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robrose1's avatar
robrose1
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2015

245/75/16 tires to 265/75/16

Anyone change the stock tires on your GMC from 245 to 265s? if so anything negative and did it change up angle of fiver.
  • Depends on if you drive a 1500 or a 2500 ... if you go from 245 to 265 on a 1500, there may be a little catch on the front fender wells when you make deep turns - I just trimmed the well edges about an inch or so, and no problems.

    Am not sure rims are an issue - but it's certainly doable ... My 2003 GMC 1500 came with 265's, my 2003 2500 came stock with 265's, and my 2015 2500HD came stock with 265's ...
  • ChooChooMan74 wrote:
    You are basically changing your final gear ratio. Your engine will either be working harder at lower RPMs, and/or need to downshift sooner and more frequent.


    Won't make hardly any difference.
    With 3.73 gears, .67 final drive @60 mph it's only 58 rpms.
  • I don't know about wheel width, but height wise you won't have any issues. In fact I doubt you'll even notice it. I ran 265/75R16s on a little Xterra for years and it did fine with them. Better than fine offroad - I could get that thing about anywhere. I think they were just over 12% larger than the little stock size tires it came with.
  • I had 265's on my K2500 Burb and my 2500HD. With the HD I always fought handling issues after going to our larger camper. It also wanted to wander while towing. I have no idea if it was the larger tires causing that or not.
    With the diesel I doubt you'll notice a difference in power.
  • Good Year makes a 265/70/16 which is closer to the diameter of the 245/75/16. The problem is still putting a 265 on a wheel not designed for it. I had a Suburban with these tires on it and I would have to say there was a wondering feeling with that truck versus others I had driven with the OEM spec'ed tires.

    The 265 is going to give up some wet/snow/ice traction versus the same 245 tire.
  • You are changing your final gear ratio by a little over 3%. When your speedo indicates 55mph, you'll actually be doing 57mph.
  • You are basically changing your final gear ratio. Your engine will either be working harder at lower RPMs, and/or need to downshift sooner and more frequent.
  • Yeah, overall height difference is about an inch as I recall. So about 1/2" difference in ride height. Unless you're already iffy, it's a non-issue.

    The rim width is the issue. You can squeeze them onto 7" rims but putting them on 6.5" rims pinches them in too much, at least for my taste.
  • Wheel rim width is your biggest issue. As I remember the 265 requires a 7.5 inch rim width and the stock GM rimmis either 6.5 or 7 inch.