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295/70/17 With Bilstein Leveling Kit On 2007 Gmt900?

sockon

By sockon
in Tires, Wheels & TPMS

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sockon Enthusiast

sockon

Posted
Posted

I have a 2007 GMT 900 extended cab vortec max Silverado 1500 with 50k miles and I'm planning to do the Bilstein 5100 leveling shocks up front and matching Bilsteins for the rear when my stock tires/shocks wear out. I know a lot of people on here run 285/70/17 with a leveling kit with no problems, but I'm hoping for a little bigger tire. My stock size is 265/70/17, and going up to the 285 seems like such a minor change. If I'm going through the cost of leveling the truck, I'd like to get the largest possible tire I can. I don't mind having to remove the air valence or trim a little plastic, but I'm not looking to have to cut any metal or get aftermarket rims or fender flares.

 

Cooper Discoverer STT's come in 295/70/17 and have good reviews. Toyo Open Country MT's also come in this size and are well reviewed, but cost about $50 more per tire so they're probably out of the question.

 

If the 295/70/17 size isn't a good idea, I'll probably play it safe and go with some 285/70/17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac's which don't cost much less than the STT's.

 

I understand the Duratrac's are more of an all-terrain than the STT's, and they are probably better daily driver tires here in the icy North East, but I really like the idea of stepping up to a 295. I don't off-road all that much, so based on performance I'm sure both would meet my off-road needs. However I would like the more aggressive stance and ground clearance I would get from the largest tire reasonable on a leveled GMT900 Silverado with stock rims. I drive about 20,000 miles/year on the highway, some mud, a lot of snow/ice, and some sand.

 

Anyone have experience or thoughts with a set up like this?

Chris's 07 Enthusiast

Chris's 07

Posted
Posted

I got the terra grapplers in 285/70r17 on my truck and love them . I heard that the 295 will fit but you got to trim the inner wheel well a bit.

sockon Enthusiast

sockon

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I got the terra grapplers in 285/70r17 on my truck and love them . I heard that the 295 will fit but you got to trim the inner wheel well a bit.

 

I wouldn't mind triming a little off the inner plastic fender. As long as I don't have to trim any metal I would be happy going with a 295. If the rear is an issue, I wouldn't have a problem adding a 1" block. I just don't want to have to do a full suspension lift or radical modifications.

 

I don't have any experience with Nitto tires, they don't seem to be too popular or readily available where I live in the New England area. I don't know anyone that runs them. I've mostly run goodyear and have been happy, but they don't have the size I'm looking for.

 

Would a 295/70/17 look like too big of a tire stuffed in the fender wells with only a levelling kit? I don't want it to look out of place, but I defintely want the extra ground clearance.

Chris's 07 Enthusiast

Chris's 07

Posted
Posted
I got the terra grapplers in 285/70r17 on my truck and love them . I heard that the 295 will fit but you got to trim the inner wheel well a bit.

 

I wouldn't mind triming a little off the inner plastic fender. As long as I don't have to trim any metal I would be happy going with a 295. If the rear is an issue, I wouldn't have a problem adding a 1" block. I just don't want to have to do a full suspension lift or radical modifications.

 

I don't have any experience with Nitto tires, they don't seem to be too popular or readily available where I live in the New England area. I don't know anyone that runs them. I've mostly run goodyear and have been happy, but they don't have the size I'm looking for.

 

Would a 295/70/17 look like too big of a tire stuffed in the fender wells with only a levelling kit? I don't want it to look out of place, but I defintely want the extra ground clearance.

 

 

 

I dont think you have to trim any metal up front.I got my tires from discount tire direct.Here is my truck with the 285's on it,295's might look to big but thats just my .002IMG_1685.jpg

sockon Enthusiast

sockon

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I got the terra grapplers in 285/70r17 on my truck and love them . I heard that the 295 will fit but you got to trim the inner wheel well a bit.

 

I wouldn't mind triming a little off the inner plastic fender. As long as I don't have to trim any metal I would be happy going with a 295. If the rear is an issue, I wouldn't have a problem adding a 1" block. I just don't want to have to do a full suspension lift or radical modifications.

 

I don't have any experience with Nitto tires, they don't seem to be too popular or readily available where I live in the New England area. I don't know anyone that runs them. I've mostly run goodyear and have been happy, but they don't have the size I'm looking for.

 

Would a 295/70/17 look like too big of a tire stuffed in the fender wells with only a levelling kit? I don't want it to look out of place, but I defintely want the extra ground clearance.

 

 

 

I dont think you have to trim any metal up front.I got my tires from discount tire direct.Here is my truck with the 285's on it,295's might look to big but thats just my .002IMG_1685.jpg

 

 

That's a nice looking truck, I like the GMC rims a lot better than the Chevy ones. I think these trucks should have come stock with 285's, I'm hoping the 295's will make it look even more aggressive without drastically changing the characteristics of the truck.

Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
Posted

I have the Toyo Open Country A/T's in 285-70/17 on my truck with GMC 7.5" wide 6 spoke wheels. It's pretty tight on clearance now. I'm perfectly happy with the change in size and the increased diameter and width. I really wouldn't attempt a wider or taller tire on my setup. I also think the 7.5" wide rim is about at its limit with the tires I have, IMO. Sure you can mount a wider tire, but you give up a bit more tread stability.

 

I think the 285 upsize is significant over the 265. They look quite a bit larger in the well.

 

 

Stock 265's

DSC_0055.jpg

 

 

285's

DSC_4557.jpg

sockon Enthusiast

sockon

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I have the Toyo Open Country A/T's in 285-70/17 on my truck with GMC 7.5" wide 6 spoke wheels. It's pretty tight on clearance now. I'm perfectly happy with the change in size and the increased diameter and width. I really wouldn't attempt a wider or taller tire on my setup. I also think the 7.5" wide rim is about at its limit with the tires I have, IMO. Sure you can mount a wider tire, but you give up a bit more tread stability.

 

I think the 285 upsize is significant over the 265. They look quite a bit larger in the well.

 

 

Stock 265's

DSC_0055.jpg

 

 

285's

DSC_4557.jpg

 

I see you like the GMC wheels better than the chevy style too. If there was a full service GMC dealer closer to me instead of all the Chevy dealerships I may have gone with a Sierra over a Silverado, but I like both trucks.

 

I like the stance of your truck levelled with the 285's, but like I said I think that is how the trucks should look stock and I want to be a bit more aggressive than that if reasonably possible. It seems that GM trucks sit lower than the competition. To me there doesn't seem to be much of a difference from a 265 to a 285, and according to rockcrawler.com's tire conversion, a 295 is only about a half inch wider and half inch taller than a 285. On Cooper's website, they list their Discoverer STTs as approved for a 7.5" rim in the 295/70/17 size.

 

My trail truck is an S-10 Blazer with a solid axle conversion on 38" tires, so I don't want or need to get extreme with my daily driver, but the low stance of the truck really takes away from its appearance and functionality for some of my driving. I have been waiting for my stock tires and shocks to wear out to upgrade to the bilstein levling kit and larger tires. Since I don't have a spring compressor, I may just find a shop that can do the shocks and tires and see what they can do about tire size. Most shops will probably want to stay conservitive and go with a 285 though.

 

By the way, I love the Pitts in your signature.

Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
Posted

Derek,

My truck is raised about 5/8" in the front. No other height changes. The front air dam is removed in the second pic. Other than those and the tire change, no other changes to the suspension in the pics.

sockon Enthusiast

sockon

Posted
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Derek,

My truck is raised about 5/8" in the front. No other height changes. The front air dam is removed in the second pic. Other than those and the tire change, no other changes to the suspension in the pics.

 

I saw that you only raised it 5/8" in the front on one of your other posts. You have some great info in your posts, and you're positive expereince with the Bilstein levling kit is one of the reasons I plan on doing that mod to my truck. I plan on going as high as the front will let me with that kit and then add a 1" block to the rear if I need it. The 285's look great on your truck, but I'm just curious about getting a little bit more out of the leveling kit.

Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
Posted

Derek,

You might give some thought to airbags in the rear instead of the blocks. Then you have a more level look with the ability to carry a heavy load while still maintaining the rear height. I'm going that way sometime this year. I went on a big hunt trip this fall and it looked like it was sagging....and Ihave the heavy rear springs (NHT).

sockon Enthusiast

sockon

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Derek,

You might give some thought to airbags in the rear instead of the blocks. Then you have a more level look with the ability to carry a heavy load while still maintaining the rear height. I'm going that way sometime this year. I went on a big hunt trip this fall and it looked like it was sagging....and Ihave the heavy rear springs (NHT).

 

Airbags are a good suggestion for the rear, but I think they are more expensive and complicated that I really want to get into. I think I will try to go with the highest setting on the Bilstein's up front and if the rear looks like it's sagging, then just try a 1" block. I don't load up the bed that often, usually the most I put back there for any distance is a snowmobile or motorcycle. I don't tow very often either, and I haven't towed anything more than 6,000lbs. I have the max trailering package, so I think that gives me the heavy rear springs.

 

I appreciate the suggestion though, air bags would be a nice option.

  • 3 weeks later...
waltpatrus Enthusiast

waltpatrus

Posted
Posted

Sockon- I'm looking at the same thing myself. I'm probably going with the Toyo 285 70 17at

 

Also take a look at the 285 75 17 inthe Toyos. They are s little taller but not much wider. I don't know if they would fit or not but it might be worth looking into.

 

I had the nitto TG in a 295 70 17 on my 05 duramax and they did ok but I'm wanting to try something different on the 08. They wore ok though. They were clearly a little larger and wider than the previous 285s I had. Of course fitment is another story- I had alot more room to work with In the wheel well on that truck.

 

Good luck and post pics on whatever you decide.

  • 2 months later...
PAGMC1 Enthusiast

PAGMC1

Posted
Posted

My truck is scheduled for a 2" level kit and the 1.5" bodyift in early april. (earliest I could get it in) I'm hoping that adding the body lift will allow the 295/70R17 tire to fit. If you try it before then - let me know. thanks

  • 1 year later...

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