I just put 4 Fuzion HRI tires on my '07 2LT to replace the OEM firestone Firehawk GTA-03 Stayed with stock size: P215/50-17
What I am noticing is a harder ride and I have some steering wheel shake between 50 and 60 MPH.
I have had the car back to the dealer to redo balancing and all the other things that could be contributing to the problem.
Believe it or not, I did not have the hard ride or the steering wheel shake with the OEM's, even after 35000 miles on them.
Are any of you guys running this tire on your HHR? And if so what have been your experiences?
What has me confused is the Fuzion rank's 9 in the high performance all-season category from tire rack.
I also have an HHR buddy who has been running the Fuzion HRI since last fall and he likes them better all around than the OEM.
Thank's in advance for your inputs.

 

The steering shake has got to be an unbalanced or defective tire. Have they rotated the tires to see if it gets better/worse? It should be better with the "bad" tire in back. Bottom line though is if they are properly balanced and you get steering shake, one or more of the tires are improperly balanced or defective.

 

What pitbull76 said. I just replaced my originals @53,600 miles with Goodyear Assurance Max and have not had any shake issues.

Last year in another car with old tires, but with good tread, I had some severe shaking and it was a broken radial belt in a rear tire. I was on a road trip, and the next day, the other tire did the same thing. Unfortunatly I was unable to get the same brand of tire. What do you do when you are at the mercy of a dealer and you are on the road a thousand miles from home.

 

Could be even as something simple as a weight came off of a wheel and tire that balanced but are just a litte out in the place they are. Often you van have the tire turned 180 degrees on the wheel and it will go away.

I would do as they have stated and see if you can isolate the tire and then if it is still there move to the other ideas. Belts so still slip on some tires.

As for a harder ride it may have to do with stiffer sidewalls or something that simple. Stiffer sidewalls give better turn in but it also rides stiffer.

 

Could have a tire out of round or a ply separation.

 

Here's an update on my steering wheel shake at 60mph with the new Fuzion tires.
After taking the car back 3 times to the dealer I got them from and the problem not solved, I decided to try a local Firestone dealer.
The balance was off on all 4 tires, 1/2 oz on 3 and 3/4 oz on one.
When you add that up it was enough to give me the steering shake at 60.
Had them properly rebalance all 4 tires. Problem gone and car is normal again.

 

Glad to hear you resolved your balancing problem.

High Speed Dynamic Balancing Machines should be calibrated from time to time. For the benefit of many other customers that have dealt with this Fuzion dealer have you advised the Fuzion dealer of what the final result was, and that their machine may need to be calibrated or replaced ?

 

Glad someone was able to figure it out. I've been running the HRi's on the wifes car for the past 25K miles, they are a little stiff, but so far I've been happy with them.

 

Sometimes it's not the Balancing Machines but the person that is doing the balancing !

 

Here's my dilema with the original dealer I got the tires from.
The guy is a good friend of mine and I don't want to ruine our friendship.
The balancing problem could be totally operator and not machine.
I have had tire guys tell me that wheel balance can depend on the guy using the equipment.
Although, he should know I had to spend $55.00 to have another dealer resolve the problem. I gave him 3 tries to make it right and they didn't.
I will probably wait and see if he asks me how the tires are doing, then say something.
Friend or not he needs to know it still wasen't right.