2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Biggest tires on 02 3500

[dward]

I have a 3500 DRW and want to go with bigger tires.
I may even research making it into a SRW with a flat bed or Utility bed as I really don't need the training wheels.
I would like to keep the suspension stock and assume the front will be the limiting factor for rubbing?
What would be a good size tire to run without any issues?
I'm thinking maybe up to a 315 or worst case a 295.
Whats everyone using?

 

[Bob4x4]

There is so little bump travel with the stock suspension.............

 

[dward]

What does that mean?
Would it be better to do a small lift, and how much will that affect the wear on component?

 

[Bob4x4]

The only way to get an improvement in the off road ride quality is to increase the distance of travel before you hit the bump stops.In the front this should be done with a new spring and shocks.In my second gen I went with a Carli kit.With the Carli control arms it will fit 37"tires if the wheels have the correct back spacing

 

[Road Dog]

Are you using stock rims? I think they're 6.5" wide which would limit you to a 255/85R16 tire.

Like others said, the real issue is suspension travel.

 

[Woodenhead]

If you're keeping the duals then having a safe clearance between your rear tires will be the limiting factor, if they start to touch they'll eventually fail. If it's a drum rear end then the max you'll get away (safely) with is a 235, if it's a disc rear end then I think the offset is a bit different and 255s may fit. Upgrading to 17" wheels from a 3rd gen is a good option as well, this is the direction I went. There are spacers out there but there's a few down sides to that option.

 

[SAndreasen]

I run 265/75/16 on the front and 235/85/16 on the back . On a single wheel I always ran 285/75/16 all the way around with no issues

 

[dward]

Hmm.
Never thought about different sizes.
Is a 285 and 235 the same height so as not to cause problems with the 4x4 turning at different speeds?
I assume as long as they're both 75/16 the height would be the same.
It would be a good option for driving on sand. Keep an extra set of single 285s for the rear so you can air down and not worry about the DRW issues.
I guess if the fronts were getting worn down and the rears were new, there would be a slight difference in height but shouldn't be an issue in sand.
Thanks

 

[SAndreasen]

Hmm.
Never thought about different sizes.
Is a 285 and 235 the same height so as not to cause problems with the 4x4 turning at different speeds?
I assume as long as they're both 75/16 the height would be the same.
It would be a good option for driving on sand. Keep an extra set of single 285s for the rear so you can air down and not worry about the DRW issues.
I guess if the fronts were getting worn down and the rears were new, there would be a slight difference in height but shouldn't be an issue in sand.
Thanks

Yes they are the same height All the duallys around here run em

 

[Road Dog]

Hmm.
Never thought about different sizes.
Is a 285 and 235 the same height so as not to cause problems with the 4x4 turning at different speeds?
I assume as long as they're both 75/16 the height would be the same.
It would be a good option for driving on sand. Keep an extra set of single 285s for the rear so you can air down and not worry about the DRW issues.
I guess if the fronts were getting worn down and the rears were new, there would be a slight difference in height but shouldn't be an issue in sand.
Thanks

No, they're not the same. For a given aspect ratio (the 75%) as the tire gets wider it gets taller. You can go to some place like tirerack.com and look at the specs. For example:

LT235/85R16 is 31.7" (what's on my dually)

LT265/75R16 is 31.6" (the most common truck tire size in 16" and happens to be the same diameter as a dually tire)
LT285/75R16 is 32.8"
LT315/75R16 is 34.5" (the biggest tire that easily fits on Dodge Ram)

To keep tires the same diameter in 17" the aspect drops 5%:

LT235/80R17 is 31.8"
LT265/70R17 is 31.6"

 

[SAndreasen]

Like i say every dually around here runs 235 85 in the back and .265 in the front I run mine in .4wd on the freeway a lot of times in the winter sometimes for for 40 or 50 miles never had a problem

 

[dward]

Thanks for the good info.
I had my stock steel wheels powder coated today and had new 265/75/16 Firestone TransForce tires installed on the front and kept the 235s on the rear which still have good tread.
This is a good combo but I may want to go a little bigger.
I spoke with a local wheel adapter manuf. (Fred Goeske) and may eventually get their 2" adapter for the rear so I can run 285s front and rear.
I'll wear this set out first and see how they perform and may even stick with the smaller size.
I plan to carry a heavy Lance camper so not running an adapter will be less stress on the rear end.
As this truck came from Iowa the wheels were rusted pretty bad and the new semi gloss powder coating did wonders. Looks good with the black wheels and chrome center caps.

 

[crabman]

Link to information about tires:
https://tiresize.com/chart/