Bigger tires, but not re-gearing?

[KPOD]

This is a daily, street driver vehicle. But yes, occasionally I get a lead foot at takeoff so the last thing I want is my rear axle snapping trying to get the heavy tires moving

 

[coasti8]

Ok so I am the new guy here but I am very familiar with this. I have a 95 Tahoe with a 6" suspension lift sitting on 35x12.5x15. When I bought it she had a shift kit in her already but had the factory 3.73's. After about a year of wheeling on the Outer Banks on the beaches the rear end went sheering about 4 teeth on the ring gear. I went back and forth on regearing it and finally called the guys at Randys Ring and Pinion. They recommend I get 4.56's. I thought they were nuts but trusted the tech so I got just the rear and tried it. I installed the rear myself and removed the drive shaft to the front. Test drive was AMAZING. Before 4.56's I hardly ever got into OD and averaged about 10 mpg. After regearing I am at around 15 mpg and OD is not a problem anymore. It pulls hard all the way through to the shut off Chevy puts on these trucks. I got the front end gears and had a shop install them. Regearing is the best money I have ever spent on my truck.

 

[swingminx]

I have a question, how big tires can i get without to do a regearing?

 

[SunlitComet]

no real number really it all depends on how far off you are from factory setup, maintenance history and how it is treated. so it can happen fast or take a while to reach a breakage.

 

[Matt06Yukon]

This is an absolutely horrible idea all around on a stock Tahoe drivetrain but you could also swap out your rear axle and front differential with one that has 4.10's. Shouldn't be too hard to find and it would be much cheaper than having them regeared. You obviously might not know the history of the axles as well but its cheaper. A 14 bolt S.F. would be a good upgrade. But so would a SAS for 37's.

 

[swingminx]

How far from the factory setup can i go then, and still feel safe?
Im about to buy 16s to my stock Tahoe -97 and would like to fit as big tires as possible. Any tip for size and max width?

 

[Matt06Yukon]

Safe? .........It all depends really. On the street, 35's maybe. I'm sure plenty of people will tell you that they've run 35's for years blah blah blah. But the truth is once you get to 35's or larger, the IFS just can't handle the extra weight, you'll wear steering and suspension parts out faster, wider wheels with more offset wears wheel bearings out quicker. All of this stuff applies to a lifted truck with bigger tires, however, solid front axled trucks have far less moving parts and more beef to handle the larger heavier tires. I personally don't like driving around waiting for stuff to break. If you drive nice and easy and are gentle with your truck stuff will last longer of course. 35x12.5 wide tires or 315/75/16's are about the largest I would go. You'll need a 6" lift to fit those. But obviously this is just my opinion.

---------- Post added at 07:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:35 PM ----------

To answer your last post directly, on a factory Tahoe, with factory wheels, you should be able to stuff 305/75/16's on there. You'll probably have to trim and crank but they should fit. 285/75/16's should fit nice.

 

[_Dylan_]

I have a question, how big tires can i get without to do a regearing?

You can break a transmission and axles with factory sized tires. Bigger tires just makes it much easier.

This is an absolutely horrible idea all around on a stock Tahoe drivetrain but you could also swap out your rear axle and front differential with one that has 4.10's. Shouldn't be too hard to find and it would be much cheaper than having them regeared. You obviously might not know the history of the axles as well but its cheaper. A 14 bolt S.F. would be a good upgrade. But so would a SAS for 37's.

I am not aware of any front axle with 4.10s that you can swap in.

 

[SunlitComet]

Safe? .........It all depends really. On the street, 35's maybe. I'm sure plenty of people will tell you that they've run 35's for years blah blah blah. But the truth is once you get to 35's or larger, the IFS just can't handle the extra weight

extra weight? wtf. larger tires don't add weight or gravitational load to the axles only total vehicle weight.

---------- Post added at 08:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 PM ----------

You can break a transmission and axles with factory sized tires. Bigger tires just makes it much easier.


I am not aware of any front axle with 4.10s that you can swap in.

perhaps he meant ones already converted to 4.10 before installation on to the vehicle.

 

[Matt06Yukon]

Right. Load E 37's don't add any extra weight. All that extra weight affects wheel bearings and ball joints. It additionally adds more torque to the axle shafts. Come on Sunlit.

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:18 PM ----------

No half ton trucks came with 4.10's?