Silverado 2500 HD wheel options

MarkB_MI · Apr 3, 2016

In the next couple of weeks I'm going to order a 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado, which we intend to use to pull a fifth-wheel trailer. The 2500HD has three different wheel size options: 17 inch is standard, with 18 and 20 inch options. The 20 inch wheels sound absurd, but is there any real advantage to running 18 inch wheels rather than 17s? Or is it all about appearance?

GordoSD · Apr 3, 2016

17 only. The taller tire gives you smoother ride, and offered in more load capacity.

DoubleR · Apr 3, 2016

I brought a new Silverado HD 2500 gasser in 2007 when they came out with the new body style. It had standard 17 inch wheels with 245 tires. It was one of the first ones out and I didn't have allot of choices at the time. They give me the deal on it I had been looking for. After I got it home I kept looking at it in the garage and knew there was something about its appearance I disliked. I finally concluded it was the small tires on it.

I had less than a 1000 miles on it and took it to Discount Tire and traded them for 265 Good Year Wranglers. I liked them allot better than the standard tires. If they ever wear out I'm going with Michelins I think next time.

I just turned 50.000 miles on the truck. I only use it for pulling trailers or hauling something. The only thing I've done to it is change oil and the rear brakes. It does a good job pulling my fleet of trailers. I got the big gear in the rear end and it does suck the gas though.

in-too-deep · Apr 3, 2016

Go with 17. The cost for replacement tires on the big fancy rims is silly and it'll ride much nicer with more rubber.

Hoenes · Apr 3, 2016

I just switched to 17's on aluminum alloy, from factory 20's that were chrome. The chrome "scales" inside the bead, causing slow leaks. Both styles look equally good. They also both measure around 31" out to out.

Ray · Apr 3, 2016

My Silverado has 18" wheels, but has a 17" spare. I pulled into the soybean field at harvest and a piece of bean stubble went through the sidewall. I found out the tires were 250 bucks.

JD Seller · Apr 3, 2016

You will find the rolling diameter of the tire options is about the same. The 18 and 20 inch rims just have shorter side walls. The 17 inch are the more common and will be much cheaper to replace down the road. Some of the 20 tires are $500 each without many options.

IAtractorKid · Apr 3, 2016

I've got an '06 with factory 16's, but have run 17's, 18's and 20's on it. They were 305/50R20 and honestly, I liked them best! Got better mileage (hand calculated) with them than any other combo I've run. Plus with the low profile tire, you get less tire flex since the sidewall is so small. I had no issues pulling with the 20's...think the heaviest I had on with the 20's was 16,000lbs.

You'll have the most tire options and best pricing with the 17's typically. 20's aren't bad though...

gwece · Apr 3, 2016

Just a suggestion: do your homework on the bed height with these newer trucks with much taller bed heights & taller tires and towing fifth wheel trailers. If you are going to pull one of the older trailers you make have trouble getting the trailer to run level and clearing the back of the bed rails.

moresmoke · Apr 3, 2016

Difference between 17 and 18 is 330lbs capacity and $45 per tire. Depending on what you are doing will decide how much capacity you need.

MarkB_MI · Apr 4, 2016

Thanks everyone for your input. Sounds like I'll go with 17s and save a grand.

MarkB_MI · Apr 4, 2016

Moresmoke, the GVWR is 9500 lbs for the gasser and 10K with a Duramax, regardless of tire size.

MarkB_MI · Apr 4, 2016

> do your homework on the bed height with these newer trucks with much taller bed heights & taller tires and towing fifth wheel trailers.

Thanks for the tip. Yes, I'm aware of that issue. We haven't bought a trailer, yet, but I plan on buying a late-model used trailer. I don't think there's much difference in ride height between the different factory wheel options.

MarkB_MI · Apr 4, 2016

> You will find the rolling diameter of the tire options is about the same.

That's what I thought, although I hadn't actually done my homework. Taller tires affect the vehicle's rollover-resistance rating, so chief vehicle engineers are loath to allow options that raise the vehicle's center of gravity.

Blackhole49 · Apr 4, 2016

I just looked at a set of 20" wheels and tires off a 2014 GMC for my 2008 1/2 ton Silverado with 17" wheels. The actual tire height was the same for both.

Pitch · Apr 4, 2016

The gross weight rating will stay the same, but your cargo capacity will be reduced with a heavier tire. Your payload capacity for the particular truck you are looking at will be on the drivers door jamb. It can vary greatly depending on the options.

Ozlander · Apr 4, 2016

(quoted from post at 08:15:37 04/04/16) The gross weight rating will stay the same, but your cargo capacity will be reduced with a heavier tire. Your payload capacity for the particular truck you are looking at will be on the drivers door jamb. It can vary greatly depending on the options.

Weight of the tires don't affect the payload capacity.

Mike M · Apr 4, 2016

Any chance any are just the good ole steel wheels ? These would cause the least amount of problems after the years. I see one person had trouble with the chrome rusting. Aluminum is a lot of trouble in salt country too.

LAA · Apr 4, 2016

Oldest Son has 20's on his diesel, I don't care for them but to each his own, the 17's are cheaper and are available in more options from my experience. One thing you may want to investigate is a gooseneck to 5th wheel adaptor hitch. My Youngest Son is a pipe liner and lives out of his 5th wheel trailer, he went to the adaptor hitch around 4 years ago and he would never go back to a 5th wheel hitch for several reasons, you can pull the trailer with any truck that has a gooseneck hitch and your turning radius and backing radius is greatly improved, he can get his 42' trailer in spaces he would never have been able to get in with the 5th wheel hitch. The best thing is if you have a turnover or hide away ball in the bed of the truck then you have a clear bed when the trailer is parked plus a lot more open bed storage when travelling.

Silverado 2500 HD wheel options

MarkB_MI

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GordoSD

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DoubleR

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in-too-deep

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Hoenes

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Ray

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JD Seller

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IAtractorKid

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gwece

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moresmoke

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MarkB_MI

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MarkB_MI

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MarkB_MI

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MarkB_MI

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