Snow tires or All Season?
 

Hi everyone,

I searched the post on this topic but I haven't been able to find anything more recent. So I apologize if I am not starting this post in the right section. This is my first post.:twothumbs:
I have a 2010 HHR LT that I use for work during the day. I do service work so I average about a 100 miles a day with city and highway driving. I probably have 200 extra pounds of parts in the back of the truck. Last year I drove my car in the snow for the first time and I have to say it was terrible with the Firestones. The tires would spin just in slush and on 1 inch of snow it was a task going thru that! Needless to say, I have read the threads on snows on the front, all snows, ect. So I am heading towards buying all new tires which would be all season. I have 40,000 on the Firestones and if I didn't have to contend with the snow I would wait till spring before changing them. So I have done some research and I am looking at some Hankook Ventus V2 concept tires. I guess what I am looking for is any up to date experiences with All Season tires and whether I should just put on 2 snows on the front; I have a pair of extra rims. I am not interested in taking corners fast, this is my work vehicle. I just don't want to get stuck.:bow:

Thanks Eddie

When I lived in upstate NY and was driving my 99 Buick, I was running all season tires. Now in Florida, I have good rain tires, but I was in upstate NY last December and encountered snow with the HHR and it was awful getting around in snow. It couldn't handle the snow at all. If I was still in that climate with my HHR, I'd have some studded snow tires on the HHR.

I run studded snows on all four. They work very well for me. My 08 has traction control which also seems to help.

Eddie,

To me there are 2 choices.

1. Bridgestone Blizzacks for maximum snow service.

2. Michelin Ice 3 in 205/60R/16 if you have 16" wheels. They beat just all seasons and are a directional tread design.
You don't say if you have a 1LT with 16" or a 2LT with 17"

I have used the Michelin Ice 3 tires and they work quite well. They also run very well on dry or wet pavement. They are quiet running on non snow sufaces in comparrison with most other more aggresive tread designs.
In the 205 size they are Xtra Load capacity so you could adjust your rear air pressure safely to accomodate a heavier load if needed.
The slightly narrower tread of the 205 is an advantage in deeper snow.

Personally I avoid studded tires as the studs wear down and they are noisy and they damage the roads. In many areas you also have a drop dead date to remove them.

SF

It would all depend on how much snow you get..If you get a few inches here and there throughout the winter, all seasons will be fine...But if you deal with snow like I do (we measure it in feet) then snow tires are way better

Silver,

I am going to take a look at the Michelins you suggested. If I can run them all year long that is ok with me. I work in the Boston area so for the most part the highways and main roads are usually clear. Certain cities and towns do a lousy job of plowing during the winter and at times you might have one lane to go down a road and thats where I run into issues. I won't be driving this car thru snow packed roads like up in New Hampshire. I would take my full size truck up north but not this HHR. I use the HHR because its great on gas and has the room to store all my tools and parts. Its taken a little to get used too being so low and having those blind spots where the air bags are located. Its fun to drive in and around town and handles quite well on dry and wet pavement. I have 16 inch tires. I was thinking also of the 205 size too. Thanks for the responses so far!

Eddie

I run my 2LT with 16" wheels and Michelin Ice 3 all year around here.
Don't expect a big OK from Michelin as they do not want you to do that.
I think the reason is there are to many people that use no common sense or they live in extreme weather areas.
Our weather here is very moderate both cold and hot so I see no problem running them all year.

I only see 2 possible issues.

1. They will wear faster then a Quailty All season but that's the price you pay for a better winter tire.

2. I would restrict driving higher speeds in Hot weather say 90 to over 100 degrees.

Be sure to check air pressures spring, summer, fall, winter, as the base pressure changes as temps change.

In our State they require all four wheels with same type tire.
SF

I am using winter tires for the first time on any vehicle that I've owned. I purchased a wheel and tire combo of 205/60-15 Michelin Xice 2 tires from the Tire Rack and so far I've been very impressed. Cost a bit over $600 and includes a $75 rebate.

Prior to the winter tires I had the factory Firestones and then I installed a set of Goodyear Eagle tires. The Eagles were OK in snow the first winter but have gotten progressively worse in snow as they wore down. With both sets I noticed that the front end would understeer and eventually the car would break loose a bit and start to slide through turns.

I've not yet got 500 miles on the Michelins and have only had a few chances to drive in slush but they are way better than the all-season Goodyears. No slipping when moving from a dead stop and no pulling from side-to-side when drivng through the slop that accumulates in the middle turn lane. I think this coming winter will be an entirely different driving experience.

I notice a very slight buzz/whine from the Michelins but that's at speeds under 45MPH. I have yet to get them on an expressway.

The Xice 2 and 3 were also rated best by Consumer Reports, and from what I've read you should put winter tires on all four corners as having mismatched sets actually worsens your handling.

Did you actually put on 205/60/15 // or is that a Typo.....

Yes I noticed a very slight noise at those speeds as well but it did depend on the type of road surface.
Not as much overall noise as Blizzacks.

my blizzaks are a little noisey but they are winter only and they work great. I would not drive a car anymore with out snow tires. If you get a lot of snow snow tires are worth getting.

All-seasons don't compare to a dedicated snow tire.

I run Firestone Winterforce's, awesome tires, awesome value when compared to "Blizzacks" etc. Absolutely kill Michigan winters with them!

Balloon tires :P-
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...o/IMG_6290.jpg

Meaty fitment-
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...o/IMG_6292.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...o/IMG_6291.jpg

A good tire shop will recommend the right all-season tire for snow in your area.

Studded tires have been illegal in Michigan since the early 1960s.

My panel has snow tires and last year I did not have a problem But then again we didn't have hardly any snow (in my area).

I don't know how my SS with Michelins will act in snow or ice but I probably won't drive it if there is inclement weather especially if they are salting the roads. I have traction control but haven't had to use it.

Sweet lookin' red SS Joe from South Haven. You need 'em over there in Michigan's snow belt.


Boydie :cowboy:

No Question ... The Blizzacks and Winterforce are both Excellent Real Winter snow tires.

But it sounded like the Op was looking for maybe something just a little better than an All Season Tire, and that is where the Michelin Ice 3 comes in.

Definitely better ... with the option to run all year around instead of taking off and storing winter tires.

SF

Back in the good old days of rear wheel drive, I could practically go anywhere in my 2 wheel drive 1/2 ton pickup with positraction rear axle by adding weight on the rear and putting on a set of rear Firestone Town & Country Sawdust/Walnut shell retreads and lowering the air pressure a little in the fronts.
If you hit a rough spot you could always get somebody to jump in the PU Box and add some more weight right over the tires.
A similar result could be done putting weight in the trunk of a car with the T&C tires.

Nowdays with front wheel drive you have the weight of the motor etc. sitting on the front tires and that helps, but it is pretty well a fixed static weight.
Add traction control and a set of compounded winter tires and you are getting closer to what my older pick up would do.

Personaly in winter snow I run a slightly narrower tire with the pressures slightly lower then stock summer settings.

SF

I am looking for a good all season tire that does well in snow. The current tires I have on my car do not like the snow. If a couple of snow flakes are on the road my hhr slips and the tires spin like crazy until the tires grab the road. We don't get alot of snow in central Pennsylvania so I don't want to buy winter tires, but would like an all season tire that won't wuss out with a little snow.

I just put on the Continental Extremecontact DWS. Decent reviews for snow. Although they do seem to have a slightly softer sidewall than others. Waiting for a little snow or ice to see how they do. Hopefully they perform as advertised.

I went with BF Goodrich Advantage T/A's, we have had a set on the '03 Sunfire GT for a year now and had great traction in the snow, the wife drives 90 miles a day round trip to work and they have not shown any sign of wear yet, I replaced BFG Traction T/A's which were great but they are no longer available.

Running winter tires in spring, summer and fall months is a really bad idea. The rubber in winter tires is softer so it doesn't harden like the rubber in all season tires in the cold, but the softer rubber will wear way faster in the warmer months. You'll also be sacrificing traction. In the wet rainy summer weather winter tires are horrible. If you want something that is supposed to perform well all year round you might want to look at an all weather tire. Something like the Hankook Optimo tires are supposed to be good. I've never tried them but I've heard good things. All weather tires are different from all season. Whatever you do do not listen to those telling you to drive with winter tires all year round if you live in an area with spring/summer months. 7 degrees celcius is the warmest temperature recommended for winters.

No typo on the tire size. I chose one of the Tire Rack's packages and went with their "undersizing" philosophy. So far, so good. And I usually refer to Consumer Reports for tire reviews (and they Highly Rated the Michelin Xice2 and Xice3).

hi guys, yesterday was my first experience with snow and my hhr, it was awful. i slid thru every turn and did not feel safe out on the road so new tires will be on my list next fall. i don't want to spend money on having 2 sets of tires so i will be looking for a good all season tire and a sale. the hhr only has 22,000 miles on the tires but boy are they horrible. not sure what exactly they are but they are firestones. horrible tire

I just bought Nokian eNtyre tires for the HHR LT2 with 17" wheels....215/50/17. They cost me $419 by the time all was done and on the car. I bought them thru Tires-Easy and had them mounted locally. These were end of clearance tires and now you would have to get the eNtyre 2 (different tread design) Now that I have had a chance on 5" of snow I can rate them. Adequate. NOT snow tires but got me around just fine. Low noise, great traction in dry and rain and adequate in the snow. Very happy so far.