Snow tires suck
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
I vaguely recall complaints on the Saturn forums about studded snow tires giving them a weird overboosted steering feel(like torque steer)due to some odd characteristics of the electric power steering on the Ion models.
I believe the consensus was that it's just something you get used to as a trade off for the traction advantages of studded tires.
HHR's aren't as nose heavy as some FWD vehicles with a weight distribution of 57% on the front axle, and 43% on the rear.
Of course my snow tire buying experience is limited to one set I bought in the early 90's while spending 15 months in Erie PA. That was a set of four studded Sears tires on a 1990 Lumina 9C-1, it would go anywhere in the snow, but it was a skittery handful on dry pavement.
I believe the consensus was that it's just something you get used to as a trade off for the traction advantages of studded tires.
HHR's aren't as nose heavy as some FWD vehicles with a weight distribution of 57% on the front axle, and 43% on the rear.
Of course my snow tire buying experience is limited to one set I bought in the early 90's while spending 15 months in Erie PA. That was a set of four studded Sears tires on a 1990 Lumina 9C-1, it would go anywhere in the snow, but it was a skittery handful on dry pavement.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2008
Posts: 4,708
From: Washington State, where it rains
Now..is it torque steer....or traction hunt?? Tq steer will always pull in the same direction,,traction hunt may pull in either direction, even shifting back and forth..since studs are nothing but steel knobs, on dry pavement they might not allow full rubber contact,plus tires are of a stiffer,harder compound.
Senior Member
Joined: 12-24-2007
Posts: 2,873
From: Seville. OH
I have studed snow tires on my 08. i run the tire psi at the recommended 35 psi. there is a noticable change in the way my car handles with snow tires and summer tires. it wanders a bit more with the snow tires. just takes a little to get use too. I have not heard of traction hunt before but i like that term. thats how i will describe it from now on. 
Senior Member
Joined: 08-26-2008
Posts: 1,488
From: Sequim Washington
Now..is it torque steer....or traction hunt?? Tq steer will always pull in the same direction,,traction hunt may pull in either direction, even shifting back and forth..since studs are nothing but steel knobs, on dry pavement they might not allow full rubber contact,plus tires are of a stiffer,harder compound.
Plus ... Look at your studs carefully after several thousand miles.
You just lost a good percentage of the possible stud benefit because of the stud wear.
The big deal is the hiway damage over time and the costs involved to resurface and repair.
And that isn't even the whole of it. You also have the worn hiway grooves that affect steering, add excess road noise, and also are ICE TRAPS in the winter when stagnent water freezes in the grooves.
As I said earlier ... Studs Suck !!!
I was in the Tire business when they first came out and they were all the rage for years but now days people are like sheep and just keep on keepin on.
Most have never tried the latest versions of real winter snow/ice tires.
Are they like glue on ice ... No, but neither are studs or chains.
Where I live they put on their studs early and take them off late in the season.
That equates to rapid wear on the studs so that the next season when they put them back on they are not nearly as effective and so on as they are used up.
People think they are really working good because they still hear all the noise they make.
Buy a Quality winter Snow/Ice tire with special tread design and tread
componding instead.
The are quieter, and handle much better as well as ride a little softer.
You also do not have to deal with deadlines as to when they have to be taken off.
Firestone .. Winterforce Best for severe weather
Bridgstone .. Blizzack Excellent for severe weather
Michelin .. Ice 3 Excellent all around.
I use the Michelin Ice 3 and find very little difference from All Seasons in handling.
We do not have severe snow here so the Ice 3 does a great job for me.
SF
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 01-06-2013
Posts: 141
From: Tigard, Oregon
Been on the road
The only reason I run studs is that you cannot use chains with the HHR. I drive into areas that require studded tires or chains or you can get a ticket. The car does wander a bit just going down the freeway but it gets bad when you jump into the throttle and it pulls to the left and feels like torque steer. I lowered the pressure to 30psi to see if that helps but I have not noticed any difference. I will just live with it.
I drive a 2010 LT1
I drive a 2010 LT1
