Max towing Tires and Wheels - What is GM thinking?

sugarjohnson · June 4, 2015

I have same truck as you with 20's. I literally drove off the lot and over to Discount Tire. They gave me a trade in on the crappy Goodyear's and I immediately put Michelin LTX/MS2 on. I tow my TT a ton and they are great tires. 3rd set I have run on my trucks.

Rme2513 · 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

Let us know what kind of real world MPGs you are getting with the tires. I love the look of a mud tire just would rather have better gas mileage

Rawyzf · June 4, 2015

I didn't give the Goodyear SRAs a valid MPG test since I took them off before I even had 200 miles on the truck. Kinda wish I would have, just to see what the MPG difference would have been. But, I am guessing it's probably around 1-2mpg at most.

sugarjohnson · June 4, 2015

I didn't give the Goodyear SRAs a valid MPG test since I took them off before I even had 200 miles on the truck. Kinda wish I would have, just to see what the MPG difference would have been. But, I am guessing it's probably around 1-2mpg at most.

Sounds about right. I previously had Nitto Trail Grapplers on my 2011 and saw around 9-10 towing a 6K TT. Same trailer with my 14 and Michelins I get a pretty solid 11mpg.

Rme2513 · June 4, 2015

I had stock tires on my 09 5.3 there were like 42 lbs I put 275 75 18 cooper stt max on it and they were 62 lbs and I went from 16 to 13 and it was a hell of a load on the truck at 75 mph I took them off within a month I love the tire just was to much for the truck without changing the gears out

robvas · June 4, 2015

Let us know what kind of real world MPGs you are getting with the tires. I love the look of a mud tire just would rather have better gas mileage

I'll never know what mileage I would have gotten with the old tires, but I just traded in a 14 Z71 5.3 3.42 double cab with a 2" level, no air dam, and the same tires in 285/65-18 size and was able to still knock down 19-20 on the highway. I'll report back in a month or so.

Spurshot · June 6, 2015

GM just went cheap on tires, IMO. I would not be towing a 3 horse 7500lb trailer with P tires, let alone 12,000lbs. Things get ugly when towing, if you loose a tire.

barcia51 · June 8, 2015

My dealer traded the 20" s for 18" s and for the difference in price they sprayed my bedliner, installed leveling kit, mud flaps, and weather tech floor mats! I have aftermarket 20"s I run in the summer and will be putting BFG KO2's on the 18" s before the snow flies.

TxTruckMan · June 22, 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.

The OEM tires are fine for most 1500 applications. And FYI, an LT tire will likely add 20 lbs or more over the stock tire. That'll probably more detrimental to performance than the larger wheel as that mass is even further from the hub.

LT tires on a 1500 are overrated IMHO. I've used Wrangler or Dueller P-rated tires on every truck I've owned over the last 20 years and never had a tire failure. Plenty of nails, tears and cuts, but never a failure.

Chevor · June 22, 2015

Just get a 3500 diesel.

EXSlider400 · June 23, 2015

When the SR-A's wear a little more I plan to replace with a P series AT with an XL load rating. Maybe AT3 from Cooper. Better grip and towing with not alot of noise and ride quality change...but KO2 looks awsome.