Hello Everyone! I have a 1997 GMC Suburban K1500 4x4 with a 4.5 inch lift and 2 inch wheel spacers. It has stock 16 inch wheels. What is the largest size tire (height and width) that I could fit under my truck and on the 16 inch wheels without rubbing, meaning without having to do any trimming on the frame or fenders, etc. ?? Thank you very much!
Youâll get more answers on a 4x4 forum.
4 Likes
I would call around to a few different 4wd shops that specialize in lifted trucks and custom wheels and tires and ask them, you may find a better selection of tires even going with a 17" wheel, they might also has some pull offs that they could test fit your vehicleâŠ
Just keep a close eye out on your ball joints and bearings, that is a lot of weight being moved outwards⊠It cost to look coolâŠ
1 Like
I have a question.
Why?
5 Likes
Stock wheels are 16x8, you wonât get very large tires on those. Maybe 265/75 x 16. Stock is 245/75x16.
A guy has 315/75 on 16x8âs on a Tacoma on another forum I am on⊠Looks goodâŠ
I have installed 285/75 on 16x8âs⊠You can run a 295/50 on a 15x8 with no issuesâŠ
Well, one can put all kinds of tires on it. Biggest I can find on tables of âmaxâ sizes is 275. So 285, ok. 315? I wouldnât want to try cornering with them.
The 315âs are probable LT 10ply load range E tires, but yeah, 315âs are pushing it a little bit⊠lol
1 Like
You are going to be limited by the width of the wheel. Check your door for the size of the wheel (and tire). My best guess is the largest tire will be LT265/75R16
It seems like you want to fill the open space in your wheel wells created by your suspension modifications. The short answer is that you canât do it with the 16â rims. The maximum aspect ratio is 75% and your tire side walls are already that tall. I suggest that you find a shop that specializes in this and buy the tire/rim combination from them. One big advantage is that they will stand behind their selection as long as you go along with it.
No matter how large the new tires wind-up being, I REALLY hope that the OP doesnât decide to hack-off any of the truckâs frame.
3 Likes
You can buy a few different 255/85/16âs, in AT and MT tires, and that is what lifted truck guys want, is aggressive treads for off roading and or mall shopping⊠lol
And a 255/85 is still taller and narrower than a 285/75, fills the fender gap up without the extra wideness of the 285âŠ
BTW Lifted trucks with big aggressive tires are not meant to corner, most of the guys into the off roading drive slower than Chris does⊠Not the pretty never see even grass from own yard, but off roading guys and galsâŠ
2 Likes
But looks donât get one around corners, or out of mud.
Itâs best to stay OE.
The engineers at GM - or Ford or Honda -knew what they were doing when they designed the thing.
1 Like
And while you may be trying to âupgradeâ, or âenhanceâ performance, and/or be able to brag to your buddiesâŠall you know for sure is the money has been spent. So that you can have a vehicle that probably drives worse in day to day driving, and drinks more gasoline.
I see more and more âCarolina Squatâ 4x4 trucks in my part of the world. No idea how young men drive those trucks at that awkward angle. My grandmother would have called them âcool foolsâ.
2 Likes
Thereâs some functional improvements possible w/big tires too. Some 4x4 owners like the big tires b/c they yield more ground clearance. For example my 4x4âs 9 inch rear differential with standard size tires sits pretty close to the ground.
1 Like
You clearly have not been 4 wheeling⊠Even Ford Chevy and Toyota etc etc puts bigger tires on some/most of the real off road trucks⊠I for one owned a Power Wagon, and it did better in mud and off roading with bigger AT tires⊠And it handled great in the curves, Just as good as my car did back in the dayâŠ
Lifts, bigger (taller) tires give you more ground clearance when going over downed trees and big rocksâŠ
Those are for show trucks, I am referring to real off roadingâŠ
I had 265/70R17 tires on a 2 wheel drive Dodge Ram for 12 years, not a huge tire, turns corners as it should. I would think you could use a larger tire on a 4-wheel drive, at least a 33" or 35" tire.
The manufactureâs label on the driverâs door reads 225/75R16. Iâm considering replacing the door.
1 Like
A friend of mine put a lift on his CRV with 31âs on it, no rub and drove great, he does a lot of fishing and camping and gets around in the off road terrain much better nowâŠ
1 Like