Got the 285's on my 07 HD Classic yesterday

Bruce03Silverado · February 4, 2007

Put on my 285/75/16 BFG's yesterday along with getting the windows tinted, mounting the bull bar off my old 03 1500, hooked up the PIAA 510's, pulled off the ugly pin stripping, and added the GM molded mud guards!!

BTW, with the 285's on the stock rims I only trimmed less that 1/4" on the front fascia and I didn't have to even do that because they didn't rub. They were just a little too close for my liking so I trimmed just a tiny bit and you can't notice at all!! No cranking of the t-bars either (I'm not a fan of doing that) and there is NO rubbing of any kind at full turn either direction!! The truck does sit about an 1" higher with the 285's and the wife said to get some step bars so those will be put on with my TKO bed liner this week!!

Ductape · February 5, 2007

Hey, thanks for posting. I'm looking to do the same soon with mine. The stock 245's are a stuck waiting to happen, and I'm interested in what fits with stock suspension.

I lifted the last truck and I'm NOT going down that road again.

How is the ride? I've heard a lot of talk in the last year about balancing issues with the BFG's.

DT

GMC Countryking · February 5, 2007

Looks Great! I wish GM would listen to what the people want and offer larger tires. Any chance you have a before picture.

Bruce03Silverado · February 5, 2007

Hey, thanks for posting. I'm looking to do the same soon with mine. The stock 245's are a stuck waiting to happen, and I'm interested in what fits with stock suspension.
I lifted the last truck and I'm NOT going down that road again.

How is the ride? I've heard a lot of talk in the last year about balancing issues with the BFG's.

DT

No issues at all with balancing the tires. My buddy owns a perf shop and he did the mounting and balancing and didn't have any issues at all. The ride is actually better because going from a load range E to a load range D tire. The BFG's aren't as stiff - even my wife noticed a difference - not to mention the truck sits about 1" higher too!

Bruce03Silverado · February 5, 2007

Looks Great! I wish GM would listen to what the people want and offer larger tires. Any chance you have a before picture.

Thanks! Here are before and after pictures:

Before

After

GeoHawk · February 5, 2007

Sharp looking. It's amazing what some decent size tires do to the looks of these trucks.

99silveradoz71 · February 6, 2007

That's looking good

THE BIGPUNN · February 6, 2007

i like the bull bar, thought about getting one myself. but i decided on a muzzleloader for hunting this year instead. i have the same tires. i paid $600 OTD at my buds shop as well.

Bruce03Silverado · February 6, 2007

i like the bull bar, thought about getting one myself. but i decided on a muzzleloader for hunting this year instead. i have the same tires. i paid $600 OTD at my buds shop as well.

The bull bar and PIAA's came off my 03 1500 that I traded in on this one. I did have to buy a 2500 mounting kit for it - the 1500 mounting kit is totally different.

Ranger · February 7, 2007

I'm amazed that there's no rubbing. Stock wheels, the 285s would rub on the lip of the fenderwell. I trimmed it and didn't have any problems til I ripped that plastic clip off while offroading and the fenderwell came loose. No problem, little more trimming and no more rubbing. Well, after I got some 16x8s on, I got major rubbing on the fenderwell (had to trim like 3 inches off it), valance (cut off the lip off both sides), and it seems like it's rubbing on the backside of the fenderwells now too.

I like bullbars but I don't like how they obstruct the tow hooks. Not that I've ever needed to be pulled out, I wouldn't trust a bullbar as a stable recovery point. I had one on my Colorado before.

Bruce03Silverado · February 7, 2007

I'm amazed that there's no rubbing. Stock wheels, the 285s would rub on the lip of the fenderwell. I trimmed it and didn't have any problems til I ripped that plastic clip off while offroading and the fenderwell came loose. No problem, little more trimming and no more rubbing. Well, after I got some 16x8s on, I got major rubbing on the fenderwell (had to trim like 3 inches off it), valance (cut off the lip off both sides), and it seems like it's rubbing on the backside of the fenderwells now too.

I like bullbars but I don't like how they obstruct the tow hooks. Not that I've ever needed to be pulled out, I wouldn't trust a bullbar as a stable recovery point. I had one on my Colorado before.

I don't off road in my truck so with 285's I'm not surprised you had issues. There is NO rubbing at all at full crank either direction and even backing up. I've done less than 1/4" of trimming on the front valance and that was only because I wanted to and because I felt it was a little too tight for my liking. There was no rubbing even before I did the very minor trimming. Look at the wheel pic - there's plenty of room.

As far as the bull bar goes it doesn't obstruct the tow hooks - it replaces them. You have to remove the tow hooks to mount the bar and it clearly states that by mounting the bar you will lose all capability to use the front for any towing like you would with the hooks. I never used the tow hooks on my 03 1500 in the almost 4yrs I had it and used the PIAA's mounted on the bull bar more times than I can count. I prefer the bull bar.

496SS · February 7, 2007

Kick that stinkin FURD out of the garage so you can put the good stuff in.

Bruce03Silverado · February 7, 2007

Kick that stinkin FURD out of the garage so you can put the good stuff in.

LOL Even if the Explorer goes outside the HD won't fit with the Firehawk in there. The 06 Explorer is my wife's and I actually really like it. It's one of the quietest vehicles I've ever been in.