I am looking to buy winter tires and possibly rims this week, and I have seen some people saying they used 15" rims. I have a 2011 HHR LS with stock 215/55/16 tires, and it looks like the 205/60/15 will fit (on 15" rims of course), but I wanted to verify that others have done it, and gotten the extra traction it is supposed to deliver. The added traction is the goal, but the fact that the 15" wheels and rims cost the same as the 16" wheels, is a great bonus. Thanks for the advice in advance.

 

Be aware the speedo will be off.

You do have to make sure the bolt pattern and offset are compatible.

 

aboard!

You'll need rims with a 5x110mm bolt pattern, an offset of between 38-42mm, and a rim width of 6-7".

If you can meet those specs with 15" rims and 205/60/15 tires, your speedometer will read 2.3% slow. So an indicated 60 mph will actually be 58.6 mph.

Here's the wheel/tire size calculator most of us use here, it's mighty handy. Just click the link below....

Custom rims, wheel tire packages for your ride - RIMSnTIRES.com

 

Granted, I'm a southern guy and know nothing about snow and tire choices but I've got a question.

Going from a 55 series tire to a narrower 60 series ? Is this an advantage or disadvantage in snow ?

 

Up here a bit narrow is better in the snow, there is a set of 15" rims and snow tires in the classified now

 

I don't know how you thought that 205/60/15 was what you needed...
Tirerack.com is a good site to goto, for comparing different tires.

I run 205/65/15 , which is 25.5"
Your stock 215/55/16 is 25.3"

I have been running 15" tires & slicks on my buggy for 5 years now...
I just love the extra sidewall width, which makes for a much better ride.

 

2005HHRauto: 205/60/15 is one of the sizes that Tirerack.com recommends. I will look at the size you recommended and check the pricing. I have checked the speed calculator site, and feel comfortable with the speed difference. Seeing as if you drive 60 in Illinois, you get passed constantly, I think I can keep up. Thanks everyone.

 

I use a smaller winter tire size to increase the wheel well gap thinking it gets rid of snow better, I just have to remember the 5% speed difference.

 

Since you are going with a higher sidewall I'm willing to bet that if you put the two different wheels and tires side by side they would probably stand very close to the same height, in other words the outside diameter will be very close to each other so your speedo will probably not be off by much.

Even here in the glorious free state of Illinois most of the cops will 'give' you 10 MPH over the speed limit. Just don't be stupid about going fast.

A slightly smaller wheel and tire diameter will clock at the same mph but your car will actually be going slightly slower.

 

My winter tire/wheel comb from Discount Tire.


General Altimax Arctic 205/70/15 which are 26.3" , in diameter, which is
really the maximum diameter that will fit the HHR
Rage R5 , 15"x7", 40mm offset, wheels.