Leveling & Tire Question

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

eand28

Full Access Member
Joined
May 6, 2017
Posts
250
Reaction score
283
Location
Pennsylvania
Bought a set of 20x10 (-25mm offset) Weld Dunes a few months ago. Going to do a 2-2.5" level in the front with z71 springs and 1" or 1.5" coil spring spacers. I can't decide on tires to save my life. The tires in the pic are 305/50's and they came with the wheels. They are long gone now. I do not want to trim much if at all so I've been looking at 275/55, 285/50, and 285/55's. Any suggestions?

28336249467_f476724858_k.jpg
 

richs1

Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2013
Posts
72
Reaction score
27
Bought a set of 20x10 (-25mm offset) Weld Dunes a few months ago. Going to do a 2-2.5" level in the front with z71 springs and 1" or 1.5" coil spring spacers. I can't decide on tires to save my life. The tires in the pic are 305/50's and they came with the wheels. They are long gone now. I do not want to trim much if at all so I've been looking at 275/55, 285/50, and 285/55's. Any suggestions?

View attachment 203215
I have an 04 Z71, I installed aftermarket keys and 1.5 inch spacers in the rear. Started with Nitto ridge grapplers 295/55-20 which are 32.76 tall and 12.17 wide. They rubbed on heavy articulation in the rear. Cracked the inner fender around the top shock mount. I am running repo wheels that have the stock offset, so that contributed to it I’m sure. I sent those back and I am running 33x11.50-20 ridge grapplers. Still get a little rub on steep drives, but nothing I can’t live with. One thing you need to do is turn the top shock bolt around so that the threads are facing the gas tank. That way if you do rub, you don’t destroy a tire.
Good luck, hope that helps some.
 

Chubbs

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2017
Posts
613
Reaction score
344
You get into problems when trying to lift a GM with torsion bar keys. You need to get a complete suspension kit with a dropped subframe if you want 33" tires or more.

The angles of the axles and steering linkage get all F'd up, then the upper CA is pulled down onto the 'droop stop' as they call it. The keys are good for leveling with the stock rear for dependability and intended service life of OEM components.

Level with the rear and 275 is about the best you can get with TB keys before you compromise the entire front end. That's my experience on it; TB keys just don't play well with GM factory engineering.

I just noticed that your truck sits very level as it is. Are the OEM tb keys turned all the way up? Any higher in the front and its SoCal. Will you post pics of the tie rods and upper control arms in front? Would be good to know what you have going on under there.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
eand28

eand28

Full Access Member
Joined
May 6, 2017
Posts
250
Reaction score
283
Location
Pennsylvania
You get into problems when trying to lift a GM with torsion bar keys. You need to get a complete suspension kit with a dropped subframe if you want 33" tires or more.

The angles of the axles and steering linkage get all F'd up, then the upper CA is pulled down onto the 'droop stop' as they call it. The keys are good for leveling with the stock rear for dependability and intended service life of OEM components.

Level with the rear and 275 is about the best you can get with TB keys before you compromise the entire front end. That's my experience on it; TB keys just don't play well with GM factory engineering.

I just noticed that your truck sits very level as it is. Are the OEM tb keys turned all the way up? Any higher in the front and its SoCal. Will you post pics of the tie rods and upper control arms in front? Would be good to know what you have going on under there.

It's stock as far as I know. I've never touched the keys. I just want to run these 20x10's without having to hack the shit out of the fender liner and bumper

Got some fender measurements this morning. First two are driver and passenger front and the bottom two are passenger rear and driver rear. My driveway is on an angle and it slopes off to the grass so that's why the one side is lower

1d8662856c3749978dd1ac828b4397cd.jpg
c6433c06bcb3dcb477a3f31c346b01e6.jpg
f176dc25625b21000ce35a546e45c2a0.jpg
8628b47d15eea4fc8ce3062e7c3dcc07.jpg

I have noticed it sits lower than most nbs tahoes and burbs so idk what the po did
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
eand28

eand28

Full Access Member
Joined
May 6, 2017
Posts
250
Reaction score
283
Location
Pennsylvania
Here's the suspension pics. Don't mind the rusty frame. Haven't had time to sand and coat it

fc2b7785b12de429f5ed5867d8c74dd2.jpg

ea873d35074d869caf3c4a376161fdc9.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
129,112
Posts
1,810,629
Members
92,199
Latest member
Romeroman64
Top