Tire/rim Question And Stance Of Truck

[05swb53l]

I have a 05 1500 Silverado 4x4 z71(I know it's just a small pkg)... Currently it has 2 newer tires and 2 older balding tires... The size is 265 70 17 and the rpo code says this about the rims..

 

PY9 : Wheels, 4 - 17" x 7.5" (43.2 cm x 19.1 cm) 6-lug chrome-styled steel

PY9 : WHEEL 17 X 7.5, CHROME APPEARANCE

 

Now, I was wanting to wait till spring to get tires, but I'm getting nervous about winter.. I've only had the truck under a month, so, please have patience with me.. I am fairly mechanically inclined, but have worked on far more cars than trucks and car suspensions....

 

Here's my first question... I see on the forum people mention, "leveling" kits... Are these kits generally lifting/leveling kits??

 

Second, A friend of mine very knowledge able about Gm trucks says, I can raise the front end a bit, by cranking up the torsion bars? If I do that, it's basically free right? Might make the truck ride a little rougher...

 

Third, Looking at the specs on my rims, do you guys/gals think I can go to 285 70 17's after cranking up the torsion bars without a lift or trimming, etc?? Also, I think technically that size tire wants a 7.5-9 inch wide rim, do you think my 7.5 inch wide rims would be okay with those tires, or is that asking for trouble??

 

The overall goal is to give the truck a better stance leveling it out, and making it look more meaty with a little larger tires and I figure the little larger tires are better for winter, etc...

 

I haven't even taken an pics of the truck for myself, here's one from the ad when I bought it...

 

I did just get the better looking spoiler type gm tailgate cap for it, it's been too cold to put on though and I need to get the screws still...

 

Thanks for the input...

[hubbycap]

I don't know much about the 4x4 suspension, but I wouldn't go wider on the rubber if you have snow. Buy two used 265s and put your money on wider wheels and tires for the Summer.

[2000DV4.8]

Yes, you can crank the torsion bars a bit, no more than 1.5". If you go much higher than that, you'll cause excess wear on all your front end components (ex. CV's, Tie-rods, ball joints). You don't need to spend money on aftermarket keys, just crank your stock ones. It is basically free, but you NEED to get an alignment done.

 

285's will be fine on a 7.5" wide wheel. You might have to trim the lower plastic valance a little bit, or some of the plastic fender liner, but you could probably get away with just cranking the t-bars an inch to an inch and a half.

[BigJayDogg3]

I know for a fact that narrower tires are better for winter. Someone posted on here from some tire website about tires.

[05swb53l]

Hmm, I didn't know that the more narrow tires are better for snow, I guess they would have to cut through a less wide patch of snow to get to the ground... Are they better for ice also? I don't think 285's would be horrible for snow, do you guys?? Basically the truck has turned into my Daily Driver because I like driving it all the time... So, it's a mix of highway and city on a daily basis. This morning we have snow and my back tires are really starting to concern me how low on tread they are, I put it in 4x4hi after my rear end starting coming around real easily on me... I would think new 285's are going to be way better than the low tread size I have now... I know this is a hard question to quantify, but how much worse do you think 285's are than 265's??

 

Yeah and inch to inch and a half, would probably be perfect to level out my truck, yeah, I don't want to wear any other components out quicker with the extra stress... I lowered one of my other cars, but I've just never messed with truck suspensions(well, i've changed shocks on my old minivan with leaf's in the back...) Thanks for confirming that it should fit, etc..

[BigJayDogg3]

The reasoning I got behind the narrower tire is since you have less tread area, and you have more weight on a smaller area, you cut through the snow and hit the ground. Where as with wider tires, you have more surface area to spread the weight out on and it just sits on top of the snow. It is the same idea as when you are on thin ice you lay down and spread as much weight as you can.

 

I didn't read it and try to retain everything, since we never get snow around here, but I'm about 98% sure of what I said.

[the hammer]

BJD3 is correct, you want smaller patch of contact for snow/ice. Example: I had to drive my corvette in Washington DC for two months. Let's just say that I couldn't make it up any type of hill AT ALL. Those tires were 12" wide in the back and a light car, which was the worst possible combo to have in snow. You want the weight of the truck to work in your favor and dig into the snow, not try and stay on top of it like snowshoes.

[ssjeff]

I put a 2" torsion bar key and add a leaf on my truck to aquire the 33x12.5 tires I have. In my opinion the keys kit does not take it much hihger than the stock keys will. You should have it aligned though if you touch the torsion bar adj. bolts at all.

 

You want narrower tires for snow like everyone is saying. I have the big wide one and they do pretty good but they are nitto mud grapplers and they have some serious tead on them to grab.

 

When it comes to ice imo, nothing will work if it is slick enough but studs or chains.