Just bought 2019 Z71... stance & tire size seems odd

[shock]

Just bought a 2019 LT Z71. Previously owned a 2004 Suburban LS 2WD.

I was thinking a leveling of the front and a slightly taller tire. Not trying to get into the pizza cutter zone necessarily, but the 265/65 tires look oddly low profile on the 18” wheel. What was GM thinking with a Z71?!

I would normally default to the BFG KO2, but they seem only available in load range E for the most part, which seems stiff for a Tahoe.

Any advice on a slightly taller tire for this thing? Looking for a balance of road manners, snow-ability, and not tearing them apart on jagged rocks on the occasional mild trail.

 

[hcvone]

That was the stock size of the tires on the 2007-2014 Escalade's if you got the 18" wheel option, it's the same basic outside diameter as the 285/45/22's I used stock chrome 18" Escalade wheels for my DuraTrac and my Blizzak's for the winter, and switched back to the 22"s for the nice months

 

[shock]

The 275/65/18 looks good there. Any noticeable affect in handling going from 265 to 275?

 

[hcvone]

The 275/65/18 looks good there. Any noticeable affect in handling going from 265 to 275?

None at all, but these tires need snow or mud or the ride is rough, but for off road these are the best

 

[Tiki]

275/70R18


285/65R18


Pick you poison!

 

[Jeff_]

View attachment 267862
275/70R18

View attachment 267864
285/65R18


Pick you poison!

Very nice. What level amount?
I just purchased some Bilstein 5100s and I'm curious what size tire I can fit with the front up.

 

[Tiki]

Top is mine with Bilsteins set on the second ring (1.25” I believe). The second picture I believe is a 2” lift.

 

[Jeff_]

Appreciate it, thank you for the reply

 

[2591tdj]

Mine came with the same small looking 18” wheels. I wonder if GM thought the additional sidewall would provide more cushioning when bumping around off road? But, does anyone really use their Tahoe over rocky or rutted off road terrain?

 

[shock]

Yes, I believe that's the rational for installing 18s on the Z71.
I do intend to take it off road in the most basic definition--not trying to get into Wrangler Rubicon on 35s kind of capability, but maybe Subaru (with the right tires) territory. Sidewalls aren't my greatest concern, but I still plan to stick with the 18s. I test drove an LTZ with 22s and did not care for the way that drove--I looked around the lot for a Corvette running AT tires thinking maybe they had swapped them.


Any thoughts on the load range? I'm thinking I won't care for a load range E tire on the road but that limits the AT tire choices for sure.