265 tires on GM stock wheels

[1963avanti]

I went to COSTCO to buy new tires. I wanted them to install 265/75/16 on my 2005 Sierra. They said that they were only allowed to install 245's on the truck. I know that many of you (and myself) currently tow with 265s.....have any of you had any trouble using your larger tires on the narrow (6.5") GM wheels? Do you really think the 400lb carrying capacity of the 265s is a reality with the 265s? Why did you choose 265s over 245s?

[73guna]

Shop somewhere else.
265's are fine. They fill the wheel well area in better then 245's.
Ive ran them for years on different trucks ive owned.
You many get a squishy feeling for the first 500 miles or so (depending on the brand)but it will go away.

Im assuming your Silverado is a single axle 2500hd?

[SoCalDesertRid1]

I had 265's on the front of my old C3500 dually. The truck wandered on the road. I didn't like them. The tires were too wide for the 6" wheels and side walls tucked in too far, causing them to roll over when cornering.

I put 235's back on, which was the stock tire size, and handling and steering instantly improved.

I would not run 265's on any wheel narrower than 7".

[SoCalDesertRid1]

1963avanti wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
This is another good reason to get a 3500 instead of a 2500 when buying a truck. The 3500 comes stock with wider wheels and 265 tires.
So, an easy solution to getting the recommended width wheels for the tires is to swap some from a 3500 somewhere.
I wouldn't worry about gearing issues. All GM diesels have 3.73 gears, 2500 and 3500 so those gears must work fine with the larger tires.

I 2005 when I purchased my tow vehicle the 3500s only came as duallys with 215 tires....I will look for wheels from 2007-2010 3500s however....thanks

GM has made the one-ton with single rear wheels, from the 1970's to present. They were available. You just didn't happen find one on your particular dealer's lot.

[Grit_dog]

1963avanti wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
This is another good reason to get a 3500 instead of a 2500 when buying a truck. The 3500 comes stock with wider wheels and 265 tires.
So, an easy solution to getting the recommended width wheels for the tires is to swap some from a 3500 somewhere.
I wouldn't worry about gearing issues. All GM diesels have 3.73 gears, 2500 and 3500 so those gears must work fine with the larger tires.

I 2005 when I purchased my tow vehicle the 3500s only came as duallys with 215 tires....I will look for wheels from 2007-2010 3500s however....thanks

Maybe at your dealer, but GM made plenty of 2005 srw 3500 trucks.
265s will be just fine for anything you're doing with the truck, but a suggestion if you want bigger tires and want to ditch the poor selection of 16" tires and the limitations of the narrow wheels. Buy some takeoff 17-20" newer GM or Dodge/Ram OE wheels off craigslist. You can get a new set of tires and wheels for the same or less than new tires from the tires shop.
The GM hub caps that are on your 2005 will still work on a lot of those takeoff wheels too and there's a lot better looking wheels out there than factory steelies or the PYO GM alloys.

[blt2ski]

I put 265's on twice to stock 6.5" rims, did not like how they handled vs 7.5" rims. 245's or 235-85s on the stock rims were ok. This was on an 88 and 96 K3500 trucks. Moved the aluminimum rims from the 88 to the 96, then traded on an o5 with 215-85-16 dual tires. Have not seen 225-75's on a dually GM in a number of years, probably the 1990's C/K models frankly.

I would not recommend 245's on stock rims. UNLESS, you want some sidewall roll noted in Chris's photo. That is usually ONLY done to rigs going off road, with lower psi etc. NOT with rigs that are carrying/hauling a load. In the load carrying instance, you want a wider rim, that allows the sidewall to be as straight up and down as possible. Off roading the narrower tire is use to protect the rim with low, ie under 30 usually 10-20 psi of air vs 60-80 when on the road.

marty

[Me_Again]

It is a misapplication. See how the sidewall rolls in. Chris

[dodge_guy]

Shouldn't have been an issue. its done all the time. they fit on the rim just fine. I do at work on occasion. I`ve even put 285`s on my Excursion that is spec`d for 265`s.

[97chevor]

First time I have heard of this. Usually shops won't install to tires with under OEM ratings. The 265s aren't less then E rated?

[KD4UPL]

1963avanti wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
This is another good reason to get a 3500 instead of a 2500 when buying a truck. The 3500 comes stock with wider wheels and 265 tires.
So, an easy solution to getting the recommended width wheels for the tires is to swap some from a 3500 somewhere.
I wouldn't worry about gearing issues. All GM diesels have 3.73 gears, 2500 and 3500 so those gears must work fine with the larger tires.

I 2005 when I purchased my tow vehicle the 3500s only came as duallys with 225 tires....I will look for wheels from 2007-2010 3500s however....thanks

I don't think that's true. You should be able to find wheels from the earlier models as well. I think GM has always offered a SRW 3500. I know they did in 2005.

[JIMNLIN]

have any of you had any trouble using your larger tires on the narrow (6.5") GM wheels?

Twice.
Both times I bought a used truck that someone had put 265 tires on those small narrow wheels.

Bad idea for a load carrying vehicle such as a pickup carrying heavy loads such as my 9' 6" truck camper and especially with heavy GN trailers.
The tires need max pressures at these weights which both times caused the tires to ride on the centers causing handling issues. If your not carrying heavy loads then the mis match tire/wheel width may work out for you.

The truck with the TC wallowed all over the road.
Heavy GN trailers pushed back of the other truck around to the point I was using trailer brakes only .

I bought the correct 8" wheels for the truck camper combo. No more handling issues.

For the truck/GN trailer I went with the narrow 235/85 E tire. Tracked like a sled on rails in all situations.

If your carrying max axle (6000-6200 rawr) loads the 245/75 E may not have enough reserve capacity.
Most of the 6.5" GM wheels aren't rated but around 3100-3200 lbs.

[Thunderbolt]

245/75/16 is the largest tire recommended for the stock 6.5" wheel. Kudos to the tire shop for sticking with this, However thee are many people including myself that have 265's with no issues. Many shops will even mount 285's on stock GM wheels. IMHO if you aren't towing heavy you won't be able to tell the difference.You will have a little more sidewall flex, but if you aren't towing heavy you won't have a problem. That is not my recommendation, but my personal experience. If you are towing heavy then get wider wheels.

[mtofell1]

Ran 265s for years on my 06 Chevy 2500 with no problem. I'm pretty sure I even bought a set of them from Costco. This must be something new the lawyers drummed up.

[1963avanti]

KD4UPL wrote:
This is another good reason to get a 3500 instead of a 2500 when buying a truck. The 3500 comes stock with wider wheels and 265 tires.
So, an easy solution to getting the recommended width wheels for the tires is to swap some from a 3500 somewhere.
I wouldn't worry about gearing issues. All GM diesels have 3.73 gears, 2500 and 3500 so those gears must work fine with the larger tires.

I 2005 when I purchased my tow vehicle the 3500s only came as duallys with 215 tires....I will look for wheels from 2007-2010 3500s however....thanks

[TUCQUALA]

Went from 245's to 265's on our '99 Suburban with NO problems. Stock chrome clad (6.5") rims from a later GM. NO PROBLEMS!!!!

Costco is just doing the CYA thing!! Go to some other seller and purchase what you want.

I did not have any wear, handling, or worry problems with 265's on 6.5" rims, and you won't!!!

[KD4UPL]

This is another good reason to get a 3500 instead of a 2500 when buying a truck. The 3500 comes stock with wider wheels and 265 tires.
So, an easy solution to getting the recommended width wheels for the tires is to swap some from a 3500 somewhere.
I wouldn't worry about gearing issues. All GM diesels have 3.73 gears, 2500 and 3500 so those gears must work fine with the larger tires.