Up-sizing wheels & tires while keeping OEM spare

think · October 23, 2014

So I checked earlier and the spare is a 265/70r17. I'm running the 22" OEM with 285/45r22.

Spare Diameter - 31.6, Width - 10.4

OEM 22" Diameter - 32.1 Width - 11.2

Rewillia · October 23, 2014

Rewillia

thanks for your input. Please clarify for me however... are you saying you need a new winch cable for the 20 or the 22"? also, would you mind snapping a photo of the OEM 20" under your truck? The service department insists it will not fit

thanks

No. You need a new winch cable for the 22" only. The OEM winch cable will work fine for OE rim sizes up to 20". Your service dept. is FOS the 20" will fit for certain and just fine (at least it does on my '14 K1500 Denali CC)

timstruck · October 23, 2014

Hey guys. Thanks for checking. Guess il have a conversation with my pal at service. Makes no sense bcuz it's an insurance claim and the dealer can charge full list...

soltys · October 23, 2014

The spare tire area has lots of room for a bigger spare. It has so since where are you going to lift your stockers to if/when you get a flat.

The 17 in spare I believe is standard and only option from the factory - because it's cheaper then the matching alloys.

The only time you'll run into a problem with a larger tire is if you have duals that were tucked close the spare.

DanielAcosta · October 28, 2014

I run 34's on 20's and have a matching 34 inch spare on an 18. There's plenty of room for the taller spare, looks like a 35 and maybe a 37 would fit. It's definitely worth investing in a matching height spare if you're running oversize tires; otherwise that spare is kind of useless. It's also worth carrying a block to put under your jack, or else you might find you can't lift your truck high enough to change that oversize tire.

soltys · October 28, 2014

No. You need a new winch cable for the 22" only. The OEM winch cable will work fine for OE rim sizes up to 20". Your service dept. is FOS the 20" will fit for certain and just fine (at least it does on my '14 K1500 Denali CC)

Is the winch cable that much longer for the 22"? Because if the wheel width is similar to factory, shouldn't the stock wheel drop cable work? I understand needing a longer cable for a lifted truck, but not for larger diameter wheels - just wondering.

oldmann · October 28, 2014

My 2015 LTZ came with the 20" option, but the spare is still the 18" This is the factory setup, for whatever that matters.

Diameter of the tire is the same though.

newdude · October 28, 2014

Per the order guide, there is only two different spare tire wheels. The 17" steel wheel, which is standard on all cab configurations except the 1500 crew cab short box 4x4.

K15543 (crew cab short box 1500 4x4) 1WT, 2WT, 1LT, and 1LTZ get the aluminum spare wheel when equipped with the 4.3 or 5.3, and have 17 or 18 inch wheels. Not available with the 20" or 22".

K15543 (crew cab short box 1500 4x4) 2LT and 2LTZ get the aluminum spare wheel when equipped with the 4.3 or 5.3.

Two tire sizes, trucks that come with the 255/70/17 tires get a 255/70/17 spare tire, and trucks with 265/70/17 and 265/65/18 get the 265/70/17 spare tire.

JerryCanada · October 29, 2014

Wouldn't have 2 different tire sizes in the rear with a limited slip diff cause damage?

soltys · October 29, 2014

Wouldn't have 2 different tire sizes in the rear with a limited slip diff cause damage?

That's what they're getting at with the topic. Otherwise, if you don't upsize your spare and get a flat, you need throw the small on the front and put an oversize on the rear.

Rewillia · October 30, 2014

Is the winch cable that much longer for the 22"? Because if the wheel width is similar to factory, shouldn't the stock wheel drop cable work? I understand needing a longer cable for a lifted truck, but not for larger diameter wheels - just wondering.

All I know is my dealer's parts manager looked it up for my '14 K1500 Denali which came with the OE 20" wheels and told me the following;

1. if I want to replace the OE 17" spare tire rim with another 20" OE Denali wheel the original cable will work (and it did)

2. if my truck had come factory equipped (not dealer installed) with the optional 22" wheel then the winch cable is longer

3. GM offers 2-two spare winch cables. one for the standard wheels up to 20" and one for the optional size 22"

Thaheavyone · October 30, 2014

I had 305/30/26 tires and used the OEM spare on 2 separate occasions when I had a flat driver front tire. The 1st time was only for a few days, but the 2nd time was for at least 2 or 3 weeks. Ended up just taking the aftermarkets off & going back to factory. I'll probably get rid of the spare though when I add the 2.5" or 3.5" level with 33's.

wing98 · November 7, 2014

my truck is reg cab short box wt2, it has aluminum 17" spare wheel with the standard size tire the same truck has on it

DanielAcosta · November 8, 2014

Just curious as to how many here have up-sized their wheel and tire size on the ground yet kept their OEM spare.

Don't do it. I upsized my spare to match the 34's I'm running, plenty of room underneath to accommodate the spare. Also helps to carry a block so the stock jack will lift your truck high enough with the oversize tires. If you're spending the money on oversize tires, drop a little extra to get the matching spare. The first time you have to use it you'll be glad you did.

Rewillia · November 11, 2014

Don't do it. I upsized my spare to match the 34's I'm running, plenty of room underneath to accommodate the spare. Also helps to carry a block so the stock jack will lift your truck high enough with the oversize tires. If you're spending the money on oversize tires, drop a little extra to get the matching spare. The first time you have to use it you'll be glad you did.

Thats what i did, purchased a 5th 20" OEM Denali rim and 5th Toyo OC II Xtreme 295/55/R20 now all 5-wheels/tires match.