O.K. everyone. Now I need help. I am in need of new tires and with all of the options from Tire Rack I cant decide. I would like some real world experience to speak up. I have read all of the info on here but I am still undecided.

I am looking at running the stock 215/55/16 unless someone can recommend a different size that will fit and look better. I am looking for something that rides well, is quiet, lasts more than 25k miles and will not cost me my first born. Yeah I know, I have to compromise somewhere.

Please let the opinions fly!

 

Lots of tires out there. I picked up some Cooper tires for about $500 installed and balanced. I got some good rain tires for Florida rain. Depending on your weather and if you have snow, you may want a more agressive (noisy) tread. Finding low resistent rolling tire is better for mpg. But they get pricey.

 

Quieter tires would be more in the "Touring" category. Mileage life should be much better as well.

As opposed to say a performance (sticky) tire.

 

Stop by your local Discount Tire store see what they have in the take off department, they always have a few sets. Worked for me in the past.

 

depends on what You like.
smaller work well, i have 205/55/16 winter spike tires and first they look kind of small, but now they fit to my eye really well. its not so big deal if you are inside basic limits, like 205-225/45-65 series?
i dont like the edgy behaviour of original low205/50/17" tires, cause we have really bad tracks worn on our roads- thanks to spike tires we use in winter...

i have learned during years that its most important that tires are AS NEW AS possible. other than that, differences are close to none in summer tires. winter tires are more delicate matter.

 

Thanks guys. This will be my 3rd set of tires. The original Firestones were crap. Did not like the feeling of them from the the time they were new. I currently have Good Year touring tires.

The problem I am having is that no one seems to stocks this size. Everyone has to order them. In doing so, if I have to replace one of them for some reason, I will have to wait on another one. This happened on my Good Years.

 

Vince-

Try this tire size comparator, you can plug your stock size vs ones in more common sizes & hopefully find something close to your size, & lower in cost.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos

26" tall is about the max on height, front strut limits this..

I had 215/50/17 on & swapped up to 225/50/17, best move I made..

 

Some shops, Costco for one, says they have nothing for the HHR ... just because it came with "S" tires, I think. If you ask by size instead of for the car, I'd bet you have better luck. I put Michelin Primacy MXV4 H rated on mine and they are GREAT. Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus are also popular. It is interesting that Michelin also shows nothing for the car ... but have multiple products in H, V, and W ratings.

A very good alternate, in my opinion, is the 205-60-16 which in some lines is less expensive than the 215-55-16. It is close enough in size to not mess your speedometer/odometer up much at all.

 

or let's confuse you more and recommend a 225 x 55 x 16 ... fills up the wheel well a tad without changing your speedo enough to worry about ...

 

Thanks guys. I knew you would give me something else to go on. I did try COSTCO but only put in make/model. Thanks for the link also. I am sure I can use all of this info to get me where I need to be. I will check the 225/55/16's as well.