Help! Fitment Research Overload!

2010SSRS · July 25, 2010

ok, so for WEEKS i have researched this forum, other forums and the web....... i am only more confused now..

i have a 2010 Silverado LT 1500 Crew Cab Z71. not a Vortec Max, not a 2500, not a 3500. it seems most of the posts on the web don't take this info into fitment consideration. for instance 305/65/20's may fit on a leveled Vortec Max 1500 but not on a 5.3 1500.

so i found that i can get a true 2.5" front with 1" rear leveling/lift kit (i do NOT want a lower rear end.......LEVEL). with this kit i'd like the tallest 285 AT tire i can run (Wisconsin roads really suck!). i'm wondering if a 285/65/20 will work with this leveling kit on my truck with ANY of the following 3 wheels:

Helo 835: 20x9 Off is +18 Bkspc is 5.71

Eagle 079: 20x9 Off is -12 Bkspc is 4.466

XD Diesel: 20x10 Off is -24 Bkspc is 4.5

or am i stuck with 285/55/20 or 275/65/20?

i have researched this to death and 1 post would indicate yes, then another no. but folks don't compare apple to apples. so my question is directed at those in the PROFESSION or those with a simple 5.3 Silverado/Sierra NBS 4x4. thanks guys!

CasualButJiggy · July 26, 2010

I am by no means an expert, but I have been doing similar searching. From what I read negative offset wheels are not an option unless you have 3" or more of lift.

2010SSRS · July 26, 2010

I am by no means an expert, but I have been doing similar searching. From what I read negative offset wheels are not an option unless you have 3" or more of lift.

i think you may be correct..........thanks for the reply!

wescollins · July 27, 2010

Actually it's more like 6" or more of lift. 3-4" doesn't get you anything more than a 2" lift will really. Don't get more than a 18mm offset, and def. not -18. You can look at the post I just made with pics, 275/60/20's with a 18mm offset and 3" of lift, and even they barely fit. That's the max unless you're going to start trimming. I'd recommend against that 2.5" front lift unless you're planning to put a suspension lift on in the future and replace the a-arms and ball joints then anyway. You're not going to have hardly any down wheel travel and it will hurt the ride, along with wearing things out fast. Plus you're not really gaining anything.

2010SSRS · July 27, 2010

Actually it's more like 6" or more of lift. 3-4" doesn't get you anything more than a 2" lift will really. Don't get more than a 18mm offset, and def. not -18. You can look at the post I just made with pics, 275/60/20's with a 18mm offset and 3" of lift, and even they barely fit. That's the max unless you're going to start trimming. I'd recommend against that 2.5" front lift unless you're planning to put a suspension lift on in the future and replace the a-arms and ball joints then anyway. You're not going to have hardly any down wheel travel and it will hurt the ride, along with wearing things out fast. Plus you're not really gaining anything.

ur sig says ur running a 1.5" leveling kit - is that not stressfull on factory parts?

i found a set of Weld Velocity 20x9's with a +32 offset and 285/55/20 BFG's.........the factory 20's are 20x8.5 and +31 offset...............will the Welds work with the 1.5" leveling kit?

wescollins · July 27, 2010

Actually it's more like 6" or more of lift. 3-4" doesn't get you anything more than a 2" lift will really. Don't get more than a 18mm offset, and def. not -18. You can look at the post I just made with pics, 275/60/20's with a 18mm offset and 3" of lift, and even they barely fit. That's the max unless you're going to start trimming. I'd recommend against that 2.5" front lift unless you're planning to put a suspension lift on in the future and replace the a-arms and ball joints then anyway. You're not going to have hardly any down wheel travel and it will hurt the ride, along with wearing things out fast. Plus you're not really gaining anything.

ur sig says ur running a 1.5" leveling kit - is that not stressfull on factory parts?

i found a set of Weld Velocity 20x9's with a +32 offset and 285/55/20 BFG's.........the factory 20's are 20x8.5 and +31 offset...............will the Welds work with the 1.5" leveling kit?

1.5" isn't too bad, but when you start talking about 2.5"...I think you have 3" of down travel to start with so your tires are only going to be able to go down 1/2" instead of 3" before the a-arms bottom out. Plus you are changing the angle on the ball joints big time so they're going to wear out fast.

I think those wheels and tire would work, they'll be about 3/4" more backspace than your current tires (to the side of the tire, not just the wheel). You might turn your wheels all the way to both sides and measure and see if you have at least 1" of space between the side of the tire and any sort of metal part, like the torsion bars or tie rods to make sure.

If you get them and they don't work, you might have to buy spacers. Would be better to find around a 20mm offset (18mm is one you see a lot) if you're going to use a wider tire.

2010SSRS · July 27, 2010

Actually it's more like 6" or more of lift. 3-4" doesn't get you anything more than a 2" lift will really. Don't get more than a 18mm offset, and def. not -18. You can look at the post I just made with pics, 275/60/20's with a 18mm offset and 3" of lift, and even they barely fit. That's the max unless you're going to start trimming. I'd recommend against that 2.5" front lift unless you're planning to put a suspension lift on in the future and replace the a-arms and ball joints then anyway. You're not going to have hardly any down wheel travel and it will hurt the ride, along with wearing things out fast. Plus you're not really gaining anything.

ur sig says ur running a 1.5" leveling kit - is that not stressfull on factory parts?

i found a set of Weld Velocity 20x9's with a +32 offset and 285/55/20 BFG's.........the factory 20's are 20x8.5 and +31 offset...............will the Welds work with the 1.5" leveling kit?

1.5" isn't too bad, but when you start talking about 2.5"...I think you have 3" of down travel to start with so your tires are only going to be able to go down 1/2" instead of 3" before the a-arms bottom out. Plus you are changing the angle on the ball joints big time so they're going to wear out fast.

I think those wheels and tire would work, they'll be about 3/4" more backspace than your current tires (to the side of the tire, not just the wheel). You might turn your wheels all the way to both sides and measure and see if you have at least 1" of space between the side of the tire and any sort of metal part, like the torsion bars or tie rods to make sure.

If you get them and they don't work, you might have to buy spacers. Would be better to find around a 20mm offset (18mm is one you see a lot) if you're going to use a wider tire.

thanks for the input.......i guess if the 285/55/20's rub on the 20x9 wheel with +32 offset i'll just change over to 275/55/20's!