How do I fill up these wheelwells - question for people running larger tires

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I was looking at the truck yesterday compared to a Ford and a GMC and it struck me just how enourmous the wheelwells are on Dodges compared to the other two. So I have decided that the last piece of the puzzle to make this truck the meanest looking truck in town is to put on some tires that will look like they belong in those caverns. Plus, I am hoping to reduce my final drive to the point that I can take off in first instead of second gear. Currently, first is too low, and second bogs down just a wee bit. So, should I go with 285/75's or 295/75's or 255/85's or something else? Please share anything you can about brand satisfaction, appearance, and handling that you have noticed. Thanks!

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'00 2500 reg cab LB 4x4, 5spd, LSD, Van Aaken, 275 injectors, regulator boost fooler w/elbow, combo boost/egt guage, line-x, alumasport diamond toolbox, vernier idle controler, cold front, Warn front receiver, ventvisors and stepguards by autoventshade, OEM foglights, Super H headlight bulbs, my own "brite box", hide-a-hook, loadsaver, G-tech, name a factory option - I don't have it!

 

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I looked at a Y2K + 1 at the dealership and it had 285's on it. . looked pretty good... my tires looked like donuts compared to it... Am thining of getting the 285's but i'll have to wait till my 245's wear out. .

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99 Quad,Long bed 4x4 SLT Auto,K & N ,Prime loc Ready to be installed: Suncoast coverter,Mag-Hytec trans pan, Auto meter gauges. . Boost,EGT,Fuel Pressure,Trans Temp, "true" 5 inch exhaust from turbo to tail pipe at Jet-Hot,BD Valve body and pressure loc on the way..... Soon Blue Box and HX-40

 

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I love my BFG 285/75 AT KO's! They ride better than my stock tires did and get better gas mileage on the street. They work great in the sand. Heck, they even propelled me to a 17. 3@80 mph at the dragstrip on Sunday!!! #ad
I do take off in 2nd gear unless I'm pulling a load. I've yet to have them rub either and that's with some pretty serious off-roading.


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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR, Chapter Forums Moderator
'98 Quad Cab Long Bed (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, Prime-loc remote fuel filter, boost & pyro gauges, TST Powermax, muffler eliminator, 5" chrome tip, BD Exhaust Brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, Permatech spray in liner, Grizzly stainless nerf bars, Stull SS grill & bumper inserts, Front Draw-Tite receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's

 

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You guy's think the factory 245's or 265's look funky?

You should see the 235/85/16's I put on my beast... from behind, it looks like an elephant on ice skates #ad


I sold the factory Michelin's at 400 miles and put Bridgestone 285/75/16 MT's on the factory wheels. I did not like the idea of putting the 285's on a 6. 5" wheel but had no choice. When they hit 45K, I put Dunlop 255/85/16's on the factory wheels and lost fuel mileage (2mpg) on the first two tanks. Took those back to Discount and they traded for the 235's.

When this set is gone, I'll get new wheels and tires. The plan is for 16x8 Mickey Thompson Challengers or Classic II's with 285/75/16's again.

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1999 Quad Cab 2500 ST 4X4 SB 24V/5speed 3. 54/LSD Driftwood/Agate
[*] 275hp Injectors, Wastegate Elbow, Boost Module by TXRam, Straight Pipe
[*] VDO Boost and Pyrometer on Autometer Gauge Pod
[*] 235/85/16 Dunlop Mud Rovers, RS9000's, Hella 500 Driving Lights Husky Liners
[*] Smittybilt Sure-Steps, Magellan 315 GPS mounted on shifter console

-- email address removed --

 

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The 285/75's are the perfect tire IMHO without a lift. I was looking into lifting the front about 1" to go to 305/75's but nobody makes anything less than 2".

If you want I can send some pic's of the Beast.

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1999 2500 QC 4X4 LB Auto 4. 10, Driftwood, CD player with Steering Wheel Controls, Power Driver's Seat, 275HP Injectors, Boost Regulator & Elbow, K&N Air Filter, Brushguard, Spray-in Liner, 285/75R16 BFG AT KO's, Nerf Bars, Black Diamond Plate Deep Well Tool Box, Mopar flat antispray guards (front and back)
2000 Yamaha Big Bear 400 4X4
NRA Member

 

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I have 285/75/16 on my stock chrome wheels works and looks good.

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1998. 5 4x4 cummins auto.
Flame red SLT.
3. 54 gears.
2inch front leveling kit.
285/75/16 Country squire radial R/T tires on stock chrome wheels.
JVC cd player.
lots of stainless and aluminum trim.
4 inch exhaust turbo back in the mail.
K@N filter.
electronic speedo recalibrator.
Aluminum 120 gallon service tank and tool box combo.

 

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I'm drooling at the thought of replacing my 99's donuts and filling up those monsterous wheel wells. Can anyone tell me how going to 285's affects 4 wheel ABS and the shift points on an Auto trans? I also understand that the Abbott wont work on 4 wheel ABS. I'm sure many have this combo..... what's the effect??

Thanks

 

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TX - yes please I would love to see pictures. I am looking for exactly what you describe - an off road look that is not quite as obvious as a lift.

Is there anybody here running 255/85's? I am sure I read in an old thread that several guys have them and like them alot. One thing that appeals to me is the width being more or less the same as stock. Even my 265/75 snows stick a little past the mudflaps, and I'm not sure I would want to go even wider to the 285's. Plus the 255/85 is slightly larger in diameter, 33. 5 vs. 33

 

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Articat,
Got to love all this rain. I've learned all about how limited slip, BOMB'd hp and wet roads are a formula for disaster... (almost)

You and your old man must have finished that mansion you were building. Hmmm Stage III's, new tires, ..... $$$$ (or maybe you fell into my trap and decided to keep the old girl and invest rather than buy that ETH DEE... ??)

The 285's look great. My buddy has them on his 1500 and loves them. He did add some rubber blocks to the front springs, but that was more for his plow weight than anything else. TX, he got the blocks at the local autoparts store. I think they look cheezy but me friend has had no problems with them.

 

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I've been running the 255/85 tires for a while. I've used that size on a past vehicle, one set Dunlop Radial Rovers, one set Dunlop Mud Rovers. I don't really remember how the tires were.
I have the Kelly MSR tire now. Pretty aggressive tread in snow, mud and even sand. I think the tread life will leave a little to be desired.
Size wise it is real good. Dropped my RPM's about 200 at 75 mph. In changed the speedo drive gear 2 teeth (smaller, I think) and it is right on. Definetely fill the wheel wels.


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"Roadrunner"-96 4X4 club cab-12v-auto-3. 54 gears-Amsoil bypass filter - all Amsoil fluids-trans filter-britebox-shelfit-DeeZee boards-Rhino liner-Rancho 5 speed shocks-Hellwig rear antisway & overload springs-Warn 12000 lb. winch-dual redtop optimas-combo gauge and trans. temp gauge in pillar mount-255/85R16 Kelly MSR tires-custom pinstriping- Walker muffler-Cummins mudflaps

 

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Hey guys, how big can we go and still use the stock spare tire storage? Will 285's still fit?

 

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Arcticat, I`m with Steve on the 285 BFG AT KO`s. I had Kellys of the same size on it at first but couldn`t get them to balance and the truck didn`t handle well going down the road. Put the BFG`s on and it was like night and day!!! Looks perfect, rides good, goes down the road as staight as a 7000#+ arrow can go!!! Put them on 16x8 wheels though, the 6. 5`s are to narrow for that big of a tire. I don`t know if you pull a 5ver or not but the only way your going to fill that back wheelwell is to lower the back of the truck an inch or two. (thats one big wheelwell!!!) As far as the spare tire storage goes, I think the 285 would still go in there,with a little work maybe. Good luck... JW

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John W. - Indiana - Black 99 4x4 QC Sport LB 24V AT 4. 10 Gears Loaded Including Leather and cab lights,285 BFG A/Ts , 16x8 American Racing Baja Wheels,Bed cover, Bushwacker flares, Ventvisors, Rancho RS5000 Steering Stabilizer, 12,000lb Winch mounted where the spare tire used to be, Walker #21468 straight thru muffler... and my Halo light still works!! Bomb My truck?? No way!!(Wink Wink) More to come ...

[This message has been edited by Truckman (edited 05-25-2000). ]

 

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Just got a set of 35x12. 5x16. 5 KO's put on mine yesterday. They ride much smoother than the Mud-Terrains but too quiet. Well I'll just live with. Looks great!!

Now that's how you fill up a fenderwell!!!

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'99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4,Intense Blue Pearlcoat,fully loaded w/Agate leather interior,5-speed,4. 10 limited slip,Skyjacker Leveling kit,Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual end to end steering stabilizers,35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG/AT KO's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels,9004 Cool Blue's,Silencer Ring removed,Fog Lights relay pulled,No muffler,No resonator,4" straight pipe.

 

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The 285/75's fit fine on the 6. 5" wheels. As a matter of fact, the tire dealer is the one that recommended the size (and I checked with 3 different ones before I did it). I'd also seen them on several trucks with the stock wheels, so I knew I liked the looks. I'll send the pic's ASAP (have to take pic's first #ad
) - try to get them out this weekend.

 

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I have 35x12. 50x16. 5 bfg's on weld 16. 5x9. 75's. If I could change I would use bfg's 295-75-16's on 16x9 this would fill the wheel well and not rub. and give me a tad better mpg's

 

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I'm with Steve and Truckman,
I also have BFG 285 all-terrain KO's. I have them mounted on the factory alloys and with full steering wheel turn I don't get any rubbing or hitting. I think 285 are the most proportionally correct tire size for ride and mileage. I also don't need an outrageous tread because this truck has to be practical and comfortable on long trips.

-Mike

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'00 QC 2500 4x4, 6spd, LB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT, Dark Garnet, Agate, Camper, Trailer, Fogs, Clarion 6-disc, Smittybilt nerfs, Midland CB, Isspro pyro & boost, K&N Scotty Air, 3" pipe bomb, 2wd low, OEM tailgate lites, Tow hooks, DD stage II, BFG 285/75, 5. 9L R/T

A vulgar display of power!

 

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Arcticat, I have pictures of my truck at http://my. voyager.net/stevest/vehicle.htm . I don't think the 285 will fit in the spare location. I'm just running my original spare and if I have a flat on the rear I'll put the spare on the front and move that tire to the rear (because I have LSD).

-Steve

 

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jjdiesel & Steve,

The 285/75/16 fits (barely) in the spare tire location. There is only about an inch to spare. I have a long bed, I don't know if shortbeds are different.


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98. 5 2500 QC LB 4x4 5spd, white. BFG 285x75x16
Cummins 24v w/ TST PowerMAX w/EGT and Boost gauges on A-Pillar.
VanAaken CPC. K&N In the factory air box. Stock Injectors, Stock Exhaust (complete with rattling baffles in muffler).
SnugTop, JJ Stainless Running boards, Tow Hooks, Bushwacker Street Flares, and a Cup Smoothie.
60,000 miles (5/18/00)

 

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Yeah all you guys running those big tires, but us dudes that have 3500's can't go any larger than 235's or switch over to 19. 5" rims and tires. Just my $. 02

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Rory
97' 3500 CC 4x2
Cummins,TSTed Auto, Bright
White / Spruce  Int.

 

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The best and most cost effective way to fill up the wheel well... <h3>mud</h3> lots of mud. Some good stickey clay works best, and it will look god on a 2500 or a 3500 without a tire problem. That is unless you get stuck applying the mircle muk. The call me. #ad
#ad

Wayne

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Wrecked on May 13 1:30 am Needs new doghouse and airbag crap. But will smoke again. Story in Doc's thread in other.
1996 2500 regular cab,long bed, 4x4, 5 speed, Rhino Liner
Stock plate must have slid forward when I hit the brakes
-- email address removed -- , Great Lakes TDR
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