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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Tire size on Si;verado Pickup

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Expert: - 8/24/2005


Question
I would like to get some larger tires for my wife's 2003 Silverado 1500HD LT pickup. The tires are stock 245x65 16 tires.
It is used primarily as an around the town pickup, rarely used for hauling or towing.
The pickup looks like a pig on skates with the small tires. I would like some beefier tires but still have fairly quiet road noise. I have heard I need to raise the pickup body, either by a spacer on the fron coils or a 4 inch lift kit.

What do you think is the best way to accomplish the desired look?
Thank you,
Tonyv

Answer
Tony,

The amount of lift you need, will be determined by the size of the tire you want to run.  I never recommend a body lift, as they tend to alter the handling characteristics of the suspension.  A true suspension lift is much better, as they are much more stable than a body lift.

Every vehicle has different requirements for the larger tires, such as the lift size, will you need to modify/cut out the fender flares, etc.  Due to this,  I would suggest that you purchase a few off-road magazines, and contact some of the distributors of lift kits, preferably those that specialize in pickups.  They can advise you as to what size lift you would need to install the size tires you want.

Here is a web site for you to check out.  I don't really agree with some of the statements, but this is a good place to start.

http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/suspensionbodyliftkits/abody_lift_kits.htm

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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