Do you own a Chevy 1500 and wondering how big the tires you can fit on it then this is the post for you. In this article, we are going to be exploring the different factors that determine the tire size that goes onto a vehicle and the Chevy 1500 in particular.
In an attempt to find out how big are the tires can fit on a Chevy 1500, we have to go down the rabbit hole to understand how tires are denoted and then find out what we actually wanted to know. So this is what I found out.
The biggest tire on stock silverado 1500
In short, a standard Chevy 1500 without any changes or enhancements the biggest tire you can put on it can be a 32” tire. However the safely recommended option is the 31”. Its dimensions are about 265/70 – 17. This would be an appropriate size for the wheel without any need for altering the vehicle’s body to accommodate a bigger tire.
What are the biggest tires that can fit on Chevy 1500 with no lift?
The 31” is the standard you can put on a 1500 Chevy but if you make slight modifications to your car it would be possible to accommodate a little more in terms of tire size.
The type of modification is called trimming. Trimming is when the plastic of the wheel well is removed to allow a larger wheel to fit. And in this case with trimming you can fit up to about 33”.
There is a limit to how much of the car you can trim and compared to lifting, trimming is not a major modification to the vehicle. The safety advisory when trimmed is about 32.5” with dimensions, 265/70 – 18.
What are the biggest tires you can put on a lifted Chevy 1500?
There many different types of lift kits that can be used on your vehicle but the most reliable is a body lift kit. This type of lift kit requires you to remove the body of the car from its metal frame then add blocks to the car providing the necessary lift to the car.
It will need you to put a longer attachment than before the lift. You can get a 35” lift on your vehicle with the appropriate lift. You can lift your car from 2” – 6” depending on what your preference is and what its purpose is.
The advantage is that you run the risk of your tires rubbing. The disadvantage though is with lifting, the center of gravity of your car is raised meaning you have to be very cautious of your speeds when turning.
Another con of lifting is the size of your wheel can impact your fuel economy by about 2MPG for a 2” lift. Lifting can be quite expensive or very affordable.
You can opt to do it yourself but it can get very complicated and would need you to concentrate and follow the instructions precisely. the cost scale for a lift can be from $120 – $1800. And having it professionally done is safest.
How tires dimensions are denoted?
Let’s say for example your tire has the following dimensions, 255/55R17, this would mean:
- 255 represents the section width of the tire in millimeters
- 55 is the aspect ratio that is to say the percentage of height/width.
- R stand for the construction type in this case Radial
- 17 is a measure of the car’s inner diameter in inches
When coming up with the wheel size it is 255 x .55 = 140.25mm which is the height of the rubber section of the wheel to change it to inches, 140.25/25.4 = 5.52 inches. So the size of the tire would be 5.52 for either side of the rim and the rim diameter, (5.52 x 2) + 17 = 28.04. Meaning in this case the size of the wheel is 28”.
Conclusion on how big of tires can i fit on my chevy 1500
The Chevy 1500 can accommodate a number of varying sizes of wheels with the standard car having no modifications. The best dimensions are 265/70 – 17 if you want your car to be working at its best with the biggest wheels at that level.
Lifting is a controversial modification but can allow you to put in any size wheels you want without the risk of rubbing. The disadvantage is certain configurations will result in the car losing some of its balance when maneuvering corners.
It can also cause affect the fuel economy of your car meaning you’ll end up paying more over time. Bigger wheels can be a fun addition to your vehicle, however other considerations need to be made.
Tomas is a retired Chevy Auto Technician that brings decades of hands-on experience and expertise to the table. He’s also a father to two incredible daughters. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help you solve and find reliable information on Chevrolet vehicles. Whether it’s troubleshooting engine problems or providing tips for maintenance, Thomas is committed to helping Chevy owners keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.
