Trying 285/70R17... Load C any good?

[Matthew Jeschke]

I am going to give away one of my best kept secrets. I got $370 for four used KO2 tires mounted and balanced. They look snazzy, have around 1/3 ~ 1/2 the tread left. Not too bad as is a little over the price of ONE tire new NOT mounted. Only thing is I try to get them w/in 3 or 4 years of age. The ones I got are about three years old. Last set of used tires I scored 10 ply off road tread (forgot brand but was a good brand) for $150 w/ wheels.

This time I wanted larger tires I went with 285/70R17 which is a touch bigger than factory at 265/70R17. All my test fitments are good so far, no rubbing. I think there might be some rubbing on the plastic fender liner on the back when I get off road and test full articulation... Not sure this would be an issue on a truck chassis / bed as they don't have those plastic liners. I don't think front wheel wells will be any issue. I have stock geometry suspension w/ 1" lift in front / leveling kit. I didn't want full 2" lift as I wanted to maintain some rake and stay reasonably within factory control arm spec. I also tested to see if the tires would fit in the spare tire well and zero issues there. Other than I had to buy a 17" spare tire rim off a GMT900 and 5th tire for another $100. So add $230 to price above for complete set of 5 tires, making it $500 w/ spare tire and rim.

I made SURE my spare tire was a Load E 10 ply K02. However, I didn't realize when I bought the other KO2 tires they were Load C 6-Ply / 116 Load Index. The 116 Load index is fine, however, I've never run 6 Ply tires off road. I run over rocks and all sorts of gnarly stuff. Anybody else had experience with Load C tires? This has me a touch concerned.

16" Factory spinners truck came with​

17" 265/70R17 w/ factory snowflake wheels I pulled off GMT800 Z71 Suburban I found in junkyard​

Those 17" Snowflake wheels with 285/70R17 KO2 tires​

 

[Michigan]

I am going to give away one of my best kept secrets. I got $370 for four used KO2 tires mounted and balanced. They look snazzy, have around 1/3 ~ 1/2 the tread left. Not too bad as is a little over the price of ONE tire new NOT mounted. Only thing is I try to get them w/in 3 or 4 years of age. The ones I got are about three years old. Last set of used tires I scored 10 ply off road tread (forgot brand but was a good brand) for $150 w/ wheels.

This time I wanted larger tires I went with 285/70R17 which is a touch bigger than factory at 265/70R17. All my test fitments are good so far, no rubbing. I think there might be some rubbing on the plastic fender liner on the back when I get off road and test full articulation... Not sure this would be an issue on a truck chassis / bed as they don't have those plastic liners. I don't think front wheel wells will be any issue. I have stock geometry suspension w/ 1" lift in front / leveling kit. I didn't want full 2" lift as I wanted to maintain some rake and stay reasonably within factory control arm spec. I also tested to see if the tires would fit in the spare tire well and zero issues there. Other than I had to buy a 17" spare tire rim off a GMT900 and 5th tire for another $100. So add $230 to price above for complete set of 5 tires, making it $500 w/ spare tire and rim.

I made SURE my spare tire was a Load E 10 ply K02. However, I didn't realize when I bought the other KO2 tires they were Load C 6-Ply / 116 Load Index. The 116 Load index is fine, however, I've never run 6 Ply tires off road. I run over rocks and all sorts of gnarly stuff. Anybody else had experience with Load C tires? This has me a touch concerned.

16" Factory spinners truck came with​

View attachment 431992

17" 265/70R17 w/ factory snowflake wheels I pulled off GMT800 Z71 Suburban I found in junkyard​

View attachment 431987

Those 17" Snowflake wheels with 285/70R17 KO2 tires​

View attachment 431991View attachment 431993

Very nice, how are you liking this setup?

I have an 04 Tahoe Z71 with stock suspension

Currently running 275/55R20 hankook dynapro

I found a good deal locally on some Nokian Rockproof LT285/70R17 Load range E, 10 Ply

Do you think these will fit my Tahoe without rubbing?


How do you think the ride will feel

I would be buying some type of stock GM rims for them

Appreciate the help

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

They fit they stock 17" GMT800 or GMT900 rims. I forget aspects off my head for those wheels. Ut basically stock 17" rims.

So far I love them. They may ride a touch nicer but highly subjective seat of pants thing.

So far zero issues. I drove nearly 1000 miles on them. No rubbing either. But I am about to go on trails I think there is a slight chance for ribbing during full articulation of rear axle but need to verify.

Love them though. I'd suggest them esp if you just drove streets


In theory you will handle and accelerate a tad less optimally but not sure it is noticable.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

I need to update this post. The 285/70/R17 wheels do rub in the back fenders at full articulation. I've observed this in myr GMT800 Tahoe. I don't believe the pickup trucks would have this issue as they don't have a inner fender insert like the SUV version. If I go on two wheels off road the rear wheel with the load on it rubs on the plastic insert.

I should note, I did see somebody with 35x12.50R17 wheels. These are 35" tall, he didn't have a lift. It was a 2005? Tahoe. He showed me his front fender liner had to be cut a bit on the front and the back as when turning the tire grabs it.

He also only drove on the highway. It's hard to find people who go off road and have tested these larger tires with full suspension articulation along with full stop both ways on the steering.

 

[swathdiver]

I need to update this post. The 285/70/R17 wheels do rub in the back fenders at full articulation. I've observed this in myr GMT800 Tahoe. I don't believe the pickup trucks would have this issue as they don't have a inner fender insert like the SUV version. If I go on two wheels off road the rear wheel with the load on it rubs on the plastic insert.

I should note, I did see somebody with 35x12.50R17 wheels. These are 35" tall, he didn't have a lift. It was a 2005? Tahoe. He showed me his front fender liner had to be cut a bit on the front and the back as when turning the tire grabs it.

He also only drove on the highway. It's hard to find people who go off road and have tested these larger tires with full suspension articulation along with full stop both ways on the steering.

Yeah, he probably doesn't turn the wheel much in either direction either!

What happened to your Load Range C tires? I had a set and they got good mileage. The tread was the same as Load Range E but the sidewall was single instead of 2 ply.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

They didn't last.i got a year out of them. Trying to figure out what went wrong... Kind of a long story but I think the tires were just too used when I got them. The load c did work fine off-road though.