Towing capacity variences

bigblue2024 · August 3

I just bought a 2024 silverado 2500 HD custom gasser with 20 inch wheels standard. The door sticker says the truck can tow 16k Conventional. However, the brochure says only 12k Conventional with 20 inch wheels. But, 16k with 18 inch wheels with mt tires. Can someone explain why the difference between the door sticker and the brochure, which do I believe, and, if the brochure, why the difference with the wheels?

Thank you

newdude · August 3

50 minutes ago, bigblue2024 said:

I just bought a 2024 silverado 2500 HD custom gasser with 20 inch wheels standard. The door sticker says the truck can tow 16k Conventional. However, the brochure says only 12k Conventional with 20 inch wheels. But, 16k with 18 inch wheels with mt tires. Can someone explain why the difference between the door sticker and the brochure, which do I believe, and, if the brochure, why the difference with the wheels?

Thank you

Brochure is incorrect (not sure what brochure you are reading though as GM stopped printing them). Mud tires lower the tow rating.

Here's the note in the order guide:

NOTE: Trucks equipped with (QG3) LT275/70R18 mud-terrain, blackwall tires have maximum conventional trailer weight rating of 12,000 lbs.

Follow the door jamb.

Edited August 3 by newdude

johnnyquick · August 3

Door sticker is what I would go with as THAT is what any insurance company will go with as well.

The wheels size is determining the tire ability based upon sidewall available and the "toughness" weight rating of the tire I believe.

You can run a higher ply tire in a 20" and likely get close to what an 18" tire can give but my 20's and 22's only have a 500# per tire difference both factory tires. I just use the 20's for winter.

1000#s per tire is a reasonable difference that makes sense, best bet is to see what your tires are rated at. IMO

newdude · August 3

1 minute ago, johnnyquick said:

Door sticker is what I would go with as THAT is what any insurance company will go with as well.

The wheels size is determining the tire ability based upon sidewall available and the "toughness" weight rating of the tire I believe.

You can run a higher ply tire in a 20" and likely get close to what an 18" tire can give but my 20's and 22's only have a 500# per tire difference both factory tires. I just use the 20's for winter.

1000#s per tire is a reasonable difference that makes sense, best bet is to see what your tires are rated at. IMO

The 18" mud tires are the same size and load index as the AT 18" tire they use but due to the tread softness and squirm presented when towing during their testing and validation of tow ratings, GM lowered the tow ratings specifically on trucks with the MT due to that.

lineman1234 · August 3

10 hours ago, newdude said:

Brochure is incorrect (not sure what brochure you are reading though as GM stopped printing them). Mud tires lower the tow rating.

Here's the note in the order guide:

NOTE: Trucks equipped with (QG3) LT275/70R18 mud-terrain, blackwall tires have maximum conventional trailer weight rating of 12,000 lbs.

Follow the door jamb.

Your not referring to ,, this,, manual are you? I got one in my 2024 WT 3500. In the glove box.

Edited August 3 by lineman1234
spelling

bigblue2024 · August 3

Thank you everyone. This is the brochure or towing guide I was referring to. Thank you newdude. The ordering guide makes sense. The load index on my tires is 126, so I'm pretty sure I'm good there.

newdude · August 3

7 hours ago, lineman1234 said:

Your not referring to ,, this,, manual are you? I got one in my 2024 WT 3500. In the glove box.

No. OP posted a screen of the brochure he was referring to.

Towing information is on the door jambs on these trucks and is build specific. Tow ratings, payload, GVWR and GCWR.

newdude · August 3

7 hours ago, bigblue2024 said:

Thank you everyone. This is the brochure or towing guide I was referring to. Thank you newdude. The ordering guide makes sense. The load index on my tires is 126, so I'm pretty sure I'm good there.

Yea looks like they have that reversed.

lineman1234 · August 4

What i found interesting a month ago when i specked out my 2024 6.6 gasser 3500 regular cab 4x4 WT SRW, to a DRW. To maybe go the fulltime truck camper life, instead of the currant comfy 5ver life. Of course the dually has way more payload, and ball hitch towing is 2,000lbs more, as well as the/a 5ver hitch lbs. But,,,,,,,,,, the towing part was 300lbs less than the srw on the 5ver/goose part.

sstoner911 · August 5

The biggest difference between the 18" and 20" tires is side wall, weight and truck configuration. I would also guess the wheels themselves dictate differences in towing/payload limits.

MTU Alum · August 6

There is a typo in the Chevrolet website footnote and I have been trying to fix it for a month or so.

Only trucks with QG3 - Hankook dynpro have the reduced conventional towing. The gooseneck fifth wheel numbers are unchanged. This tire is no longer available but you may still find a few on the lots.

#iworkforGM

redwngr · August 7

2 hours ago, MTU Alum said:

There is a typo in the Chevrolet website footnote and I have been trying to fix it for a month or so.

Only trucks with QG3 - Hankook dynpro have the reduced conventional towing. The gooseneck fifth wheel numbers are unchanged. This tire is no longer available but you may still find a few on the lots.

#iworkforGM

QG3 does have a 'no longer available' note in the order guide