Silverfox is right. I recommend Bridgestone Blizzak too. True, I doubt that the 215/60 R16 will be good for the front wheels - too big. Silverfox probably meant 205/60 R16.
I have been using Blizak for many years.
I had Michelin too - but I did not accept it. Michelin brakes very well, but lateral support is lower than decency. Active moving to the next row is simply scary.

As for the car itself - it is fully adapted to winter temperatures. My Hippo lives in the snow 7 months a year. It tolerates frost and snowy roads.

There are drawbacks, but they are not critical.
1. When starting off, the front wheels slip not only on ice, but simply on cold asphalt. You will have to forget about a sharp start from a traffic light;
2. At a temperature of -15 ° C and lower, the GM transmission fluid visibly thickens. Smooth movement in the morning until it warms up, or the risk of transmission failure;
3. The configuration of the brake fluid reservoir is not very good. At low temperatures, the word "brake" lights up. They say that on later models the reservoirs are already fixed and the car has ceased to scare the driver;
4. Aerodynamics mirrors unsuccessful. In heavy snow the mirrors are filled with snow very quickly. Have to stop and clean every 10 - 15 minutes.

That's all the problems. I did not see others.

 

Wren,

Bridgestone makes the Blizzak in 2 sizes that will fit your HHR.

205/50R/17
215/50R/17
If you want the narrower tire, go with the 205.

Michelin also makes the X Ice I3 in both sizes.

205 tread width 7.2"
215 tread width 7.6" .... Overall diameter is 25.5" so no problem fitting.

Geg,

I have the 215/60R/16's on my HHR and they do fit OK .... Close but OK.
In this State ..Washington I think you have to buy 4 new tires all at the same so you would have no unequals.....

Silverfox

 

They where band in a lot of states.
I use to use the tool to install the studs when you had the snow tires to accept them.

 

Defrost is a problem. This is my second HHR and it's the same as the first.
Should have had it broadcast out more towards the end of the wind shield.
Like people said, a quality tire just for snow is the way to go.
Shutting off traction control helps at times also.

 

Later they found a way to just drill the hole and insert the stud providing you had a tire with enough solid spots to drill.
You also had to have enough tread depth left on used tires.

I never felt that was such a good idea as we had many people come back and ask why they were missing so many studs when they took them off.

SF

 

Thanks for the info. That's gonna be mighty handy.

Wren

 

Gee. Why do you think the studs were outlawed ?

 

Yeah ... When the studs came out it was probably mostly at higher speeds and Guess where they all went ?????????

Good By Windshield......

But mainly, they were outlawed because of the Costly Major Road Damage.

SF

 

Tire spikes are prohibited in many European countries.
Perhaps this makes sense where the winter is not very snowy and the roads are bare asphalt.
I myself ride on "sticky" tires (Blizzak), and in the city it is justified. But when I get on the roads in villages or small settlements - I regret that I do not have spikes. Tightly packed snow does not give even weak directional stability. And in combination with deep ruts from timber trucks and agricultural machinery, the road generally turns into a Shapito circus. Once I got on the road leading to the tank training ground - it was a nightmare in reality. Good thing I always have a shovel in the cabin.
Fortunately, I rarely travel to winter villages.

 

One downside to the HHR is the fact you cannot use Chains.......Not enough clearance.

There are situations where they work better then Snow tires but they have there down sides too.

SF.