Biggest tires with no lift on 2500 4x4??

[Rockcrawler]

Hi guys-

Soon I'll be buying another set of tires, I strongly considered 19. 5's but just can't justify the expense for a vague 2-4x improvement in tire life + the cloudy issues of spinning the tire on the wheel, reduced wet weather performance etc.



I don't want to lift the truck because I have no need to go higher and like the existing suspension, tows well, would have to lift my fifth wheel jeep hauler etc. Yes I know the truck will be lifted a little if I increase tire Diameter)



does anyone make fender cutouts for the front? How about pushing the front axle forward an inch or so?



I'd really like to get something bigger than the 285/75's and life would be good if i could get away with a 36" tire (I have a good source of slightly used ones). The mods to the engine will easily handle the 10% gearing increase- I'm often looking for one more gear as it is.



what will fit as is? What do I need to do to run the 36's (Actually 37's which measure 36") I can live with rub on the control arms in a full lock turn. I don't wheel with the truck- my Jeep fills that need. Thanks for your input

 

[Rob Thomas]

Rockcrawler,



I'm not sure on the act. 36" tall tire, that may be to much. The biggest tire I would put on without a lift is 315's,which are act. 34 1/2", I think. I have them on mine since new, I installed a 2 1/2" coil in front to make it level,but you don't NEED to, it just looks better if you do and they're not that expensive. Hope that helps 'ya.



Later, Rob

 

[SS]

Rockcrawler,



My 305/85R16's measure a hair over 36" and use them with a 3" lift front / 1" lift rear. The rear fit without modification, but the truck sat level as measured at the wheel openings. I have done some moderate wheelin' and the tires have never touched. They are very close in several areas, so I'm not sure I could get by with less lift. My wheels have about 1/2" more offset, so the track width is about 1" wider than stock.



If you only lift the front, of course your fifth wheel height would remain the same. I think Skyjacker makes a double flex series kit with adjustable control arms which could move the axle and may help slightly with full lock turning. Good luck.

 

[ssurdahl]

How big

I'm running 305/75x16's and have no problems with rubbing at either full lock or suspension compression. At full lock there is very little room for a wider tire without resorting to corrective actions (i. e. lifts, steering stop adjustments, spacers, etc. ) There is plenty of room vertically for tires larger than 305's, but at what expense?



The 3. 54's combined with 305's had an impact on fuel economy as well as 'round town acceleration so don't be surprised if your 18 MPG (in town) drops to 12 MPG. Freeway power is down also, but it is not as noticable. Hiway mileage declined from 22 to 16.



Time to bomb, eh?

 

[wyosteve]

SS- I'm curious as to your mileage drop. Is that actual calculated mileage? The reason I ask is that if you go with bigger tires, it throws your odometer off so you are actually showing fewer miles than you actually drove. For example, when I had 255's on my 95, it was off about 10%. So I actually drove 110 miles when the odometer showed 100.

 

[NVR FNSH]

I run 315/75s on my STOCK '00 2500. I have the factory alum wheels. The tires rub on the control arms before full lock.



What load range are the 305/85 Coyotes?



Brian

 

[Rob Thomas]

SS- I'm curious as to your mileage drop. Is that actual calculated mileage? The reason I ask is that if you go with bigger tires, it throws your odometer off so you are actually showing fewer miles than you actually drove. For example, when I had 255's on my 95, it was off about 10%. So I actually drove 110 miles when the odometer showed 100.

Yea, You should be getting better MPH with bigger tires, to a point.



Later, Rob

 

[ssurdahl]

WYOSTEVE

Steve, The Abbott ERA--as stated in my signature--is a little electronic gizmo that adjusts the pulse coming from the diff tone ring to the computer. This signal is used by the computer to calculate MPH (and other things) and has been modified by the Abbott unit.



The 305's introduced roughly 10% error compared to stock tire size.

 

[SS]

Brian,



My Coyotes are rated at 2400 lbs. at 35 psi. About a month after I bought them, Denman announced their new and improved high load rating 305/85R16 tire - 3640 lbs. at 69 psi. 2400 lbs. each is enough for truck and light trailer, but if I have to tow big occasionally, I put the stock wheels/tires back on. Can't wait to burn these up and get the high load range Coyotes.



Steve