2001 Denali XL on 24s?

[bennybenster]

I'm sure there's someone here that has bought 24s for your Denali XL. I've been wanting to get 24s on mine and my wife finally has given me the green light. I found some that I like and is in my price range. But I want to know if I should lower the truck a bit to get rid of the gap? And if so, should I just get a lowering kit or air bags? Will a lowering kit be more of a bumpy ride than the air bags? I still want the ride to be smooth even with the 24s. Anyone have any suggestions? PM me or just reply to this post. Thanks.

[bennybenster]

So nobody has 24s on their Denali? That's pretty hard to imagine...

[tonytone]

Well the ride won't be smooth since you have to go with a lower profile on the 24s (compared to going with 22s); other than that, you could probably offset some of the ride quality loss by getting the McGaughys lowering kit (make sure you get shock extenders if you go this route)--they have a 2/3 and 3/5 kit, and obviously your ride will suck a bit more if you go with a 3/5 drop and 24s.

I reckon going with the complete McGaughys 2/3 kit will give you a slightly-better ride compared to a lowered drop w/ air bags (notice I didn't say that you'll get a better ride, period--just that it's better compared to airbags). I guess what it comes down to is how much of a drop are you willing to accept...

[Denalix5]

Originally Posted by bennybenster

I'm sure there's someone here that has bought 24s for your Denali XL. I've been wanting to get 24s on mine and my wife finally has given me the green light. I found some that I like and is in my price range. But I want to know if I should lower the truck a bit to get rid of the gap? And if so, should I just get a lowering kit or air bags? Will a lowering kit be more of a bumpy ride than the air bags? I still want the ride to be smooth even with the 24s. Anyone have any suggestions? PM me or just reply to this post. Thanks.

Why not go with 22s. I've had 22's on mine and I actually think the ride is a little better. It is a little firmer ride but now it doesn't float as much when going over dips and bumps and it handles much better on the curves. I have a friend who put 22's on his Yukon and he said his ride is definately a little rougher. I think the Denali suspension definately helps make it smoother especially when you are reducing the amount of rubber between the truck and pavement.

[mmeraz]

I got 24 on mine. i think the ride is pretty close to stock. Don't think I am going to do anything to the suspension. A buddy of mine has 26" and the ride does sufer a bit. After riding in his I decided to go with 24" rims.

[tonytone]

Originally Posted by mmeraz

I got 24 on mine. i think the ride is pretty close to stock. Don't think I am going to do anything to the suspension. A buddy of mine has 26" and the ride does sufer a bit. After riding in his I decided to go with 24" rims.

Close to stock w/ 24? Man, your idea of "close" must be different from mine; drive over a fairly deep pothole or rough pavement at speed w/ those 24" wheels (if you even dare to) and then tell me if you think the ride is still pretty close to stock...

[mmeraz]

Originally Posted by tonytone

Close to stock w/ 24? Man, your idea of "close" must be different from mine; drive over a fairly deep pothole or rough pavement at speed w/ those 24" wheels (if you even dare to) and then tell me if you think the ride is still pretty close to stock...

I never said you can drive over potholes. Sh*t I would not even do that with my stock tires. That's pretty stupid in my opinion. I am not a fan of throwing my alignment out of whack. Yeah I know sometimes you can't avoid every pothole or object on the road. I was talking overall ride such as freeway driving or normal street driving. On my other car I have 245/35/20 size tires. Those are even smaller and I avoid potholes like the plague. The ride kinda sucks but ohh well. The price you pay to have your car look good.

[Denalix5]

Originally Posted by mmeraz

I never said you can drive over potholes. Sh*t I would not even do that with my stock tires. That's pretty stupid in my opinion. I am not a fan of throwing my alignment out of whack. Yeah I know sometimes you can't avoid every pothole or object on the road. I was talking overall ride such as freeway driving or normal street driving. On my other car I have 245/35/20 size tires. Those are even smaller and I avoid potholes like the plague. The ride kinda sucks but ohh well. The price you pay to have your car look good.

I think Tonytone was just saying the ride is not as soft as stock when you have 24's. I have 22's on mine and I actually like the ride better than the stock 17's. Its a little firmer but no floating over big bumps. I tried the 24's but with less rubber between the wheel and pavement made the ride too rough. The ride definately becomes more harsh with the 24's.

[tonytone]

Originally Posted by Denalix5

I think Tonytone was just saying the ride is not as soft as stock when you have 24's. I have 22's on mine and I actually like the ride better than the stock 17's. Its a little firmer but no floating over big bumps. I tried the 24's but with less rubber between the wheel and pavement made the ride too rough. The ride definately becomes more harsh with the 24's.

Yep that's what I meant; sorry if I was implying that one should drive over a pothole to see if indeed the ride on 24's is still almost just as good as stock. Mmeraz is the first person I've heard who has said that the ride on 24's is almost as good as stock--just about everyone else who has gone with 24's has claimed that the ride is nowhere near as plush as the stockers; I don't dispute his claim since each person's opinion regarding ride on different-sized tires/wheels can be somewhat subjective. However, given the huge difference in the amount of rubber between the rim and the road between a 35-series 24" and a 70-series 17" tire...I personally would find it incredulous to believe that a tire with very little sectional rubber can absorb road pavement just as well as one with lots of sectional rubber--just the physics involved would prove that such cannot be the case.

Put it this way--if the ride on 24's is indeed pretty close to stock, then imagine how much better it must be on 22's or 20's...

But I will agree with mmeraz on one thing--24's do look better than 22's.