Chevy 3500 tires upgrading

Nitto, Toyo, and BFG make higher load rated tires for 18 inch rims. Don't go solely by the current size of your tires as there are only two important considerations, the tire's overall height and the minimum rim width it requires.

Factor in that the height of the tire has a minimal impact most of the time. I went from 245 to 285 tires and gained an inch in height with no load on the rear tires. The gearing as 0.04 greater so at 50 MPH on the odometer the truck was actually traveling at 52 MPH. With a full load the new tires made my speedometer and odometer more accurate than the stock factory tires.

Going to the 285 Nitto's the tire capacity went from 3195@80 PSI to 3750@80 PSI for a gain at the rear of 1100 lbs., which is close to the maximum one can get without going to 19.5 wheels.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

dave17352 wrote:
I have heard of people finding tires with a higher load range than my stock tires. I have 265/70 R18. They are load range e with 3525 max load at 80 psi. I would appreciate anybody that actually knows where tires the same size with a higher max load can be found. I have looked and have not found anything. With my truck camper on and wet I am just about at my limits on the rear tires. Would love to find some tires with a little more wiggle room if possible.

Thanks

Sounds like BandAids! If you are that much weight and sounds like going over tire rating is a possibility then you should consider getting a dually.

No I am not actually going over my tire weights. I also drive conservatively keeping my speed under 60. The unit handles well with no mods. Even when I haul my boat I am not over as long as I travel dry. I was just looking for a tire with a little more capacity. I will say SRW Chevy after 2010, mine is a 2011 3500, with the frame change and suspension upgrades hauls almost exactly what a chevy dually 2010 and prior does.

So anyway no dually for me. Nothing against them and if I were to go with a slide camper I would have one. But I am fine with what I have.

JMHO

dave17352 wrote:
I have heard of people finding tires with a higher load range than my stock tires. I have 265/70 R18. They are load range e with 3525 max load at 80 psi. I would appreciate anybody that actually knows where tires the same size with a higher max load can be found. I have looked and have not found anything. With my truck camper on and wet I am just about at my limits on the rear tires. Would love to find some tires with a little more wiggle room if possible.

Thanks

Sounds like BandAids! If you are that much weight and sounds like going over tire rating is a possibility then you should consider getting a dually.

I know you're looking for stock type tires, but a lot of folks with big pick up campers are upgrading to 19.5 wheels and tires. These will add you great piece of mind, as in 4500 lbs. each at 110psi. Good luck.

It doesn't matter who makes them, an E rated 265/70/18 will have the same 3525lb capacity.

I didn't need more rating,I just wanted a better selection of tires than the two that were available in the 265/70/18 size that came on my truck stock.

I went to a 275/70/18. They're 1/2" taller and slightly wider. They also have a 3640lb rating.

There is zero difference in the way my truck tows/handles vs stock.

Check out Nitto tires - Dura Grappler or Terra Grappler depending how aggressive a tread pattern you need - I had the 17" Dura Grapplers with load index of 126R which were rated at 3750 lbs vs 3195 lbs for std E range tires - had over 60000 miles on them when I sold my F250 Diesel truck. May have to go up a size or two, but increased diameter may not be an issue for you.