22” to 18” Wheel Swap 2025 Yukon Denali

[Javelina]

Decided to downsize the wheels on my 2025 Yukon Denali from 22” to 18”. I wanted more air and rubber to cushion the road surface and disliked the appearance of the now popular low-profile wheel/tire combinations. Enough online opinions suggested that this would be possible.

My original wheel was the GM 85675606 22” X 9” wide Ultra Bright Machined and Painted Midnight Silver Wheel with Laser Etched Logo. These are sometimes referred to as the “Snowflake” wheel. For replacements I found GM 84943289 18” X 8.5” wide Machined Charcoal wheels on eBay which were reported to be take-offs from a 2021 Sierra. They came with black GMC center caps. I also bought GM 13542523 TPMS sensors which were also take-offs.

As for new tires, I decided on 285/65 R18 Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 116T.

Tire ODmm:
275/50 R22 = 833 Original
285/65 R18 = 828 New

My local Big-O tire shop was willing to work with this unproven combination and we (They) systematically fit things in this order:

1. Lift truck, remove original front passenger wheel.
2. Install 18" raw wheel on above hub to check clearance for brake caliper and upper ball joint assy. ¾” - 1” clearance all around.
3. Mount new tire on new wheel and do the same including tire to wheel well clearance lock-to-lock. Did this with truck in the air and on the ground. Observed several finger widths of clearance all around.
4. Checked function of all 4 TPMS sensors and paired them to truck.
5. Installed TPMS sensors in all 4 wheels and mounted remaining new tires, installed on truck.
6. Observed in dash info screen to report correct tire pressure.

Short drive home subjectively revealed improvement over original with less in cabin perception of minor bumps, seams, utility covers, reflective markers, etc.

I’ll report on the highway behavior of this tire/wheel combo later. I’m expecting there to be a smoother, quieter ride. Hopefully this will not be at a great expense of high-speed steering response and hairpin mountain road cornering.

 

[Big Mama]

Nice write up. Lots of people ask this question while looking for a softer ride. Do you know the offset of these wheels? Looks like the key was the year/model of the rig these came off.

 

[Marky Dissod]

@Moxon22, did you consider 275/70R18? (Like having a larger number of tires to choose from.)

 

[Javelina]

Nice write up. Lots of people ask this question while looking for a softer ride. Do you know the offset of these wheels? Looks like the key was the year/model of the rig these came off.

Big Mama,

We did not look for or measure and compare the offset of the two wheels. One of the seeming knowledgeable tire store guys believed the OEM wheels for most truck lines were neutral offset.

 

[Javelina]

@Moxon22, did you consider 275/70R18? (Like having a larger number of tires to choose from.)

Marky,

After considering reviews and comments on Tire Rack and many internet comparison reviews I narrowed my choices down to the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 116T and Continental TerrainContact H/T. Both were available in 275/70R18 which has an 843mm OD. This is a bit larger than the 833mm of the 275/50R22 the truck came with. I wasn’t confident that this difference, however small, would have no effect on ABS, Traction Control, etc. I found no clear answers when searching that reprogramming the truck for tire sizes other than factory was possible. I was also unwilling to add my local GMC dealer service shop into the tire decision making process.

The Michelins were available in a 285/65R18 having an 828mm OD. The 24” wheel option on Yukons use 285/40R24. I then simply chose the Michelins for the extra tire width.

 

[Marky Dissod]

If you've already made your decision, then this post will only help in the future, but whatever ...

I wasn’t confident that this difference, however small, would have no effect on ABS, Traction Control, etc.

What actually is 'etc.', though? ABS, Traction Control, & Stability Control are independent of the speedometer.
So long as all four tires' - not wheels' ... tires' - diameter / circumference are identical to each other, ABS / TC / SC will work as intended,
because ABS / TC / SC compare tire rotational speeds to each other - the speedometer is a separate function.

I found no clear answers when searching that reprogramming the truck for tire sizes other than factory was possible.

Reprogramming ... what? Assuming you mean reprogramming the speedometer ...

If the tire(s) selected - not wheels, tires - are taller than GM OE, then the speedometer would read slower than 'actual' until reprogrammed,
which may be potentially dangerous to the driver.
If the tires selected - not wheels, tires - are shorter than GM OE, then the speedometer would read faster than 'actual' until reprogrammed,
which is far less dangerous to the driver than tires that are 'too tall'.

I tend not to worry about tire choices that are within 1% of each other's diameter / circumference, as that'd be covered by tread wear.
275/70R18 is THE TALLEST GM OE tire option, 33.15" tall. What is the tire size of your spare?

Thanks for answering that last question.

 

[the blur]

1. Lift truck, remove original front passenger wheel.
2. Install 18" raw wheel on above hub to check clearance for brake caliper and upper ball joint assy. ¾” - 1” clearance all around.
3. Mount new tire on new wheel and do the same including tire to wheel well clearance lock-to-lock. Did this with truck in the air and on the ground. Observed several finger widths of clearance all around.
4. Checked function of all 4 TPMS sensors and paired them to truck.
5. Installed TPMS sensors in all 4 wheels and mounted remaining new tires, installed on truck.
6. Observed in dash info screen to report correct tire pressure.

Did you really need to write up the above ?? and post how to change tires ? Is it really necessary ??
You didn't state, remove lug nuts. 1 at a time.


FWIW, on my 2011 Escalade, I went from 22" to 18". Best thing I ever did.

 

[14point5]

Decided to downsize the wheels on my 2025 Yukon Denali from 22” to 18”. I wanted more air and rubber to cushion the road surface and disliked the appearance of the now popular low-profile wheel/tire combinations. Enough online opinions suggested that this would be possible.

My original wheel was the GM 85675606 22” X 9” wide Ultra Bright Machined and Painted Midnight Silver Wheel with Laser Etched Logo. These are sometimes referred to as the “Snowflake” wheel. For replacements I found GM 84943289 18” X 8.5” wide Machined Charcoal wheels on eBay which were reported to be take-offs from a 2021 Sierra. They came with black GMC center caps. I also bought GM 13542523 TPMS sensors which were also take-offs.

As for new tires, I decided on 285/65 R18 Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 116T.

Tire ODmm:
275/50 R22 = 833 Original
285/65 R18 = 828 New

My local Big-O tire shop was willing to work with this unproven combination and we (They) systematically fit things in this order:

1. Lift truck, remove original front passenger wheel.
2. Install 18" raw wheel on above hub to check clearance for brake caliper and upper ball joint assy. ¾” - 1” clearance all around.
3. Mount new tire on new wheel and do the same including tire to wheel well clearance lock-to-lock. Did this with truck in the air and on the ground. Observed several finger widths of clearance all around.
4. Checked function of all 4 TPMS sensors and paired them to truck.
5. Installed TPMS sensors in all 4 wheels and mounted remaining new tires, installed on truck.
6. Observed in dash info screen to report correct tire pressure.

Short drive home subjectively revealed improvement over original with less in cabin perception of minor bumps, seams, utility covers, reflective markers, etc.View attachment 471039

I’ll report on the highway behavior of this tire/wheel combo later. I’m expecting there to be a smoother, quieter ride. Hopefully this will not be at a great expense of high-speed steering response and hairpin mountain road cornering.

Your wheels look great. For reference, my 2025 SSV (fire department uility vehicle) came with this 18" wheel and tire combo:

 

[FatBob]

Was there a reason you did not use the TPMS that came in the 22" wheels?

 

[Javelina]

Was there a reason you did not use the TPMS that came in the 22" wheels?

FatBob,

Once satisfied with the new wheel/tire combo I intend to sell the ones taken off, ready to bolt on.

 

[FatBob]

FatBob,

Once satisfied with the new wheel/tire combo I intend to sell the ones taken off, ready to bolt on.

Thanks, My current truck had 22" wheels, I asked the dealer to swap for 20" (nothing with 18" on the lot). My next truck, I want 18" and was worried there might be an issue, such as the TPMS sensors from a 22" wheel were "different" enough not to work in 18" wheels. If the P/N you used was the same as 22" use, I was not aware that they were the same.

 

[ducfan]

FatBob,

Once satisfied with the new wheel/tire combo I intend to sell the ones taken off, ready to bolt on.

Great choice in tires, IMHO. I had those on my QX-56 that I recently sold when my '26 Yukon showed up.

Curious -- where are you located? In case I want to bid on your 22" wheels? I am at 43065.

 

[Javelina]

Great choice in tires, IMHO. I had those on my QX-56 that I recently sold when my '26 Yukon showed up.

Curious -- where are you located? In case I want to bid on your 22" wheels? I am at 43065.

I am in SF East Bay - 94588

 

[Big Mama]

Was there a reason you did not use the TPMS that came in the 22" wheels?

I did the same thing. I planned to use my stock wheels for winter so I got new sensors in the new setup.

 

[Big Mama]

Thanks, My current truck had 22" wheels, I asked the dealer to swap for 20" (nothing with 18" on the lot). My next truck, I want 18" and was worried there might be an issue, such as the TPMS sensors from a 22" wheel were "different" enough not to work in 18" wheels. If the P/N you used was the same as 22" use, I was not aware that they were the same.

There’s no problem with the sensors but if you get take offs check the age so you can add new sensors before the old ones die.

 

[Big Mama]

Did you really need to write up the above ?? and post how to change tires ? Is it really necessary ??
You didn't state, remove lug nuts. 1 at a time.


FWIW, on my 2011 Escalade, I went from 22" to 18". Best thing I ever did.

He was showing how to check fitment before buying the new set so you’re not stuck with wheels that don’t fit or tires that rub.

 

[tom3]

Decided to downsize the wheels on my 2025 Yukon Denali from 22” to 18”. I wanted more air and rubber to cushion the road surface and disliked the appearance of the now popular low-profile wheel/tire combinations. Enough online opinions suggested that this would be possible.

My original wheel was the GM 85675606 22” X 9” wide Ultra Bright Machined and Painted Midnight Silver Wheel with Laser Etched Logo. These are sometimes referred to as the “Snowflake” wheel. For replacements I found GM 84943289 18” X 8.5” wide Machined Charcoal wheels on eBay which were reported to be take-offs from a 2021 Sierra. They came with black GMC center caps. I also bought GM 13542523 TPMS sensors which were also take-offs.

As for new tires, I decided on 285/65 R18 Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 116T.

Tire ODmm:
275/50 R22 = 833 Original
285/65 R18 = 828 New

My local Big-O tire shop was willing to work with this unproven combination and we (They) systematically fit things in this order:

1. Lift truck, remove original front passenger wheel.
2. Install 18" raw wheel on above hub to check clearance for brake caliper and upper ball joint assy. ¾” - 1” clearance all around.
3. Mount new tire on new wheel and do the same including tire to wheel well clearance lock-to-lock. Did this with truck in the air and on the ground. Observed several finger widths of clearance all around.
4. Checked function of all 4 TPMS sensors and paired them to truck.
5. Installed TPMS sensors in all 4 wheels and mounted remaining new tires, installed on truck.
6. Observed in dash info screen to report correct tire pressure.

Short drive home subjectively revealed improvement over original with less in cabin perception of minor bumps, seams, utility covers, reflective markers, etc.View attachment 471039

I’ll report on the highway behavior of this tire/wheel combo later. I’m expecting there to be a smoother, quieter ride. Hopefully this will not be at a great expense of high-speed steering response and hairpin mountain road cornering.

Have you had the Yukon on the open road at speed yet? How do they run, smooth, quiet, etc? I've been looking for a set of tires in that size too and the Defenders are about the only quality brand in that size these days. Pretty expensive tires too, hate to make a big mistake.

 

[Javelina]

Have you had the Yukon on the open road at speed yet? How do they run, smooth, quiet, etc? I've been looking for a set of tires in that size too and the Defenders are about the only quality brand in that size these days. Pretty expensive tires too, hate to make a big mistake.

I’ll report back when I do.

I was impressed with how well it handled with the original 22” Bridgestone Alenza A/S tires given the vehicle size and weight. I’m hoping the sacrifice will not be too great in this respect.

 

[TrueAt1stLight]

Did you really need to write up the above ?? and post how to change tires ? Is it really necessary ??
You didn't state, remove lug nuts. 1 at a time.


FWIW, on my 2011 Escalade, I went from 22" to 18". Best thing I ever did.

I bet you’re fun at parties!

 

[the blur]

I bet you’re fun at parties!

You forgot to mention. Torque wheels to 140 ft-lbs. Hand thread lug nuts... only then use impact wrench.