Common Lift/Tire Combo's for OBS/NBS Trucks & SUVs

[bigmark76]

i am a 2 wheel drive guy with some questions. I just bought a 3 inch P.A. body lift for $150 for my 03 ext cab silverado. I wanna know if i can fit 305's with that lift and have no triming or cranking on stock rims?also will i need to add new shocks? and if so what kind

[black4x4]

I have a nbs z71 and was wandering if i could clear 38s with a 10" lift cranked to 11 and light trimming. and clear offroad when i play in the mud.

[slamchops]

prolly, theres guys running 6+3 on nbs trucks with cranked bars runnin 38s....

[forum282]

I have a OBS Tahoe stock... I wanted to put 285s on there when I get some new tires shortly. Anyways, I found the wheels I wanted except they are 16X10 with a 4 inch backspacing rather than 16X8 so I was wondering how big of a problem this would be? Would I need to do a lot of trimming and/or cranking or what? Thanks in advance.

[markhs2]

Your chart goes up to 98 trucks? Am I reading it correctly? What can I do with my 99 5.3 silverado z71 with 3.73 gears. If I want to off road, slow stuff, and be able to tow sometimes? Thanks

[funinmud]

Originally posted by markhs2
Your chart goes up to 98 trucks? Am I reading it correctly? What can I do with my 99 5.3 silverado z71 with 3.73 gears. If I want to off road, slow stuff, and be able to tow sometimes? Thanks

It depends on what you will be towing? Like how much weight is it? 5th wheel or regular ball and hitch in the rear?

Ya got to look about 1/2 way through the post. It will show ya but I copied and pasted for ya. :-)

NBS Trucks (99-03), NBS SUVs (00-03):

Stock height
- 285/75R16 on Stock wheels or 16x8 (possible torsion bar crank); 16x10 not recommended
- 305/70R16 on Stock wheels or 16x8 (torsion bar crank and light trimming); 16x10 (torsion bar crank and heavy trimming, or cutout flares)

3" Suspenion Lift or Body Lift
- 305/70R16 and under on Stock Wheels or 16x8; 16x10 (possible torsion bar crank and light trimming)
- 315/75R16 on Stock Wheels or 16x8 (torsion bar crank and heavy trimming, or cutout flares); 16x10 not recommended

4" Suspension Lift
- 305/70R16 and under on Stock Wheels or 16x8; 16x10 (possible torsion bar crank and light trimming)
- 315/75R16 on Stock Wheels or 16x8 (torsion bar crank and heavy trimming); 16x10 (cutout flares)

6" Total Lift (3" Suspension Lift + 3" Body Lift or 6" Suspension Lift)
- 315/75R16 on Stock Wheels or 16x8; 16x10 (possible torsion bar crank and light trimming)
- 36/12.5R16 on Stock Wheels or 16x8 (torsion bar crank and heavy trimming); 16x10 not recommended

7" Total Lift (4" Suspension Lift + 3" Body Lift)
- 315/75R16 on Stock Wheels, 16x8, or 16x10
- 36/12.5R16 on Stock Wheels or 16x8 (torsion bar crank and light trimming); 16x10 (torsion bar crank and heavy trimming, or cutout flares)

9" Total Lift (6" Suspension Lift + 3" Body Lift)
- 315/75R16 on Stock Wheels, 16x8, or 16x10
- 36/12.5R16 on Stock Wheels, 16x8, or 16x10
- 38/15.5R16 on 16x10 (torsion bar crank and heavy trimming)



*Note:Thanks to those who double-checked everything and added more info.

[LXS]

I've got 16 1/2 x 9 3/4" Welds Typhoon rims on a 95 Burban 2500 4x4 with a 6" ProComp lift. I'd like to go with a 3" body lift, and I'd like to know what's the widest tire I can fit? According to Slamchop's list, I should be able to fit 38x15.5" tires...is that really true (not tryin to knock u Slamchops...it's just one of those expressions) I was told by a couple people that 12.5" would be the widest I could go with. I'd love to go with a 15.5" wide tire if it is possible, with/out minimal mods. Also, another newbie question here......what exactly are Ford keys and Green keys? And do I have them on my burban? Or is that on 99 and newer trucks/suvs? Also, what's with "cranking?" By reading the posts, I understand by "cranking" people have gotten roughly 1"-1 1/2" or extra lift....is this on my burban? What's with flipping the ball joint? and tweaking the t-bar? I've got a lot of questions, but I forgot what else I wanted to know...lol So I guess I'll end it right here.......TIA everyone!

One more thing....lol....are there any other higher body lifts other then 2" and 3" lifts? And if so, are there any drawbacks to them? Roughly how much do the body lift kits go for, and roughly how much do they cost to be installed....Thanks again everyone!!!

[jasonv]

i have a 2wd ext cab chevy and i want his the bigest tires with the least amount of liftwhat would be right . and i still want a smooth ride. what about 285's witha 2 in leveling kit

[punkoramaglory]

I've got a 1980 Silverado 1/2 ton 4wd with a 4 inch rancho suspension lift. I have 33x12.50s on it now and it doesnt seem to quite fill out the wheel well enough so i was thinking about moving up to a 16x10 inch wheel with 35x12.50 tires. It looks now like theyd fit with no problem but ive also read that this combo might rub a little so i was wondering if anyone has tried a similar install before with that general body style? (1973-1987), and if really major cutting of the fenders was needed.

[chevyguy]

Great thread

[superZ-71]

i was wondering if anyone has a 4" lift on a obs z-71 and 35" tires. would they rub, if so could i just trim the front valance or would i have to cut the bumper to?

[Rowdydowdy04]

what about 04 silverados?
I don't have a lift, so I'm guessing the options would be the same as the 99-03 you listed?

[desertdave]

I just bought a 2000 2wd ext. cab silverado last week. Planning a 3 inch fabtech spindle lift soon. The guy at the place I plan to have the work done recommends 16x8s with 285/75. I'd like to only go with a 265. Any opinions on how that would look? Also, any word for sure on if I could use the stock 16x7 alum rims with 265s and not rub with that lift installed? By the way, great site...I've gone from knowing 0 about my new truck to knowing enough to be dangerous in less than a week.

[jasonv]

no, you cannot use the stock wheels. thay will rub the spindle. you need more backspaceing.

[desertdave]

Thanks Jason, that seems to be the answer I get most. I like the look of the stock rims, but I also like the way rims with less inset allow the tires to fill out the wheelwell better. Aftermarket it is. Big 0 installation guy had a pic of a truck just like mine with the 3" lift and 285s and it looked pretty darn nice. Any thoughts on 285s vs 265s on a 2wd with just 3" of lift??

Thanks Jason, that seems to be the answer I get most. I like the look of the stock rims, but I also like the way rims with less inset allow the tires to fill out the wheelwell better. Aftermarket it is. Big 0 installation guy had a pic of a truck just like mine with the 3" lift and 285s and it looked pretty darn nice. Any thoughts on 285s vs 265s on a 2wd with just 3" of lift??

[jasonv]

i would go with 285. you might me able to get wheel spacers to use the stock rims. but i 'am not sure. i think it would work

[Castle Killer]

Look up Germinator's truck, desertdave.

[Rescue 1]

All the info here deals with 16's. How about 17's? Looking to see if I can put 285/70 r17 GoodYear MT/R's on stock aluminum wheels on a 2004 Z-71. Will it fit stock or will I have to lift it. If so how much?

[slamchops]

17s should be pretty much the same as long as the outer diameter of the tire is the same. ;)

[Greek]

Now, there hasn't been any talk in this thread for over a week now. I never really got a feel of what people are using on 2WD's. My truck is in my sig. and what I'm thinking is just getting a pair of green keys and some new longer shocks for the front end to level it out and possibly some 285/75/16. Does this tire size sound too small or just about right? Will my ride suffer or will it be a mistake to put some green keys in and crank my tb's??? Any and all help is appreciated...Thanks!