OT-2500 HD Tires?
12-02-2002 | 07:45 AM
#1
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From: North East, MD
OT-2500 HD Tires?
What are the largest size tires that anyone has installed on a 2002 Chevy 2500 HD without any suspension modifications? I'm looking at upgrading from the small 245's to something that fits the wheelwells. Any suggestions? Thanks.
12-02-2002 | 09:27 AM
#5
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Clearwater, FL
You can put LT305/7516's on it,,,, fair warning though, I did it to mine and it handled like chit, ,,,,, to much side roll for me, I didnt like the way the ass wandered while towing so I went back to the stock size,,,, I would maybe go 265's if it was me,,, there was a good thread about this a while back with some pics of tire changes. I cranked the torsion bars just a tad to level the truck with the bigger tires,,, it looked great,,, just wasnt for me.
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12-02-2002 | 09:31 AM
#6
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The rims you have now are 16x6.5. You should be just fine on the 285s with 16x8 rims; but that does depend on the backspacing.
I have a 2500 Avalanche, similar to your HD, and just went through all of this. I went with ARE 16X8 Outlaw II rims, and 265 Cooper Discoverer ATs. See my thread above for more details. The BFGs have a more square shape to them, especially at the contact patch where you are going to incur wheelwell rub if you go too big (wide). I suggest going to the manufacturer's website of the tires you are looking to buy, and looking at all the dimensions of the tire on their spec sheets. I did this and went with my best guess, along with guidance from my favorite 4X4 shop. I ended up with 265 Cooper Discoverer AT. We did have to crank up my front torsion bars a bit to give some clearance. I did not lose any ride quality. I still have just a touch of rub when reversing at a full lock turn. Nothing I am concerned about. Heck, my Trans Am even rubbed from the factory. Your HD has wider wells than my AV, so you should be fine. I highly suggest the BFGs (expensive and hard to get right now) or the Cooper Discoverer AT. I have had both, and currently the Cooper Disc ATs are fandamtastic in handling, traction, and towing. I also added rear airbags, which is like having a fully adjustable rear sway bar for $300 bucks. Good Luck.
The rims you have now are 16x6.5. You should be just fine on the 285s with 16x8 rims; but that does depend on the backspacing.
I have a 2500 Avalanche, similar to your HD, and just went through all of this. I went with ARE 16X8 Outlaw II rims, and 265 Cooper Discoverer ATs. See my thread above for more details. The BFGs have a more square shape to them, especially at the contact patch where you are going to incur wheelwell rub if you go too big (wide). I suggest going to the manufacturer's website of the tires you are looking to buy, and looking at all the dimensions of the tire on their spec sheets. I did this and went with my best guess, along with guidance from my favorite 4X4 shop. I ended up with 265 Cooper Discoverer AT. We did have to crank up my front torsion bars a bit to give some clearance. I did not lose any ride quality. I still have just a touch of rub when reversing at a full lock turn. Nothing I am concerned about. Heck, my Trans Am even rubbed from the factory. Your HD has wider wells than my AV, so you should be fine. I highly suggest the BFGs (expensive and hard to get right now) or the Cooper Discoverer AT. I have had both, and currently the Cooper Disc ATs are fandamtastic in handling, traction, and towing. I also added rear airbags, which is like having a fully adjustable rear sway bar for $300 bucks. Good Luck.
12-02-2002 | 05:30 PM
#8
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Joined: May 2002
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From: pitman nj
I got 305/70-16 Goodyears on 8x16 Eagle Alloys under my Tahoe
. Looks GGGRRRRReat. Handles good. No lift or messing with t-bars and nothing touches
Got 60k miles on them and they're still good for this winter.
. Looks GGGRRRRReat. Handles good. No lift or messing with t-bars and nothing touches Got 60k miles on them and they're still good for this winter.
12-03-2002 | 06:58 AM
#9
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255/85R16 on stock wheels. It is a new size, ours are Dayton Baja AT's. Personally, they don't handle as well as I had hoped, the ass kind of wiggles around when the goose neck is on there. Our next tires will be 265/75R16's for less height.
Or, maybe we'll just get a dually.
Or, maybe we'll just get a dually.
