Today, I installed a new set of Goodyear DuraTrac tires on my truck (same model as stock for the ZR2), but two sizes up. The new tire size is LT285/70R17. The stock size is 265/65R17.
UPDATE:I have heard twice over several days a very small hint of tire rub when the wheels are at a particular angle and hitting an especially hard bump while slowing down. When I bounced her in the sand, steering turned, I heard nothing. The place where I've heard it twice now is the entrance to the supermarket near my house; it's especially steep and hits hard. It has scars and drags marks from all the Hondas and other small, low cars dragging their air dams and frames (these are hard gouges). Anyway, that particular spot has an especially abrupt angle. When I heard it, it wasn't pronounced and had me wondering if I heard something .. but twice in the same place means I heard something. I haven't seen any evidence of tire rub in the wheel well yet. I keep the tires fully inflated at 60psi for road use (65psi is their max rating).
Goodyear calls this a "33.0" inch tire; however, if you put the metric measurements into a tire calculator, the actual number is slightly less at 32.7 inches. The stock "31.0" inch tires are also 30.6 inches. The 2.1-inch difference in diameter between the new and old tire sizes yields a 1-inch height increase in the truck. The tires look like they fit the wheel well better. The extra tire width is negligible and the tires DO fit inside the wheel well from side to side.
If anything, the truck looks less tall because there's less visible open space in the wheel well. It can look less tall, but the new tires do look impressive.
I've experienced no rubbing yet, and I've taken several fast corners to load (compress) the suspension while in a turn. With the wheels turned to the closest point (or near contact) there's about half of an inch of clearance or slightly more .... eyeballing it. I've got a Rough Country 1.25-inch body lift I'll be installing soon. That will help the clearance issue just slightly.
These pics are with the Goodyear DuraTracs (LT285/70R17) and the 1.25" Rough Country body lift installed (except for the rear bumper because I ran out of daylight -- it's sitting at the original height and will be remedied tomorrow).
I'm halfway done with the Rough Country 1.25 body lift. It's looking good!! Just gotta finish up the bed and rear bumper. The roofline sits even with a Ram 1500 Big Horn Edition. Photos tomorrow morning with the tires and lift!
Have you read the articles about not lifting a ZR2? The multimatics weren't designed for the extra height.
It would have been great to have some off road reports of any rubbing under some serious compression and turning. Swapping tires for an extra inch of ground clearance would be worth it.
Yeah, I mentioned in another thread you have to do some plastic work to keep 33s from rubbing when wheeling but not a ton. It is super close in the back when fully stuffed as well but ok. Really curious to see how much the lift helps. May fix it alogether. I spent all day wheeling today and I have to do just a little more plastic work.
So Rough Country says on their site that the body lift will not fit the ZR2...are you having any issues? I am wanting to do the same.
I really don't think such a small body lift will effect the suspion enough to matter, really curious how it works out!
I bounced it pretty hard last night off some hills with the wheels turned and I didn't hear a thing. Maybe if I bounce it harder (and that's a big maybe), it might rub at some point. With the wheels straight, I'd say there's no chance of touching.
I got my inspiration from watching a YouTube video about the ZR2 where the GM team made their own custom ZR2 chase vehicle for the demo trucks they gave to reporters. They mentioned 33" tires and a 1-inch body lift. I put on these 32.7" tires and gave it a 1.25" body lift. It works so far.
I haven't jumped it yet, but there's always tomorrow. Hahaha!
I used a body lift, not a suspension lift, so the Multimatic DSSV (super duper shocks) are still in place using the 100% stock, unmodified suspension. I realize a lot of people frown on the idea of a body lift as a "cheap" way of "cheating," but I'll be damned if I change anything about the beautifully designed an executed suspension system of the ZR2. It's really, really good on the highway and off-road. I will, however, raise the body up a tad to get a little more wheel-well clearance and give just a slight hint of an increase in height.
Someone asked about the Rough Country 1.25" body lift. I mentioned that the kit fits fine, with an omission of two parts (a left-hand piece and a right-hand piece). With the lift kit installed, Rough Country provides two small brackets to attach to the front fascia (lower air dam, if you will) for the regular non-ZR2 Colorado trucks.
Keep in mind, this kit is NOT listed to be compatible with the ZR2. I took it upon myself to perform this experiment. Below are two photographs. The photograph of the two smaller brackets (showing two square holes and an oval hole) are the Rough Country brackets that fit non-ZR2 trucks and anchor the lower front fascia to the frame crossmember. The photograph of the two longer pieces are the ZR2 stock brackets. They are a completely different design, and no longer fit below the crossmember that they were once bolted to. You can see that the ZR2 parts each have THREE Torx T15 screws that attached them inside the front fascia, and two bolt holes that attached them below the crossmember. One of those holes (the inner one) is used by the front skid plate also.
As a note, the front skid plate now has a small gap. It remained in its original position while the body and bumper just above it all moved up. It honestly doesn't bother me. If I get it Rhino-Lined black, no one would ever notice .. which I might just do .. but only because I'd get the rockers, fender flares, and sport bar all done in the same color .. probably the front and rear bumpers, too. I'm not a fan of the grey ("Almost Black") color of those parts. I think red and black would look better.
ZR2 - Largest Tires, No Lift - LT285/70R17 - 33.0"
That looks exactly like the spot that another member here (@dan42 I believe) with a Cajun Red ZR2 had to trim completely off. He initially heated it and pushed it back a bit but he said that it still rubbed during full compression and crawling so he ended up cutting it completely off.
He's also running different tires but also 33's so there might be some variation.
Sorry for "stealing" your pics Dan, I had already saved them for future reference when I do order some 33's! They are super helpful [emoji106]
Tires are on and fenders are trimmed. It is still pretty close but I guess it should be okay. This is my first time stuffing bigger tires on so what do I know. Always wanted to to it with my last truck but never did.
Definitely looks better in person. This is how it should come from the factory.
Been following this post with interest. Don't have a ZR2 (Have Silverado WT 2wd), but definitely considering one. The stock Duratracs 265/65x17 are P rated and are low profile (for me) tires. Would like to replace with 265/70x17LT C (Duratrac or BFG KO2's - about 31.7") or even 255/75x17 LT C (32"), but don't want to get into any kind of lift. For those that have the ZR2 at stock level, would there be enough clearance for either of these options? I'm a rock crawler, those need the higher sidewall in LT rating both for airing down and some rock puncture protection.
Here is a shot at the closest point of contact. Like others have said it is only that close at a very specific point in the turn and then then clearance increases quickly.
Trim job is not the best but you don't even notice it unless your looking for it.
And just to clarify, there is metal behind it so you can't bend it back much. I did get a little more room by working it though. I still think it may still rub a tiny bit. If so I will probably grind it down more with a dremel.
You do realize you're talking about body lifts? A body lift won't game any affect on the shocks at all.
When they say lifting will affect the suspension, they're talking about if you alter the suspension to cause the shocks to ride in a different place in their stroke.
And no, they didn't cut anything in the rear to fit the 33"s.
Actually no, I have really never done any of this type stuff. All pretty new to me. I'm learning though and having a lot of fun doing it. I'm fairly mechanical so just need to get in do some of this stuff and then it will get more familiar. Thanks for the info.
I did go back in and watch the utility truck interview. They did cut the back wheel wells larger and I assumed it was to fit the 33s but he didn't actually say that. No doubt you are right as there looks like plenty of room on Dan's mod.
By the way, did you see that front receiver on the bumper? Love how low profile it is. It really didn't mess with the looks at all. I love the idea of having a winch but not having to ride around with the extra weight.
Today, I installed a new set of Goodyear DuraTrac tires on my truck (same model as stock for the ZR2), but two sizes up. The new tire size is LT285/70R17. The stock size is a 265/65R17.
Curious if you measured your truck's height after swapping to the 33's and after adding the lift? Would love to go 33s without the lift (but obviously body trimming/work) but curious if that with my rack would put me over my garage height! :shock:
Today, I installed a new set of Goodyear DuraTrac tires on my truck (same model as stock for the ZR2), but two sizes up. The new tire size is LT285/70R17. The stock size is a 265/65R17.
Curious if you measured your truck's height after swapping to the 33's and after adding the lift? Would love to go 33s without the lift (but obviously body trimming/work) but curious if that with my rack would put me over my garage height! :shock:
No, I haven't measured the overall height, and I'm gone for a while on a business trip. The tires would've raised the overall height by 1.0" and the body lift was an additional 1.25". In theory, it should be 2.25 inches taller than a standard ZR2, or at least be really, really close to that.
I've had my flares and inner fender liner out, and there's a ton of room tho make the openings bigger. What would be awesome is if someone like Bushwhacker would make some cut out fender flares like they used to back in the day. That would be the perfect solution.
I too had the back side of the drivers side front flare off along with the little plastic corner guard last night when checking for tire wheel clearances. You're right. Lots of room can be had pretty easily. Here's a pic of about where a 285/70 would be on a 17x8.5 0mm method wheel in relation to the fender...lots of room.
Mind you, My ZR2 is leveled about 1.5 inches and both of the flare and rocker corner guard are off in this pic.
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