Tire sizing question

[Arkadi]

I have 245/75/16's on my 97 Tahoe. Can I go to a 265/75/16? It will be wider but will not be a plus zero or a plus one so I am not sure if it will affect my speedo. The manual mentions not to use chains if you use 265's so I am assuming that it can be done. Anyone using this size with anything to report good or bad? BTW, the I do alot of towing if that changes anything. Thanks

[Ape0r]

I have 245/75/16's on my 97 Tahoe.  Can I go to a 265/75/16?  It will be wider but will not be a plus zero or a plus one so I am not sure if it will affect my speedo. The manual mentions not to use chains if you use 265's so I am assuming that it can be done.  Anyone using this size with anything to report good or bad?  BTW, the I do alot of towing if that changes anything.  Thanks

 

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265's come stock on some of the newer trucks, I'd assume they would have back then. There is about a 1" difference in diameter, so you really should get your speedo reconfigured. The larger tire will lessen the force that the torque coming from the axle exerts on the ground, and thus acceleration and pulling power will be slightly (albeit VERY slightly) less.

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

I have 245/75/16's on my 97 Tahoe.  Can I go to a 265/75/16?  It will be wider but will not be a plus zero or a plus one so I am not sure if it will affect my speedo. The manual mentions not to use chains if you use 265's so I am assuming that it can be done.  Anyone using this size with anything to report good or bad?  BTW, the I do alot of towing if that changes anything.  Thanks

 

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265/75/16 will be taller than stock so your speedo will have to be recalibrated. I went with 265/70/16's on mine and it's closer to my stock height so my speedo is off by just a little but not enough to notice any real difference. This size should be almost perfect for your situation with about a .5% too slow. That means that at 60mph, your actually traveling 60.3.

[mjhansen]

I have 265/75/16's on my '97 Yukon and I haven't had any problems. My speedo may be off by a hair. I've checked it with GPS and it's very close. I do a fair amount of towing with mine too and it's been fine.

 

[larry arizona]

Google miata tire calculator and it will tell you what the tire size will do to your speedo. I think it will be closer to 3-4% slow

[bartlanz]

I run 265/75r16's on my 98 Tahoe. I did the tire change over and then had the spedo calibrated by my local chevy dealership. It made it drive better IMO. It wasnt expensive only like $30 i think... then i ended up getting a new computer from westers so the $30 was a bit of a waste... o well. No lack of power, and it looks much better. On the truck of that vintage the z71 package came with 265's from the factory

[Arkadi]

Thanks for the info guys. I can get a nice deal on a set of Goodyear Forteras in that size so I am going to do it.

[00gmcme]

Thanks for the info guys.  I can get a nice deal on a set of Goodyear Forteras in that size so I am going to do it.

 

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I also upgraded from 245 to 265 tires on my 2000 sierra. I took it to the dealership and had the speedo calibrated, I think its a software thing. In Maine they wont inspect the vehicle if the tire size differs from the sticker inside the door, because it throws the anti-lock brakes off. I have to present the dealer receipt to get it inspected. What fun.

[vansterdam]

Here's a good tire calculator to show how much your speedo will be off with different tires.

[svensk]

I went up to 265's from 245 on my 2000 has well and I noticed an improved ride, but a little less power as well. I think more of it has to do with my shiftpoints not being calibrated for my new effective gear ratio with the tire.

Can someone tell me how a Z-71 can come with 265 tires and have 3.73 gears and still have that gear ratio with a taller tire? Because according to my calculations it would lower my gear ratio to something like 3.65. I just don't understand how you can advertise like 3.73 or 4.10 gears then they slap on a bigger tire and say you still have same ratio. I wonder how many people order trucks with 20's and then complain of how sluggish the truck feels?

[cymmgarcia]

I went from 255/70/16 to 275/60/17 and maintained the exact 30 inch tire diameter. This enhanced accelaration and braking (no wheel spin) while vastly improving handling. The ride is only slightly firmer, but well worth the tradeoff!

 

I also like the look of taller tires, but I can't stomach the performance trade-off. For me it's all about function over form.

 

Good Luck!

[Maine Silverado]

Thanks for the info guys.  I can get a nice deal on a set of Goodyear Forteras in that size so I am going to do it.

 

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I also upgraded from 245 to 265 tires on my 2000 sierra. I took it to the dealership and had the speedo calibrated, I think its a software thing. In Maine they wont inspect the vehicle if the tire size differs from the sticker inside the door, because it throws the anti-lock brakes off. I have to present the dealer receipt to get it inspected. What fun.

 

 

Is that a recent thing? I've been running 265/75/16's on my 1995 Silverado and the door sticker calls for 245's and it has 4 wheel ABS and I've never run into an inspection problem with it.....where do you take yours to get inspected in Maine?