Tire size help for a noob

[Matt2212]

I have been looking at tires for my duramax becouse the stock street tires get stuck in the sand if you look at it let alone try to park in it, I tow a lot and don't want to affect the trucks ability to do so.

I wanted to go wider without going taller if possible. is there a calculation I can use?

stock is 265/70 r 18

I was thinking 275/65 would be safe but I hoped i could get away with 305/65

and I have a front end leveling kit to help with clearence

thanks for the help

 

[Matt2212]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

i found this with search but would still like advice...

 

[dmax06]

You can run 305's all day long as long as u don't mind picking up the front end. You can stuff 315's under it with a little work

 

[Matt2212]

You can run 305's all day long as long as u don't mind picking up the front end. You can stuff 315's under it with a little work

Thanks I have a leveling kit on the front so you think all is good on stock rims?

From the calculator it looks like less than an inch in hight change so towing should not be an issue I think

 

[Hot COCOAL]

For your new truck i imagine you dont want to trim anything, and may i suggest not to level your stock torsion keys. A good towing tire that is reasonably siuted to the sand and snow rain and dry imo is the bfg ta at2, nitto dune grapplers are supposed to be super good in sand, and i have been a fan of pro comp extreme at for a while now. To give you some tires to look at. As for size... 285 is a nice stable and capable width, it will keep your road noise down, and track well while towing, 65 tall is about as tall as you can go with a 285 before you get a little rub, same goes for width, if you try to run a 305/65/r18 you will prob rub, if you try to run a 285/70/r18 you will prob rub(just a little a full crank) 285/65/r18 is a safe tire size for a stock height rig. If you get new rims wheel back spacing and off set will play a big part in in what you can fit.

 

[blk smoke lb7]

305s you have no problem i have 315s and had to level it and trim the lower valance and inner fender but i have no problems at at all.

 

[Matt2212]

For your new truck i imagine you dont want to trim anything, and may i suggest not to level your stock torsion keys. A good towing tire that is reasonably siuted to the sand and snow rain and dry imo is the bfg ta at2, nitto dune grapplers are supposed to be super good in sand, and i have been a fan of pro comp extreme at for a while now. To give you some tires to look at. As for size... 285 is a nice stable and capable width, it will keep your road noise down, and track well while towing, 65 tall is about as tall as you can go with a 285 before you get a little rub, same goes for width, if you try to run a 305/65/r18 you will prob rub, if you try to run a 285/70/r18 you will prob rub(just a little a full crank) 285/65/r18 is a safe tire size for a stock height rig. If you get new rims wheel back spacing and off set will play a big part in in what you can fit.

Thanks

Might I ask why not to level the front torson keys? I had the dealer do it so not to void any warrentys (or so they say...) I'm sure they got me for a few $$$ but with the chevy dealer recept I felt ok about the extra $$

I looked at the bfg in the size you sugested and a goodyear duratrac in 295/65/r18

any thoughts? the i'm wondering if the duratrac would be to loud?

 

[Righteyeblind]

Duratracs are not too loud and the best tire there is out there. That would be a 33.1" tall tire and 11.62 wide. Should fit well with little to no trimming on stock wheels.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Matt- i suggest not to level your stock keys cuz you are only stressing out components that are ny design "weak" there are a bunch of ways to level your rig, none of them are that great, you want to have the angle of the front 1/2 axel to be level or parallel to the ground, this allows the joint to have freedom to move. When you level you ride with the t-bars you max out your suspension travel and range of motion of the cv joint, it ultra stresses the steering components, maxes out your cv angles and will ultimately significantly shorten the life of your entire ft end. Read up, leveling your stock truck with t bars is bad. JMHO

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Duratracks are a sweet tire. Loud is an opinion of great discussion, good luck. A/T tire will prolly suit your needs just fine. The procomp extreme A/T is an awesome tire that magically blends a mudder capabilities with an A/T ride and performance, they are directional, capable, quiet, and have a 40,000mi warranty.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

305s you have no problem i have 315s and had to level it and trim the lower valance and inner fender but i have no problems at at all.

He's Got the 900, the gmt 800 will fit a 305 and a 315 with some work, in my experience the newer body styles are a little more "pinched in",on the NBS no trimming= 285/65/18 jmo tho, i dont own a NBS