15 Silverado vibration with larger tires

[TA Performance]

New to the forum and seeking a little insight.  I currently have a 2015 Silverado LTZ 4X4 with 60,000 miles.  I have have a 2.5" leveling kit with 305/65/18's on it now.  I'm getting a vibration between 60-70 mph since the tires were installed.  I have installed the factory 265's back on the original wheels and the problem goes away.  I sent the Nitto G2 305's back with 3,000 miles and installed 4 new ones.  I have an automotive business and we sell many of these tires with no issues.  After installing the replacement set of tires and road force balancing, the vibration has returned.  My question is could the 305's be putting the converter in a bind and making it shutter?  I'm sort of frustrated from chasing the issue so any help is greatly appreciated.

 

 

[Bash74]

What I would do if you have the ability to do, is get a different brand tire in the same size and see what happens. I have bigger tires on and have no vibration.

[Schmiesus]

Is the steering wheel shaking?

Aftermarket wheels? If yes are they hand torqued? Hubrings?

Are they watching the tire while balancing it or just throwing it on the balancer 

[TA Performance]

No steering wheel shake.  Weird thing is that the vibration is more on the power side than the coast side at 60-70mph.  It's like you can let off the throttle and the vibration is almost non existent.  I'm at the point of trying a different tire but the fact that letting off the throttle deal is throwing me for a loop.  I've had seven sets of these with no problems.  The wheels are stock Tahoe (gunmetal).  Thanks for the help.

[TA Performance]

Let me add that the problem isn't there when you're on a flat road and is more of an issue when going up hill.  

[Schmiesus]

It's not uncommon for the shake to be more noticeable under power. If you have a tire with a hop in it when you apply force to it you'll notice. It sucks chasing this stuff. I've had so many cars of the years where i thought i had a driveline issue and it was just the wheels and tire. My commuter car right now has a shake. I've had the guys at my shop balance it 12 times now since April. It won't go away. We put the winters back on it was gone instantly. 

[TA Performance]

I went through a lot of trouble to get Nitto to send 4 more.  I've emailed Nitto about the issue and if I knew that they would reimburse me, I would order another brand to see what happens.  I have over $2000 in a couple of sets of tires........and not sure when they will credit me for the first set.  

[Racindave]

I wonder if the taller heavier tires are torquing the springs more and changing your pinion angle of the drive shaft? 

[TA Performance]

I wouldn't think so because we have lifted quite a few of the 14-15 trucks with larger/heavier tires.  I actually sent the tires back to Nitto and received 4 new ones.  We road force balanced them and same exact problem.....so we're going to put the factory tires back on it and move on down the road.

[Paintor]

I think you are exposing a weakness in your lock up Torque Converter.

 

More rolling resistance..she no like.

 

Disable the lock up and see what happens. 

[JCKustoms]

I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s still those tires. I’ve installed plenty of tires that size, and/or close to it, in different brands (Toyo, BFG, Goodyear, etc) with 18” wheels and most have a slight vibration at those speeds. Not sure what it is with the 18’s, but something is different with them...The only tire in that size, believe it or not, that I’ve never had an issue with is the Kumho MT.

I’ve even had a few 305/55/20’s do the same thing. But more so with the 18’s.

Just my .02


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[TA Performance]

My son's 06 GMC has the same tire on it and has no problems.  I've had good luck with the tires until now.  It's hard to believe that there's an issue in the driveline going from a 265 to a 305 but after two sets of tires and doing the same thing at the same speed, i'm willing to try anything.  The truck was tuned with an HP Tuner and i'm having the tuner come back double check the torque converter slippage and try to see what's going on.  

[jwhjr]

I had an issue just between 275/60/20's and 275/55/20's.  With the 60/20's I think the torque converter had issues as when stopping and going up hills I had excessive vibration.  When I went back to stock size all vibration went away and the ride is much better.

[TA Performance]

It does seem more present when going up hill or on the power side.  You can slightly get off the throttle and it goes away.  I've unlocked the converter during the vibration and can't seem to tell a drastic change.  The symptoms are contradicting and nothing makes sense at this time.  lol

[Sierra Dan]

K2 trucks are sensitive to changes. Some vibrate some do not before or after mods.

Some T1 owners are reporting vibrations also after leveling and larger tires.