I am going on an extended camping/traveling trip in my 2006 HHR 5-speed. I have all my supplies loaded into my car. What size or type tires do I need to carry all this extra weight. My max capacity is 1,000 lbs. which I am close. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Load limits for the stock tires are on the placard on the driver door frame. Tires have a load rating embossed on the sidewall.

Tire Tech Information - How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index & Service Descriptions

 

I used to get the six ply tires back in the day, don't know if a heavy duty tire would be available in our trucklets sized tires.

 

Assuming you have 215R/55R16" tires now, and depending what brand and model they are, look on the sidewall for there max. rating @ what tire air pressure.
Original tires were rated @ 1356lbs. @ 44 psi

If they are "standard load" like the Original tires that came with the car and they do not meet your weight requirement you can buy an XL (extra load) rated tire to replace them.

Example;

BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Grand Touring All Season.
215/55R/16 97H
XL
Carrying cap. 1609 lbs. @ 50psi

If the heavy stuff is loaded toward the rear of the HHR you may only have to buy the 2 rear tires.
In any case pump the current front tires to the max. on the side wall and see how the car handles with that air pressure. If necessary you can lower them slightly.

SF

 

The max pressure rating is for the inflation of the tire , not the max pressure to operate the vehicle on.
50 lbs per square inch would make a mess after the heat in the tire expanded and damaged the tires

 

Blue,

You are correct on the details .. how ever, The correct psi air pressure required is determined by the actual weight on the tire.
Unless you have the car properly weighed front and rear, you will just be "winging it".

BTW, I was only showing the tire spec ratings for a reference, ... not for what car they go on.
This 215/55R16 Standard load tire goes on several different vehicles that have different gross weights then the HHR.

Example: My 2010 1LT shows 30 psi on the door jamb yet the original stock tire shows a 1365 lb. capacity and 44 lb... max psi on the spec sheet "and" on the tire..
They will safely take 44Lbs. but the Specs do not show the safe tire air temps in black and white. I am sure the engineers that set the specs know about tire temp parameters.

The whole purpose of putting on the XL tire (assuming you actually need them) is to be able to safely up your tire pressures to meet a heavier load condition.
The only time you should have 50lb. psi in an XL tire is if you are sure of the amount of weight on that wheel/tire is near the Max weight.
That's why if there is a real concern, the car should be weighed for safety sake.
So if you want to be more accurate, it would be wise to take the vehicle fully loaded including driver and any passengers and full fuel tank to a certified weigh station and have them give you a Gross whole vehicle weight along with a separate front and rear wheel weight.
You might even find out if you are over the limit for the Car as well as the tires.

I am not clear on how she came up with her 1000 lb. limit, as that is the Gross towing limit for the HHR.
Also your Insurance company will likely find out if you have an accident and would dispute and possibly turn down any Claim if you were proved to be overloaded on the car or the tires.

Yes it is more complicated then just larger tires.....

Always check your tire pressures with the tires cooled down to meet the current outside temps and using a quality gauge.
Especially if you are going to drive a heavily loaded HHR for a long trip.

SF

 

According to the label on the door jam my 2006 2.4L Automatic has a carrying capacity of 883 pounds. That 883 lb limit refers to the cargo and the occupants, including the driver.

The owners manual for the 2006 starts a discussion on loading the vehicle on page 4-32. It talks about the above cargo/passenger max load (883 lbs in my case).

And it talks about the GVWR and the rating for the front and rear axles.
In my case the numbers are:
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = 4240
- Gross Axle Weight Rating Front = 2160
- Gross Axle Weight Rating Rear = 2158

Curb weight according to most sources = 3155 (which is possibly with only a 1/2 tank of gas https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gene...r-weigh-53579/)


So subtract the Curb weight - 3155 lb
from the GVRW which is 4240 = 1085 lb

That 1085 is a fair jump from the stated carrying capacity of 883 pounds which is a bit confusing.

Regardless, the stock tires will be just fine for the load being carried by the op if it actually falls in the 883 to 1000 lb range, as that falls into the limitations GM has made. If it makes one feel better, sure, up the rear tire pressures a bit - but OMG, don't pump them up to the max pressure as stated on the sidewall.

 

BTW, I found that the F/R ratio (50/50) stays fairly constant with a load. Not exactly, but closer than I thought.

 

A guide line

https://www.kaltire.com/the-right-ti...isnt-the-best/

And from a tire manufacturer


Tire inflation pressure - important information