I'd like to hear comments and recommendations from those of you that have put this size tire on your stock GM 2500/3500HD 16" GM wheels. My 2001 Chevy 2500HD truck is in need of new tires. I currently have Michelin LT 265 75R 16 tires on it now and wanted to upgrade to 285s to increase my load carrying capacity by approx. 350 lbs. per tire. The tire chain that I've dealt with over the last twenty years is refusing to mount 285s on the stock 6.5 in. GM steel wheels as the "wheels are too narrow and should be 7" wide". Another major chain says no problem however I may get some wear on the tire centers using the 6.5" rims, but will still mount them.I would go to 19.5s however the ones that fit my current truck will not fit GM HD trucks from 2010 and up. So transferring the wheels won't happen if I buy a new truck in the next couple years. I am well aware of my current overload conditions with either 265s or 285 tires.I also see that TC Magazine has just started a tire/wheel survey and quite a few TCers are using this same combination.So let the weight police or the 19.5 fans refrain from starting any arguments please.Any help will be greatly appreciated.TG

I think they will balloon out and possibly ride soft and sway. That's an extremely narrow rim for tires that wide, IMO.When I upgraded to 285X75X16, I went with new 8.5 wide wheels. At the time Discount tire had a deal going and the wheels were pretty cheap. They are cheapish aluminum wheels,look good and are rated just under 7500 an axle like my tires. The rims were about $450 for the set at the time.

Will they fit? Sure. Too narrow of a wheel IMHO and the centers will wear as will the ride and safety factors be compromised. You won't have full contact across the section of the fire at full psi, you won't have full braking or turning potential either. Is your truck lifted? Don't know many if any GM guys can fit a 33" tall tire without at least a few cranks on the torsion bars to level it out. I'm with the guy above, purchase new wheels or find factory 7" wide wheels to work if you plan on a new truck soon.

Michelin's recommendation is for min. 7.5 in wheel.You will not be happy if you find someone who will mount that 285 m/m width tire on a 6.5 in stock wheel. Tire will not flex properly with the beads pinched closer than the designed width.Also, that 6.5 in. wheel may not be rated to carrier a heavier load.

The ~2001 - ~2009 GM 3500 SRW wheels are 16x7 not 16x6.5. You can pick them up pretty cheap (or at least one could when I did it in 2006) Better fit for 285x16 tires, but I wouldn't do that either. On the other hand, Terry Rey has 285s on 16x6.5 stock wheels (if I remember right), and seems satisfied with them.

Get a set of wheels that are 8" or wider, and rated equal to the tires you're putting on them, which is 3750 lbs each.I went with a custom made pair of Stockton heavy duty steel 16x8's for the rear of my F350SRW. They are rated 4000 lbs per wheel. The 285's fit perfectly on them.On the front, I run factory Ford 7" steel wheels with the 285's. The front axle doesn't carry anywhere near the weight rating of the factory wheels. The tires don't fit as well as on the 8" wheels, but with them loaded so much lighter than the rears, I run them at lower pressure and they wear even. I would not run the factory 7" wheels on the rear with the 285's. Too much weight and too narrow wheel.

LT 285/75R16 Michelin LTX Tires on stock GM Rims

SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
Get a set of wheels that are 8" or wider, and rated equal to the tires you're putting on them, which is 3750 lbs each.

I went with a custom made pair of Stockton heavy duty steel 16x8's for the rear of my F350SRW. They are rated 4000 lbs per wheel. The 285's fit perfectly on them.

On the front, I run factory Ford 7" steel wheels with the 285's. The front axle doesn't carry anywhere near the weight rating of the factory wheels. The tires don't fit as well as on the 8" wheels, but with them loaded so much lighter than the rears, I run them at lower pressure and they wear even.

I would not run the factory 7" wheels on the rear with the 285's. Too much weight and too narrow wheel.
cewillis
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
The ~2001 - ~2009 GM 3500 SRW wheels are 16x7 not 16x6.5. You can pick them up pretty cheap (or at least one could when I did it in 2006) Better fit for 285x16 tires, but I wouldn't do that either. On the other hand, Terry Rey has 285s on 16x6.5 stock wheels (if I remember right), and seems satisfied with them.
parkmanaa
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
Michelin's recommendation is for min. 7.5 in wheel.
You will not be happy if you find someone who will mount that 285 m/m width tire on a 6.5 in stock wheel. Tire will not flex properly with the beads pinched closer than the designed width.
Also, that 6.5 in. wheel may not be rated to carrier a heavier load.
Vinsil
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
Will they fit? Sure. Too narrow of a wheel IMHO and the centers will wear as will the ride and safety factors be compromised. You won't have full contact across the section of the fire at full psi, you won't have full braking or turning potential either. Is your truck lifted? Don't know many if any GM guys can fit a 33" tall tire without at least a few cranks on the torsion bars to level it out.

I'm with the guy above, purchase new wheels or find factory 7" wide wheels to work if you plan on a new truck soon.
Area13
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
I think they will balloon out and possibly ride soft and sway. That's an extremely narrow rim for tires that wide, IMO.

When I upgraded to 285X75X16, I went with new 8.5 wide wheels. At the time Discount tire had a deal going and the wheels were pretty cheap. They are cheapish aluminum wheels,look good and are rated just under 7500 an axle like my tires. The rims were about $450 for the set at the time.

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LT 285/75R16 Michelin LTX Tires on stock GM Rims

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