Truck owners everywhere will agree that one of the best things about trucks is there are so many options when it comes to modifications. Popular truck modifications include fitting an impressive sound system, adding a garage grille, or changing the lights – to name just a few!
One of the most common modifications truck drivers choose to make to their Silverado is to fit larger tires – but is bigger really better when it comes to truck tires?
In this article, we reveal what size tires you can put on a Chevy Silverado and share tips on how you can fit even bigger tires on your truck.
There are two ways you can fit larger tires onto a Chevy Silverado. If you want to keep the stock suspension, you will be able to upgrade the factory standard 31.6-inch tires up to 33.5-inch tires.
However, if 33.5 inches still isn’t as big as you would like, you can use a leveling kit to modify the height of your Chevy and create space for bigger front and back tires.
A Chevy Silverado has 31.6-inch factory standard tires. These tires have the number 265/65/R18 and the stock suspension can only accommodate tires up to 33.5 inches (275/60/R20).
You will not be able to fit tires any bigger than 33.5 inches onto the stock suspension of your Chevy without having to do some difficult modifications.
In fact, unless you have prior mechanical knowledge or the necessary skills, it is not recommended that you make any modifications to your Silverado’s tires. There are professional tire fitters who can get the job done for you if you don’t want to go down the DIY route.
Are 33.5 inches still sounding too small? It is possible to give your Chevy Silverado a real monster truck feel by fitting even bigger tires and lifting the cab even higher up on the suspension.
If you want to create a beast of a truck, you are going to need the assistance of a leveling or lift kit, you may also need to modify or change the suspension entirely. By using a 2-inch leveling kit, you will be able to fit tires as big as 35 inches onto your Silverado.
Not sure how to use a leveling kit? No sweat, we have all the information you need later on in this article.
Before you rush to buy bigger tires for your Silverado, it is first important to ask yourself why you want them in the first place. If you want bigger tires on your truck purely for aesthetic reasons, that’s understandable.
Your Chevy is sure to stand out in a crowd with a set of huge tires. But what about for performance and safety, are bigger tires really the best option then?
Let’s take a close look at the pros and cons of installing larger tires on a Chevy Silverado. Are big wheels just for show or is there more to them than meets the eye?
Better for off-road driving
If you intend to regularly use your truck for driving off-road, bigger tires can provide you with a much smoother ride. Larger tires will give the cab of your truck even more clearance from the road below, making any bumps in the road less noticeable.
Also, bigger tires have been found to handle much better on gravel and dirt tracks. With larger tires, you should be able to handle your truck better on your off-road adventures, no matter what the terrain is like.
Increase towing capabilities
It has been found that larger tires can improve a truck’s towing ability. Whilst it is never advisable to tow anything that weighs more than your truck can safely handle, bigger tires can help you to tow heavier loads more easily and with better control.
Heavy loads can weigh down on the back wheel of your truck and put a strain on the axel and wear down the tires. When using larger tires the weight can be better distributed and should not dump down into the suspension and back axel.
They look impressive
There is no denying, trucks were made to have big tires. Larger tires can lift your truck higher from the ground and turn it into a real monster on the road. A Chevy Silverado is impressive as it is, but heads will definitely be turning if you add the biggest tires you can.
They last longer
As larger tires have a greater surface area, the wear and tear are distributed over a larger area. This means, as you drive there is more rubber coming into contact with the road and it will take longer for the tire as a whole to degenerate and get to a point where it needs to be changed.
High price tag
As with most modifications, you are going to need to spend a fair few dollars to get the end result you want. Large truck tires, leveling, and lift kits are all quite expensive; be prepared to spend the big bucks if you want to upgrade the tires on your Silverado.
Negatively impact overall control and handling
When you make your truck higher, you are changing its center of gravity and this can impact how well you can handle it in certain situations.
For example, when you are quickly changing lanes or trying to make maneuvers at high speeds, you may notice the body of the truck feels like it might want to roll and like you have less control than before.
TPMS system will not be accurate
The TPMS in your Silverado monitors the pressure in all of the tires and informs the driver when more air is needed. If you change the tires and fit larger ones, you will need to update your TPMS to ensure it continues to correctly monitor the tire pressure.
The odometer and speedometer will need to be updated
When you install bigger tires on your truck, you will need to update the speedometer and odometer. The gearing and traction control may also not perform correctly with larger tires. This is because all of these components work based on the distance a tire travels during one complete revolution.
When the tires are bigger, the diameter will be greater and the speedometer will not be able to record an accurate speed. This happens because the tire will take longer than before to complete a full revolution, so the speedometer will think the truck is traveling slower than it really is.
The warranty may be at risk
Often to fit larger tires, you will need to use a lift kit, bigger tires need more space and a lift kit can help you achieve this. However, unless you are using a Chevrolet lift kit, you are at risk of voiding your warranty on your Silverado.
It is advisable to avoid making any modifications using a lift kit until your warranty has expired unless you want to purchase a kit directly from Chevrolet.
As we have established, if you want to fit bigger tires on your Chevrolet Silverado, you are only going to be able to go as large as 33.5 inches before you will need to make modifications to the suspension and height of your truck.
Using a lift kit, you will be able to put even bigger tires on a Chevy Silverado. There are two different types of lift kits that can be used to fit bigger tires to your truck, these are:
Leveling kits are useful when you want to boost your truck further away from the ground. Also, a leveling kit can be used to create a more even appearance for your truck, it is not uncommon for the front to be slightly lower than the rear in many trucks and SUVs.
When using a leveling kit, you can effectively lift just the front of your truck so its stance matches that of the back.
A leveling kit can create more clearance for larger tires too. A 2-inch leveling kit will create enough space for you to fit 35inch tires onto your Silverado, while still keeping enough room for them to perform correctly.
A general rule of thumb is whatever inch leveling kit, that is how many more inches you can increase the tire size. For example, with a 3-inch leveling kit, you can increase the tire size by 3 inches and so on.
It is possible to change the suspension on your Chevy Silverado by using a suspension kit. Unlike leveling kits, suspension kits have no maximum height and you can turn your Chevy into an absolute beast on the road.
However, it is important to be aware that you will need to make several changes to your Silverado if you want to modify the suspension and add giant tires. If you are planning to alter the suspension, it is advisable to seek professional advice first.
You will need a bigger suspension if you want to fit bulky tires on your Silverado because the standard wheel arch is not big enough. Large tires will rub on the stock suspension, you can only go as large as 33 inches before you will need to make further modifications.
Some truck enthusiasts choose to trim the mud flaps and pull the fender out the way, in an attempt to create enough space to accommodate larger tires.
You can fit 33-inch tires onto the stock suspension on a Chevy Silverado. However, the tires may not have perfect clearance and you will need to use a 2-inch leveling kit to create more space.
The factory standard size tires on a Silverado are 31.6 inches, these are 265/65/R18 tires. If you want to go up to 33 inches, you will need to use 275/60/R20 tires.
If you are willing to pay out for a lift kit or a new suspension, you can fit tires up to 35 inches on your Silverado. It is important to note that these kits lift the body of your truck further away from the ground and this can cause just as many problems as it does benefits.
Boosting the height of your truck can make it more difficult to handle at high speeds and increase the risk of your Chevy rolling over. You should also be aware that fitting larger tires can increase your truck’s fuel consumption and it can be a very expensive modification to make to your truck.
The standard stock tire size on a Chevrolet Silverado is 31.6 inches. Tires this size have the number 265/65/R18 and perform perfectly with the stock suspension. It is possible to increase the tire size to 33inches but you will need to be prepared to make certain modifications when installing larger tires.
No matter what size tires you use, you need to make sure they are the correct pressure. Driving deflated tires can cause damage to your tires and wheels and can greatly hinder your truck’s overall driving performance.
The tire pressure for a Chevrolet Silverado is 35 psi for the front and back wheels. Regularly check your tire pressure to keep your Chevy in full working order, once a month is a current recommendation.
The factory stock tires on a Chevy Silverado should last anywhere between 20,000 and 60,000 miles. Of course, some tires may need to be replaced sooner and others could still be in good condition after driving 50,000 miles.
The life span of truck tires varies depending on what type of tires you are using.
For example, mud tires have a shorter life span and only last for around 30,000 miles. In comparison, all-season tires have a much longer life span and may not need to be replaced until closer to 60,000 miles. Often, the bigger the truck, the more frequently the tires will need to be changed.
If you have a Chevy Silverado, you will be pleased to hear you can fit larger tires to get the monstrous look you’ve been dreaming of. The standard tires on a Silverado are 31.6 inches but you can upgrade this to 33 inches without any additional equipment.
Fitting 33s on a Chevy Silverado can feel like a bit of a tight squeeze, to achieve the best results for appearance and performance, a leveling kit can be used. If you are hoping for even bigger tires, with the help of a 2-inch lift kit you can fit 35-inch tires on your Silverado.
Bigger tires have several advantages and disadvantages and it is important that you properly weigh these up before getting to work on modifying your truck.
Larger tires can increase your truck’s fuel consumption and negatively impact how well you can handle the vehicle due to it being further away from the ground. However, we can’t ignore the fact that big tires look awesome and are in fact the best option for off-road driving.
Adding bigger tires to a Chevrolet Silverado can be an expensive modification. The price of four large tires, a leveling kit, and maybe even a new suspension can quickly add up.
Even if you have the knowledge to do the work and avoid mechanic fees, the parts themselves can come with a pretty hefty price tag. Big tires may look impressive but you are only going to really notice the benefits if you plan to use your truck mostly for off-road driving.
If your Chevy is just used to get you from A to B along main roads and the highway, just stick with the stock tires. The Chevy Silverado is an eye-catching ride as it is and installing larger tires may not be necessary.
However, if you dream of your very own monster truck, fitting bigger tires can help your dream become a reality.
