upgrade tire size for '99 2500 2WD ?

[cdpsrjc]

I have a '99 2500 2WD CTD with factory chrome 6. 5 wheels. The current Michelin 245/75/16E tires have 50K on them and it's time to upgrade. The truck is a daily driver (mostly interstate)and I do not take her offroad if I can help it. I like the Michelin M/S in 265/75/16E. The specs call for a 7" rim. Problems? Will the 265 rub anywhere? I do not want to lift.



same question with various 285 and stock 2WD?



If I'd be better off with a forged aluminum wheel (the sacrafices we make) to get the bigger tires to work correctly, please let me know that too. I've searched the last couple of days, but most posts are about 4X4 and they have additional wheel clearance. What about backspacing for the alloys?



Help me give the stocker a correct facelift! It's past time.



Richard

 

[Un-Hemi]

I've seen a truck with 265 M/Ss on the 6. 5" wheels. It looked like the tread had more crown in it than I would have liked. I'm in the same boat as you; I have 245 M/Ss on 6. 5s. Nice tires. My choice would be 8" wheels with 265/75/16s Michelin A/Ss on them. Unlike most of the guys on the TDR site, off-road to me is a gravel driveway. The closer to a 'summer' tire I can get, the happier I'll be. Unfortunately, 'summer'-tread tires are difficult to find in sizes larger than 265s. I'm not sure what the factory backspacing is for their forged wheel, but I would just measure the 6. 5" wheel's backspacing and try to find 8" wheels with approximately 3/4" more backspacing... . if they are available. In case you haven't read it before, the newer factory alloy wheels won't fit the earlier trucks unless the brake drums are modified. The clearances on the front is close too.

 

[kchristopher]

I ran 265/75-16 Michelins for years on 6. 5" rims with no problems. I now run 255/85, which are the same height as teh 285/75 tires. Not sure if they would fit under a 2wd or not. Probably would.

 

[cdpsrjc]

Thanks very much for the information. After considering all the options available to me, I decided to go back with 245's.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by kchristopher

I ran 265/75-16 Michelins for years on 6. 5" rims with no problems. I now run 255/85, which are the same height as teh 285/75 tires. Not sure if they would fit under a 2wd or not. Probably would.

They won't fit a 2wd without rubbing in the fronts in the turns. I have 265/75's on 8" rims now and they rub just a tiny bit when I turn the wheel hard and there is any terrain involved. The 285's would have required some cutting of the plastic well.



Kev