1.5" Ready Lift Level Kit, Will Tires Fit?

SLong · March 20, 2013

Guys, I have a 2011 Z71 with a 1.5" Ready Lift level kit. I am about to put new tires on it. Stock tires were 31.5" when new. I am leaning towards the Cooper AT3 in 275/65 R18, which will be 32.14" tall. There is also a 265/70 R18 in the AT3 that is 32.63" tall. Do you guys think these will fit and not rub? I've gotten feedback on the 32.14" not affecting mpg a whole lot from guys on here that have them? Do you think bumping another 1/2" to the 32.63" tall tire will affect mpg a whole lot more? I'm going to stay in a P metric tire because they will handle my heaviest load fine and keep the weight of the tires down. I drive a good bit and don't want mpg to suffer too much. Thanks for any feedback.

Blue2500CC · March 20, 2013

I have 275/65/18's A/T3's on a stock truck, no leveling kit. So I would THINK (may be in trouble again! Lol) that the 265/70/18's would fit your truck with teh leveling kit. I have a set of Weathertech No-Drill mud flaps/splash gaurds and they are very close, but don't hit.

As for the heaviest load your truck will see, is it something that will have a fair amount of weight on the rear axle (travel trailer tongue weight for example)? I ask because it is POSSIBLE that if you have a lot of weight on the rear axle the P rated tires sidewalls may flex a little, giving you a slight "wiggle" feeling. That is the main reason I traded in my factory P rated tires for a set of LR C's!

Hope this helps!

SLong · March 21, 2013

Thanks, I pull my boat in the summer, but total weight of it loaded with fuel is 3000 pounds. That's well below the rating for the P metric. My stocks are P metrics and they did fine pulling it so I should be fine. The only heavier load I pull is a grain buggy once a year, but I only pull it 2-3 miles and that is off the highway and back in the woods.

How do you like the AT3s? I've had good success with Coopers in the past. Are you getting good tread life out of them? Did they knock down your mpg much? Thanks for the feedback.

Big Whiskey · March 21, 2013

The 265/70/18's will fit with your 1.5" leveling kit as well, and MPG will probably be the same as the 275/65/18's you're considering, since they're both P-rated tires.

Blue2500CC · March 23, 2013

Sorry for slow reply, as it sounds like you may have bought tires by now!

I really haven't kept track of the mileage to much. Most of the time I have a trailer in tow when driving the truck. The couple trips to Northern Mi without a trailer the mpg seem to be darn close. Usually fill up at the same gas station in Gaylord, and the difference seems to be more so due to how traffic was and if the right foot was a little heavier or not that trip!

I have around 5k, maybe 6k miles on the tires so far. Just about time for a rotation.

Haven't had a ton of snow this winter, but one of our snowmobile trips to the In-Laws cabin in Canada we had crap weather for about 150 miles, then on the way home from the next trip some pretty crappy roads, and the A/T3's did pretty darn good! Granted, I wasn't pulling a huge trailer (10' clamshell style enclosed w/ 2 sleds), but I am happy so far with the A/T3's!!!!