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Bilstein 5100 shocks & 295/70R18 tires

Siggy Smalls

By Siggy Smalls
in Modifications & Accessories

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Siggy Smalls Enthusiast

Siggy Smalls

Posted
Posted

Along the same lines as my exhaust post... I don't post much online in forums but I research them to death for help and this forum has been invaluable, so just for reference to give back - my truck with Bilstein 5100's on the top perch and 295/70R18 Cooper ST Maxx tires. Granted... they're used (transferred from my last truck which was a 2013 F150 where they fit easily) but they only rubbed the fender liner slightly... and I mean slightly. I simply drilled a hole in the fender liner and pulled it back with a zip tie. No sweat.

 

For what it's worth, I'm all about a rugged terrain tire (ST Maxx, Open Country R/T, etc) for me personally and my work which has me offroad every day and this is my third set of ST Maxx tires. They are awesome, best of both worlds between offroad traction on a rainy day and on-road noise, until the last 10,000 miles of tread and then they howl at the end of their life span. Thinking KO2 next... 34/12.5 most likely....

 

Actual measured size for 295/70R18 ST Maxx tires is 34.25" x 12" (section width)

 

Actual measured size for 34/12.5R18 KO2 tires is 33.5" x 12.5" (section width)

 

Actual measured size for 305/65R18 KO2 tires is 33.5" x 12.2" (section width)

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JRL1164 Enthusiast

JRL1164

Posted
Posted

Looks great! If I can figure out how to put 35/12.50R18 KO2 under my 2" level on stocks I'll be happy. But those 295/70R18 look great so I may have to reconsider.

 

 

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Rkaroll953 Enthusiast

Rkaroll953

Posted
Posted

You are the man! i have been scouring the forums for a few months now when ive had time looking for the biggest tire on my stock 18 inch wheels. my trucks leveled a little over 2 inches so im pumped now i can use something bigger than a 33. 295/70 34.5/12 sounds perfect

aaronarf Enthusiast

aaronarf

Posted
Posted

Great info ! Hows the ride with 5100 compared to Ranchos?

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Siggy Smalls Enthusiast

Siggy Smalls

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Great looking setup!

 

Thank you!!!

 

Great info ! Hows the ride with 5100 compared to Ranchos?

 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

They certainly aren't Fox coil-overs but... it's night and day. I've had 5100's on my past 3 trucks (as opposed to spacers) because they're relatively economical and you kill two birds with one stone (lift plus ride).

 

Without getting technical or analytical... the difference (to me personally) is this: Driving home from the dealership, which is kind of a back-roads route for me, I felt like the front end of this truck would float over undulations in the road - like an old Cadillac or like the front shocks were already worn as compared to my past truck with 75k miles on 5100's - but any harsh bumps in the road weren't damped very well. So, 5100's are stiffer over those undulations but softer over a pothole.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

For what it's worth, and I haven't done any homework, but the shock "boots" (if you want to call them that) guarantee that the OEM Rancho's aren't RS5000's.... and RS5000's are baseline Rancho's and total junk... they represent some mild advances on the original Rancho which wasn't special and only ever became popular because Rancho was one of the first to commercialize lifts and made them in extended lengths that would accommodate different lift heights 30+ years ago. I'm guessing the OEM units just some private label knockoff that Rancho is getting paid to allow their sticker to be slapped on them... which tells you how far their brand has fallen and also how cheap GM has gotten. I remember when OBS Siverado's could be had with real deal Bilstein's in 90's... 4600's maybe?!

 

Anyway, hope this helps. Truck drives great and the front sits just a bit lower than the back on the top perch with 5100's. Don't go bigger than 295/70R18 or 34.25" and you should be good. Might have to zip tie the fender liner. 305/65R18 should measure around 33.5" x 12.2" and be no sweat... BFG makes the KO2 in 34" x 12.5" which measure to 33.5" x 12.5" so it's just a hair wider than the 305/65R18. That's my next tire.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...
Rkaroll953 Enthusiast

Rkaroll953

Posted
Posted

Side view

Im about to pull the trigger on a set of 295/70/18 trail grapplers. i see they fit ur truck beautiful but i have mudflaps. wonder if you had any pics of it close to the fender with the wheel cut?

  • 3 months later...
bcbz71 Enthusiast

bcbz71

Posted
Posted

So on 18" stockers, you get no rub at full lock? Everything I've been reading over the past couple of years says this will rub the inside sidewall on the UCA and the swaybar.

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