and I know it is MUCH quieter on those. The stocks sounded horrible on the brick.

Grip in snow is good, I will be testing them on a long drive up to the tip of Michigan (LP), so we'll see. I don't want a blizzard up there, drove in that before, but on the other hand, kind of want one to test them out... i know that's bad.

I searched for reviews like crazy before, found every bit of info I could, and I didn't really see a negative review.

The only thing is that I might be off in alignment now, but I don't know if I was before, if these just amplify that, if I am crazy, if DT did something wrong, who knows. It was only at higher speed on the hwy, but it was windy that day too, so I need to test more.

You probably are already gone, but does your place price match. DT does, so i took in a thing from treadepot.com + a coupon they had on the treadepot site ($25) off, and they matched it. Their price for mine was $140ish and treadepot was $104 (minus the 25, so $97ish each), It was a big help on a tight budget.

 

ChevyMgr is right on the spot!!

I would like to humbly add that after 40 years of owning cars, I have learned that it never hurts to have the alignment checked whenever you purchase new tires.

 

If the HRR has no provisions for rear alignment then obviously you don't get it but I always have my cars aligned when I get new tires. I even get new cars aligned. It seems that every new car I got was out of alignment (usually ever so slightly).

Getting an alignment makes sure you aren't going to be tearing up new tires and it lets you know if things are changing so you can fix it before it causes bigger problems.

I know it costs money which some people might not have to toss around but if you can do it, do it. If they say it was still in spec, then you know you aren't having changes. If it was out, they can tell you what and why.

 

I would agree that you should align each axle that can be aligned, but how do you adjust something that is not adjustable?

I don't think they are going to reweld or bend rear axle mounts for $50.

 

Not most shops no, but there are places that have the equipment to do it. I would worry about that if the rear is really out of spec.