Best Tires with 2" Leveling Only?

[Tulsa618]

Once I get my leveling kit installed this week, I plan to find some larger tires to fill up that void. What would my recommended maximum tire size be? I’ve been reading everything I can find on this web site and across the ‘net and I’m getting a sense that anything beyond a 305/70 could require additional lift or extended or “chopped” fenders. However, my driving style is relatively sedate – I do no intentional off-roading, and rarely carry a load beyond a couple bags of sand. I’ll be sticking with the original 16X8 wheels. Would it be possible to put 315/75s in there? And would the 315/75s take my 3. 54 gearing down too far?



What about the profile of the x/70s versus x/75s? Would one look more proportionally correct than the other? Anything else I need to consider?

 

[MJawsman]

I think most people on here will tell you to go with the 315's. The gearing will definitely be off, but the fact that you have an auto should mitigate any slow starts. Since off roading and or hauling are minimal, you should be fine. As far as your question on aspect ratio (70 or 75 series), that affects the height of the sidewall assuming the same width. So a 315/75R16 and a 315/70R16 have the same width, but the 75 series has a greater overall height.



Just my . 02...

 

[Patriot Diesel]

315/75-16 looks awesome...but...

I have the ProComp Xterrains in the 315/75-16 size. I have a 2" leveling kit installed. It looks fantastic, only time they rub is lock to lock. Know this though with 3. 54 gears... you will DEFINATELY feel a significant difference off the line... doesn't bother me I have plenty of power to spare, but I wish I had the 4. 10 gears...



I could NEVER go back to the smaller tires... My truck was parked next to a very similar one the other day, it had standard 265's and no kit, it looked signifcantly smaller/lower. You pick up over 4" of front end height over stock... when you combine the two... BIG difference...







This is my truck profile... .



2000 2500HD QUADCAB CUMMINS AUTO WITH 3. 54'S,LB,4x4,ALL OPTIONS MINUS LEATHER,, BLUE CHIP WIZARD PREMIUM F. M. S. , BULLYDOG STEP V INJECTORS, PIERS SUPER HX40-16 TURBO, DTT 91% TC/VB-WITH AMSOIL ATF INSIDE, DTT SMART CONTROLLER, BULLYDOG 5"(STOVEPIPE) EXHAUST, PE4200 LIFT PUMP LOCATED BACK BY THE TANK W/ 35PSI ULTRALITE FP GAUGE, AFE MEGACANNON WITH AFE PREFILTER, UWS DP TOOL BOX,SPORTMASTER SOFT TONNEAU,CARR STEP, VENTVISOR, 315/75/16 PRO COMP XTERRAIN'S, 2" TUFF COUNTRY F. E. L. KIT, RANCHO RS9000 SHOCKS, RS5000 STABILIZER, AMSOIL 15W-40, PS ADJ. IDLE CONTROLLER, PS TENSIONER PULLEY, AIWA CDC-MP3 PLAYER, AUTOMETER DIFF. & TRANS. GAUGES, JORDAN ULTIMA 2020, TEKONSHA SENTINEL, 16K REESE 5TH, MAG-HYTEC DIFF. COVER W/ AMSOIL 2000 75/90, MAG-HYTEC DOUBLE DEEP transmission PAN, , COBRA CB IN A MBROLIN CB MOUNT, TWIN 4FT FIRESTIK 2'S, BOB V. 2-WHEEL LOW KIT, KC BACKUP LIGHTS, HELLA OPTILUX 2020 FOG/DRIVING LIGHTS, BREEZE CONSTANT TORQUE CLAMPS, RED CUMMINS VALVE COVER, VALENTINE ONE, GARMIN STREETPILOT GPS... All Performance Enhancements purchased from and installed by Advanced Diesel Technologywww.smokindiesel.comwww.smokindiesel.com... Thanks Andy and Doug !!... MORE GOODIES TO COME !!

 

[Seed Guy]

I personally will be going with the 315/75R16 Nitto Tera Grappler. I love the looks and on off road design of this tire. Definately check it out. Mainly so i can get some pics before I do it.

 

[RKohn]

Going with Nitto next time...

305-70's. They're load range E too!!!



I really like the looks of my 315-75 yokohamas, but they rub at full lock, they're kinda tall for 3rd gear take-offs, and I'm gonna be lucky to get 40k out of them, at least the right rear one.

 

[Kyle]

35" - load range E

I'm done with load range D tires (25K miles max). In my last attempt to avoid paying for 19. 5" setup I'm trying a new set of Parnelli Jones "Dirt Grip" tires. They're 35x12. 50R/16 (same size as 315/75R-16) and they're load range E (10-ply rating). I have more precise steering, stiffer sidewalls, so far they're way better than the load range D I've tried. Time will tell how well they wear.



The interesting thing is that the tread is much more aggressive, but they're a lot quieter than my last set. Maybe the sidewall flex adds to the noise. I don't know, but they sound like street tires.



Every day I drive on them I like them better.



One more thing. If mine ever rubbed it was on the back of the plastic fender liners (not the sheet metal). The left will rub when you turn left and the left tire is flexed up. You can see a raised "rib" where they'll hit about 2-3" inside the fender behind the front tire. I heated up the liner with a heat gun, pushed it back with a block of wood, and sort of "smoothed" it out. You can't tell it's not supposed to look that way and they no longer rub -- even at max articulation with the sway bar removed!