What is the largest tire I can get on my 2500HD?

chane · December 5, 2001

What have you guys tried? I have 265/75/16 AT's on currently, but they ran fine on my 1500 2wd.. I measured and the 2500HD is 3" taller than a Z71. I see them running 285's all the time, surely we can run bigger like 305's?

chevy4x4trucks · December 5, 2001

305's may be too much of a squeeze. What about a 295? I know 285's will fit easily.

FIRECAT · December 5, 2001

285'S will not fit easily!!! They will rub in real world conditions. For some reason the HD's have more of a problem clearing the 285's. Don't get me wrong, they will fit, with modifications to the inner fender wells and on the 4x4's a torsion bar tweak. You need to find the correct backspacing and just don't take a tire dealers word, because what may clear in the parking lot, not moving will not clear once you are moving.

I know a friend that has a CC HD 4x4 with the Dmax and the 265's he put on rub. He has tweaked the torsion bars!

Also, my brother (8100HD) had 285's on his CC HD 4x4 8.1 and they rubbed even after he tweaked the torsion bars AND trimmed the inner fenders.

Just be careful, because it seems that there is a difference between the Xcabs and CCabs. Plus, I believe you have a 2wd, correct???

You are going to get 10 different answers from 10 different people on this one.

Good Luck!

scooter70 · December 5, 2001

I think your limiting factor might be the fact that the tire may hit suspension components or something else (bumper) at full lock, full jounce. Sounds like height is not a problem. I don't know how you could check this without bolting a wheel and tire on your truck.

We tried putting a set of 315's on a 97 3/4 ton once and they hit the bumper when you turned the wheel to full lock, but they fit fine on the 85 3/4 ton that they came off of. Never know until you try it.

chane · December 5, 2001

285'S will not fit easily!!! They will rub in real world conditions. For some reason the HD's have more of a problem clearing the 285's. Don't get me wrong, they will fit, with modifications to the inner fender wells and on the 4x4's a torsion bar tweak. You need to find the correct backspacing and just don't take a tire dealers word, because what may clear in the parking lot, not moving will not clear once you are moving.

I know a friend that has a CC HD 4x4 with the Dmax and the 265's he put on rub. He has tweaked the torsion bars!

Also, my brother (8100HD) had 285's on his CC HD 4x4 8.1 and they rubbed even after he tweaked the torsion bars AND trimmed the inner fenders.

Just be careful, because it seems that there is a difference between the Xcabs and CCabs. Plus, I believe you have a 2wd, correct???

You are going to get 10 different answers from 10 different people on this one.

Good Luck!

Yes it is a 2wd, but the suspension is the same as the 4wd on the HD's. It has the torsions.. Maybe the Ext. Cab is taller than the CC's? The 265's I have on now run great and I have not even touched the torsions.

I had these 265's on my 2wd 1500 and just had to trim like an inch of the inner fender liner plastic.

Anyone else have a 2wd 2500HD Ext. Cab?

FIRECAT · December 5, 2001

That's my point, it seems to vary between truck for some reason. Also, I think that using the stock rims may limit you some, I know my brother went to 8" wide rims on his.

Maverick · December 6, 2001

Chane,

Here is a link that might have some info for you.

http://www.62-65-dieselpage.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/001973.html

I just like this one. :stupid:

Kansas Kid · December 6, 2001

Seeing as how you want to run the stock 6.5" wide rims, you should be fairly safe with a LT285/75R16 or a LT255/85R16 tire. The 255's are more suitable to the narrow stock rims, and I have never heard of a rubbing problem from someone running them. I've believe that running 285's on the stock rim will fit better then with an aftermarket rim, but it could cause the tire to crown alittle bit.

But like was mentioned above, the backspacing is critical. You have to get as close to the factory spec as possible if you go to an 8" rim and 285 tires (probably 4.5"). I believe that incorrect backspacing it probably causing more problems then the tires being to bog. Whatever you do, I would ziptie the e-brake cable back from the drivers side front fenderwell, and maybe expect to trim a slight amout out of the airdam. For some dumb reason it curves back towards the tire instead of away from it. ???

Firetiger(MN) · December 6, 2001

285's will fit fine. I have BF All Terrain KO's on my 2500HD. They come a little close to the front bumper, but haven't rubbed yet. See below for pictures if you are interested.

raventai · December 6, 2001

Anyone else have a 2wd 2500HD Ext. Cab?

yes I do, I am looking to get some 20" or 18" rims with a slightly higher overall tire height let me know what u come up with

from what I have heard u cwant as close as possible to 5" backspace as possible on this truck the taller u g the more important this becomes

here is some info that may be useful to you

16"

245/75r16 (30.46)*stock*

285/70r16 (31.70)

285/75r16 (32.83) *

17"

285/60r17 (30.46) SH

285/65r17 (31.58)

285/70r17 (32.70) *

285/75r17 (33.83)

18"

285/55r18 (30.34) SH

285/60r18 (31.46)

285/65r18 (32.58) *

19"

285/50r19 (30.20) SH

285/55r19 (31.34)

285/60r19 (32.46) *

285/65r19 (33.58)

20"

285/45r20 (30.09) SH

285/50r20 (31.20)

285/55r20 (32.34) *

285/60r20 (33.46)

22"

285/40r22 (30.90) SH

285/45r22 (32.09) *

285/50r22 (33.22)

chane · December 6, 2001

Thanks guys! These are some great responses! Nice to see what everyone else is doing before I screw something up.. hehe.

So am I right in assuming that the 2500HD 2wd's & 4wd's are the same height and same suspension? Mine looks identical to Firetiger(MN)'s except mine is a GMC.

raventai · December 6, 2001

the 4wheel drive is supose to sit .8" higher in the front

they seam to have the same suspension as mine has a cover plate where the front shaft would go into the back of the front hub

Dave Austin · December 25, 2001

FireTiger, what a great looking HD!! What did you do to lift the front.........and how is the ride.............I like the tires...............

VegasDude · December 25, 2001

FireTiger, did you use your stock rims for these 285's?! How does the tire wear and have you any input how they do in snow.............thanks.......

8100HD · December 26, 2001

Okay, I've been through this same scenario a million times trying to figure out what size tires to run on my HD. Originally I drove my truck right to the tire shop and had them install 265's(BFG_A/T) on my stock(PYO) wheels, not one problem with rubbing whatsoever. This past spring I decide that the 265's were just alittle small for the HD, so I went back down to the tire shop and got some 285's(BFG_A/T) and mounted them on 16x8 wheels, the reason for the new wheels is because the stock 6.5" wheels just aren't wide enough for the bigger meats, Yes they will fit on there, but is not recommended by BFG or my particular tire shop, due to the whole issue on crowning, and to rid the tire of that problem you would have to air down. Since I tow alot the option of airing down my tires was out.

With the new 16x8's my tires rubbed on the inner fenderwell and on the airdam, so minor trimming was needed, my buddy who has 265's on 16x8's also rubs, it is due to the wider track on the 3/4 ton trucks. Both trucks have the t-bars turned up also.

Since after trimming my tires would still occasionally rub under full lock and hitting a bump or pulling out of a parking space, I decided to add a 3" Performance Accesories body lift onto my HD. Now my tires do not rub whatsoever even under full lock.

Now I'm thinking about some 315/70's or 315/75's for the spring. It's a never ending battle, be prepared to do some trial and error fit tests before you decide. What works for you may not work for the next person, I can't explain why but it just comes out that way.

(sorry for the length of this post)