I am looking for opinions on mounting new OEM 17" wheels and tires on my 2001 Supercrew versus replacing the existing stock tires with a larger size. I currently have the stock 5-spoke alloy wheels with 255/70/16 Goodyear RT/S tires (junk by the way, my opinion). I have been lurking on ebay looking at 17" wheels with plans of fitting new 265/70/17 tires on them.

I recently thought of an alternative to resolve this, and that is to mount new 265/75/16 tires on my existing wheels. Both the new 16" and 17" tires will accompish the task ... Fill those large wheel wells with more tire and wheel. I noticed that most of the GM trucks use the 265/75/16 tires on them.

I like the stock wheels, just wondering how goofy the new 16" tires would look on them compared to new 17" wheel and tires.

Thanks for your opinions, personal experiences and pictures would be great!

 

Well, I don't have the same style of wheels you do, but the size you are looking for.

 

Looks good. More than likely I will save myself some money and go with just the tires, unless someone else provides more compelling evidence to make the switch to 17".

 

Well I won't be providing any of that evidence for you. I say save your cash by staying with the OEM 16's. You have a couple tire size options that will get you where you want to be (if that place is having your wheel wells filled)

Your 255/70-16 Goodyears are 30.2" dia and have a section width of about 10.0"

A run of the mill 265/75-16 tire runs about 31.7" dia with a section of about 10.7"

You may also consider a 275/70-16 thats about 31.3" dia with a 11.1" section (this would affect your speedo a little less then the taller tire would)

The 265/70-17s are about 31.7" by 10.7"

Also both the sizes I mentuioned would fit your 7" wide wheel with no problems (tire manufactures have an approved / recommended rim width for a given tire size /type)

BTW, a switch to the 17" wheels would limit your choice of tires as there are still not a lot of manufactures doing them. As a bonus I'll thow in another two cents and say that I would go to 18s or 20's before going to 17s.

 

Thanks Petrol. I have pretty much came to the same conclusion. I am going with the larger tires only 265/75/16 in either the Michelin LTX AT or the BFG AT. Both are the basically equal in peformance with the edge going to Michelin on the mileage and noise factor. I have had the BFG's on a 91 F150 and liked them.
I can get the Michelin tires from 1010tires.com for $600 including shipping. Mounting, balancing, and stems will cost me $18 per tire. The cheapest price I can find locally on these is at Tires Plus for $750 installed.

 

Do you have a Costco or Sams Club near you. I am looking at the same exact tire. Costco quoted me $130 per tire installed for the 255/70 LTX M/S.

Good luck

 

The Michelin LTX AT is a special order Sams Club and they had a price of $159 per tire. Another member gave me a lead at www.1010tires.com they have the same tire for $129 with around $20 per tire for shipping. 265/75/16