I haven't been able to recreate the problem so maybe it was a fluke. I do have the 2011 owner's manual. Its listed procedure on resetting the TPMS looks the same as the videos I linked. This HHR has fancy MB rims. It has Michelin tires that I noticed today are 205 R 60. The decal in the door recommends 215 r 55. So the manual says inflate to recommended tire pressure listed on decal in door unless you do not have recommended sized tires. In that case use inflate tires to recommended psi as listed on the tire. What possible advantage would there be by putting a non recommended tire on the car? I have only had the car for about a year and these were the rims/tires on it when I bought it. They have always performed fine, but the ride isn't necessarily as soft as I hoped.

 

The PSI listed on most tires is max inflation... Don't ever inflate to that number.

 

This is from the 2011 Owner Manual. I didn't say the guy was totally wrong, just that he indicated that all years could be reset using the deflate method. Either the vid is from before 2010 or he is ill informed. The 2011 model MUST use something like the EL 50448 tool.

If you lower the PSI a bit the ride will be softer. Some people like the look of other tires and wheels. The first number in the tire size is the width of the tread, the number after the R is the height to width ratio; in your case the side wall width is 60% of the tread width. All of that in greater detail is in the Owner Manual starting on page 6-50.

 

My 2011, required the EL 50448 tool , as does my wife’s 2018 GMC Terrain.

 

Actually, if you are going to let a vehicle sit for several months, tire manufacturers suggest you inflate to these pressures to minimize flat-spotting. It helps.

Flat-spotting can occur anywhere, but warmer climates seem more likely to cause it. The typical remedy is to drive it out, over 20 minutes or so, but some customers insist dealers re-balance the wheels. This is a warranty hot spot, as you might imagine.

 

Nylon belted 8.85 X 14 bias ply.