Max towing Tires and Wheels - What is GM thinking?

tbrown176 · June 3, 2015

I have a 6.2L 1500 Sierra on the way with Max Towing Package (NHT). The max towing capacity is 12,000 lbs. When you upgrade to the 6.2L the package adds 20 inch wheels.

What benefit would 20 inch wheels give me to my max towing capacity?

In my mind a 20 inch wheel on a truck adds rolling mass and weight. It is a purely cosmetic addition.

My second question concerns the tires that come on this truck are P275/55R20. The load per tire on these is 2409lbs. These are passenger car tires. In my mind I should be using LT tires not Ps and I should have a load rating of E. For example: BF Goodrich T/A KO2 in a LT275/70R18s.

Did GM do this just to make the truck look good and boost MPGs? I appreciate your thoughts on this. Please let me know if I am just looking at this all wrong.

Rawyzf · June 3, 2015

MPG game comes to mine with the tires rating.

You can easily upgrade to a 285/55/20 E rated tire though.

Or simpily sell your 20" wheels/tires, buy an 18" setup and still have cash left over in most cases.

LongrangeLauber · June 3, 2015

It's for ride quality and at 2400 lbs. a tire that should be plenty considering your tongue weight shouldn't exceed your payload capacity. As far as the 20's go, it's for looks and that's all. If you get e rated tires, the truck is gonna ride like crap especially if it's on a 20" wheel with minimal sidewall

txchevy4ever · June 3, 2015

I have a 6.2L 1500 Sierra on the way with Max Towing Package (NHT). The max towing capacity is 12,000 lbs. When you upgrade to the 6.2L the package adds 20 inch wheels.

What benefit would 20 inch wheels give me to my max towing capacity?

In my mind a 20 inch wheel on a truck adds rolling mass and weight. It is a purely cosmetic addition.

My second question concerns the tires that come on this truck are P275/55R20. The load per tire on these is 2409lbs. These are passenger car tires. In my mind I should be using LT tires not Ps and I should have a load rating of E. For example: BF Goodrich T/A KO2 in a LT275/70R18s.

Did GM do this just to make the truck look good and boost MPGs? I appreciate your thoughts on this. Please let me know if I am just looking at this all wrong.

Not to mention the terrible ride quality of 20's.

Rawyzf · June 3, 2015

I really didn't notice much of a difference in ride quality between 18's and 20's on my truck. Maybe they are show more when towing (which I never do), but for standard day to day driving and occasional loads in the bed, I have noticed no difference at all.

Atlas · June 4, 2015

I hear you. Although I have much smaller stock wheels (I think they're 17's!), the tires are passenger car/ highway tires. They look like they came off a minivan. I'm itching to replace them with a nice light truck tire. Some of the places we go camping, the gravel roads and trails are in real rough shape. Would make me more comfortable knowing there was a little more meat to prevent sidewall punctures.

BFG KO2's or Goodyear Duratracs are my top two choices.

The General Grabber A/T looks like a bargain on Tire Rack though.

Imcrazy · June 4, 2015

I hear you. Although I have much smaller stock wheels (I think they're 17's!), the tires are passenger car/ highway tires. They look like they came off a minivan. I'm itching to replace them with a nice light truck tire. Some of the places we go camping, the gravel roads and trails are in real rough shape. Would make me more comfortable knowing there was a little more meat to prevent sidewall punctures.

BFG KO2's or Goodyear Duratracs are my top two choices.

The General Grabber A/T looks like a bargain on Tire Rack though.

I hear ya on that I have General Grabber highway tires on my Sierra and their good in the wet and winter roads but I think I'll get some A/T's once I wear the OEM tires out.

Dr. ice · June 4, 2015

I have a 6.2L 1500 Sierra on the way with Max Towing Package (NHT). The max towing capacity is 12,000 lbs. When you upgrade to the 6.2L the package adds 20 inch wheels.

What benefit would 20 inch wheels give me to my max towing capacity?

In my mind a 20 inch wheel on a truck adds rolling mass and weight. It is a purely cosmetic addition.

My second question concerns the tires that come on this truck are P275/55R20. The load per tire on these is 2409lbs. These are passenger car tires. In my mind I should be using LT tires not Ps and I should have a load rating of E. For example: BF Goodrich T/A KO2 in a LT275/70R18s.

Did GM do this just to make the truck look good and boost MPGs? I appreciate your thoughts on this. Please let me know if I am just looking at this all wrong.

I have the same set up as your getting with 2,000 miles on it now and love it. I personally like the 20s and wouldn't want 18s. They look good and ride great! I regularly pull a 20' enclosed trailer with my C7 and it does an awesome job with 7,000 lbs. Personally, it's my feeling that anyone pilling over 10,000 lbs needs a 3/4 ton truck for a lot of reasons. I think you may change your mind once you get your truck unless your mind is already made up. Congratulations on a great truck!

tbrown176 · June 4, 2015

I test drove the 2500 and the 3500 and I was not impressed. The 6.0L engine was bland and boring. The gas mileage while not towing was horrible. The 6.2L is very livley and almost makes the 1500 feel nimble it really is that good of an engine. For towing my 9000 lb TT I think it will be a much more enjoyable experience then the HD and I hope it will be a more comfortable all around truck. Time will tell.

Rme2513 · June 4, 2015

I to think the p rated tires will be fine it's a lot to give up just to pull a trailer a few times a year and as long as you with in the load limits don't go with a LT tire. If the tires are rated at 2600 lbs that's a total load of 5200 lbs that's the weight of the truck so cut that in half and you can technically have close to 2600 lb load on the back bumper and still be ok but we all know you would never do that so stay with the p tires there light and give you good MPGs the stock tires are 35 lbs most LT tires start around 50 lbs that's a load on itself if you don't like the stock tires get new ones but IMO LT tires are not needed on half ton truck

robvas · June 4, 2015

I replaced the stock Goodyear LS2's with only 100 miles on my NHT. They ride fine, but they aren't going to last long and I don't want to run them in a Michigan winter. Went with the BFG KO2

tbrown176 · June 4, 2015

Those are great looking tires robvas. Did you notice any change in ride quality? I am sure there is a little more road noise.

RME2513, my plan is to wait till I get the truck and see how it rides stock before making my mind up. Just trying to understand the logic behind the decision.

Additionally, I cant wait to get my truck and am chomping at the bit with what I want to do with it.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Thanks for all the input and real world experiences that you are having with your trucks. Always nice to hear what other people are doing with theirs and how it will perform once you get it. I am sure it will be a whole different story once I get mine and I am able to judge for myself.

robvas · June 4, 2015

Those are great looking tires robvas. Did you notice any change in ride quality? I am sure there is a little more road noise.

It rides just as smooth as it did before. 40psi all around. But you are right, there is a little bit of road noise, not bad but noticeable. These are going to last 2X as long as the Goodyears and are going to be way better in the dirt or snow. E-rated and I won't worry much about hitting a curb or rock or stick, these BFG's are tough.

I'm sure I'll lose a mpg or so as well but I'm not real worried about that.

Getting $300 for the stock tires from a buyer on craigslist. Pays for 1 of the new ones lol

[email protected] · June 4, 2015

The logic is easy as far as GM is concerned. ..the tires are rated for more than the truck is rated for. I have the 18s and they are rated at 2470lbs each or 4940 total for the rear. The max rear axle rating is 3950 plus front is 7900lbs. Max veh gvw is 7200 or 7600.

So basically everything is over rated from the gvw to have a safety margin for guys like me who tow at or slightly over max gvw.

I bump my tires to 42psi when towing and like the ride better especially with a level trailer and properly set up eq hitch

[email protected] · June 4, 2015

Quick addition. ...I am not a supporter of them putting these tires on, but I have not had any issues yet. It is too bad the C/D rated tire selection is so limited

They would not get the epa numbers they do with LT tires.