Just bought 2019 Z71... stance & tire size seems odd

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shock

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Just bought a 2019 LT Z71. Previously owned a 2004 Suburban LS 2WD.

I was thinking a leveling of the front and a slightly taller tire. Not trying to get into the pizza cutter zone necessarily, but the 265/65 tires look oddly low profile on the 18” wheel. What was GM thinking with a Z71?!

I would normally default to the BFG KO2, but they seem only available in load range E for the most part, which seems stiff for a Tahoe.

Any advice on a slightly taller tire for this thing? Looking for a balance of road manners, snow-ability, and not tearing them apart on jagged rocks on the occasional mild trail.
 

hcvone

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That was the stock size of the tires on the 2007-2014 Escalade's if you got the 18" wheel option, it's the same basic outside diameter as the 285/45/22's I used stock chrome 18" Escalade wheels for my DuraTrac and my Blizzak's for the winter, and switched back to the 22"s for the nice months

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shock

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The 275/65/18 looks good there. Any noticeable affect in handling going from 265 to 275?
 

Tiki

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Top is mine with Bilsteins set on the second ring (1.25” I believe). The second picture I believe is a 2” lift.
 

2591tdj

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Mine came with the same small looking 18” wheels. I wonder if GM thought the additional sidewall would provide more cushioning when bumping around off road? But, does anyone really use their Tahoe over rocky or rutted off road terrain?
 
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shock

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Yes, I believe that's the rational for installing 18s on the Z71.
I do intend to take it off road in the most basic definition--not trying to get into Wrangler Rubicon on 35s kind of capability, but maybe Subaru (with the right tires) territory. Sidewalls aren't my greatest concern, but I still plan to stick with the 18s. I test drove an LTZ with 22s and did not care for the way that drove--I looked around the lot for a Corvette running AT tires thinking maybe they had swapped them.


Any thoughts on the load range? I'm thinking I won't care for a load range E tire on the road but that limits the AT tire choices for sure.
 

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