Tires Sizes..??

[Silverado Brethern]

My silverado needs a new set of tires and im wondering what the difference between 265/75-R16 and 31x11.50-R16. I'm not sure about the differnce between actual sizing and ratio but i think every ratio size goes up 1.5 inches...anyone know more about this?

[Shortbus]

Ask Grant over in our wheel and tire section.
Here is the link AutomotiveForums>wheelsandtires

[Silverado Brethern]

ok...does any one out there happen to have something like a 33x12.50 or 32x11.5 on a 97 z71 body style?

[chevytrucks92]

265/75/16s are pretty well the same size as 31x10.50s. A 265 series tire is roughly 31 inches (depending on tire brand and style) and they are generally 10.4-10.6 or so inches wide.

33x12.50s will rub your lower valance and when you turn your wheels deep, and they are probably too big unless you have some type of lift. Now you can go 285s with a 3 in. body lift and have no problems whatsoever. (285/75/16=right at 33 in., give or take some, usually give and 11.5-11.7 in. wide.

[jeverett]

Aw man, 285's will fit with no lift... now 305/70's which are the exact same as a 33x12.50 will not fit, they are wider than the 285's

[chevytrucks92]

He's got a 97 though, your's is the newer style. People say you can go 285s on the 88-98 body style with out a lift, but he'd have to crank his tortion bars up.

Anywyas, I'm just saying with a 3-inch body lift, he can put 285s with no problem.

[Silverado Brethern]

now my dad has 245/65R16's that is the stock size on his truck whick measures about 30.50", I'm pretty sure i can fit 285/75's on it with no problems. that should be close to 33x11.50 and what i have now measures/d 32x11

[jeverett]

true true...I didn't even pay attention to the year model...my mistake. Liek you said, that 3" lift should be more than enough

[kroseinaz]

I have a 2003 2500HD 4x4 with 285/70R16. I did have to adjust the torsion bars up a little to make room (only the front needs the clearance) for this size tire. Shame Chevy hasn't seen the light and lifted these some for us from the factory.

[wil99z]

put torsion bar keys and 2'' blocks in the rear and the 33 12.50s will fit just fine

[chevytrucks92]

My cousin has a 1992 Z-71. We put a 3-inch body lift on it and the 285s fit perfect. They fill up the fender wells pretty good, and don't rub anywhere. Now he could go 305s height wise, but not width.

I figured for sure a 2500HD could handle 285s with nothing done.