Tire Sizes

[JEEPRZ2003@YAHOO.COM]

HOW BIG OF A TIRE CAN I PUT ON THE STOCK STEEL GM 8 BOLT RIMS? NOW I'M RUNNING 265s AND JUST WANTED A LITTLE MORE.

[young_gun]

I once saw a guy with 315/75/16's on a 6 bolt stock wheel.....but I don't think that's a good idea. I'm running 265's too, but I think 285's would be the limit.

[christja]

HOW BIG OF A TIRE CAN I PUT ON THE STOCK STEEL GM 8 BOLT RIMS? NOW I'M RUNNING 265s AND JUST WANTED A LITTLE MORE.

Im running 305/70/r16 on mine

[sixnickel]

The stock 8 lug rim is 16" by6.5" by the book you run 245/75 or 235/85 16 on that narrow rim! A lot of people run bigger tires on that rim ond wonder why the center of the tire wears out fast? It 's because the beads are to close together and it changes the tires profile and foot print. You should have at least 8" rims for the bigger tires. Go to some tire web site and they list the preferred rim sizes for the tire size. I run 235/85R16 on my 2000K3500srw. It is a tall , skinny tire (about 32 1/2")because I wanted a tall tire but I was to cheap to buy wide rims!! Also the skinney tire is much better in the snow, shush and rain they don"t get pushed around as much!! My opinion!!
But I am a old FART!!!

[Husker 6.5]

The stock 8 lug rim is 16" by6.5" by the book you run 245/75 or 235/85 16 on that narrow rim! A lot of people run bigger tires on that rim ond wonder why the center of the tire wears out fast? It 's because the beads are to close together and it changes the tires profile and foot print. You should have at least 8" rims for the bigger tires. Go to some tire web site and they list the preferred rim sizes for the tire size. I run 235/85R16 on my 2000K3500srw. It is a tall , skinny tire (about 32 1/2")because I wanted a tall tire but I was to cheap to buy wide rims!! Also the skinney tire is much better in the snow, shush and rain they don"t get pushed around as much!! My opinion!!
But I am a old FART!!!

I'm running American Racing 16x8 8 lug which is the widest recommended rim to use with the LT245/75-16E LongTrails I'm running on my C2500HD. Your absolutely right about narrow tires getting better bite! Look at military tires on deuce-and-a-halfs, five tons and jeeps. Narrow, high void to rubber ratio, dig deep and bite. Big wides look good on the strip cruising, but float like crazy in wet snow, slush, and mud. Look at mud draggers: They use those big flotation paddle tires to skim over the top like a waterbug. Same thing in sand. In Desert Storm they were changing out tires on the HEMMIT's 5T's and deuces to bigger flotation tires to keep from disapearing into the sand. They even swapped out the narrow rear dualies for one really big wide rear tire. Us older farts need to stick together, often times we have seen and forgotten more that the young kids have learned.

[young_gun]

255/85/R75's will be narrower than 265/75's, but are taller by about an inch. They work out to be about 33 inchers and are narrow enough to fit the recommendations for the stock rim. I might changeover to that size myself.

[sixnickel]

I was looking into that size 255/85R16 but I could only find 2 companys that made them. Goodrich and Dunlop. The Goodrich was avalible but it is a mud terrain ,not what I want. And the Dunlop rover was a all terrain what I wanted but it is always on back order. My thought was if I do get 4 of them what happens if I bust one and need 1 more and they are on back order again! So I wnnt with Michelin LTX/AT LT235/85R16s always avalible if I need one. I love them. They are round. quiet, and very smooth, stick like glue.and wear like iron.

[Husker 6.5]

I was looking into that size 255/85R16 but I could only find 2 companys that made them. Goodrich and Dunlop. The Goodrich was avalible but it is a mud terrain ,not what I want. And the Dunlop rover was a all terrain what I wanted but it is always on back order. My thought was if I do get 4 of them what happens if I bust one and need 1 more and they are on back order again! So I wnnt with Michelin LTX/AT LT235/85R16s always avalible if I need one. I love them. They are round. quiet, and very smooth, stick like glue.and wear like iron.

I love my Long Trails as a great All-Season tire. Very quiet on the highway, good wet and snow traction, but for winter next year, I'm going to mount a pair of LTX/AT's on a set of winter rims for rear "snow" tires. My friends that have them say the get great bite in the snow. Got to have that E load range, so I will stay with LT245/75/16E. (Until I go to 19.5 Semi rims and G load:D ). The LTX's are $175 each at Sam's Club.

[sixnickel]

The LT235/85R16 only comes in load range "E" and maybe "F" (I think Good Year makes them)THe "E" has a load cap. of 3042lbs@80psi same as the
LT245/75R16 load range"E" 3042lbs@80psi. Its taller and skinner but the same load!! I put then235s on to slow the engine down some. A poor mans over drive!

[Husker 6.5]

The LT235/85R16 only comes in load range "E" and maybe "F" (I think Good Year makes them)THe "E" has a load cap. of 3042lbs@80psi same as the
LT245/75R16 load range"E" 3042lbs@80psi. Its taller and skinner but the same load!! I put then235s on to slow the engine down some. A poor mans over drive!

Yeah, I should've remembered that. Another over 40 moment:eek: :D ! I'm not going to change sizes, yet, as I only have 10k on my TA's with another 60k to go, at least. When they do wear out, (unless I can't wait that long)that's when I'm seriously considering going to American Force 19.5 rims (8 lug pattern) or maybe use their 8 to 10 adapters and put a set of Alcoa's or Budd's 19.5's and get a serious "poor man's overdrive" with a 245 width. Not to mention a really serious look.

[djkrash]

Will LT255/85R16's fit under my stock height 1994 K2500 extcab? Thanks. Dan

[Chevylover]

Will LT255/85R16's fit under my stock height 1994 K2500 extcab? Thanks. Dan

265/75/16 fits the stock height, so than 255/85/16 should do also fit. There is only a difference about 1 cm in diameter.

Cu,
Sven

[djkrash]

Thank you. Dan