285 / 75 / 16 1987 3/4 Suburban 4X4 question

[Caan]

Please help....... 1987 GMC 3/4 Ton Suburban 4X4, 8 lug rims, 2 inch block lift, and trying to decide on new tires.

Currently appears to have stock rims 16' steel with old school caps (covers lug nuts). But I have been told stock would have been 15 ' rims. The tires on it right now are 235 / 75 / 16. They look really skinny and disportioned, and are wearing down pretty good, so they need to go anyways. I want to go bigger and wider.

Already went to two tire shops and they are both pretty much telling me the same thing. They are telling me 285 / 75/ 16 is the biggest I should go with the current 16' rim. but thought I might be able to get a little more input.

They held the 285/75/16 up next to the current tires and it looks like it will make a big difference. But I was still kind of envisioning something a little wider. I'm not worried about going higher or taller. Maybe a 305 or 315 / 75 / 16.. They said going wider will make it balloon out.

So the new rims I am looking at buying are the following size 16x8, Bolt Pattern: 8x165.1/8x6.5" Offset: 0mm, Nothing fancy, just for a different more custom look, same size as what is on it right now and that will fit the 285 / 75 /16 being suggested by the professionals.

What could I do to bump up to the wider 305 or 315 tire ?

As long as I am going to buy new rims and keep them at 16'  is there a way to get to that wider tire, and if so what size rim can work ? I also don't want to have to change gearing out, but I also realize the speedometer is going to be off regardless.

I can live with the 285's but I just envisioned a little wider

Any other tips, suggestions, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also I'm having a $#@% of a time trying to find old school cheap rims on the internet that would work with my Suburban, and I'm not sure if I am completely satisfied with the set I'm looking at right now. any suggestions. From what I found there are not to many options to choose from, and I'm not interested in putting the newer trendy looking rims on it (No 20's which seem to be the new thing to go with)

[bake74]

     I believe 10" wide would take care of your width problem, but ask the people at the tire shop.  They should be looking it up on the calculation chart to determine what will fit with what rim.
     They are right about the ballooning problem with the narrower rims, and on top of that I think they look funny when people do that.
     If you have a size tire in mind that you want, find rims that will match the tire, in the end you have to be happy with the choice and it seems like you want 305/315 tires, so find what works, or you might regret it later.

[Psycho71]

First, on a 3/4ton, the wheels would not have been 15" from the factory. You can run'em, but you have to grind on the calipers a bit to get the wheels to clear. I run 15's on mine. There should be a sticker on the driver's door that tells you what size tires and wheels were stock to that truck.

As for going to a wider tire, shouldn't be much problem. You might, however, want to do a good bit of measuring before you have them put on to make sure they will clear without rubbing. Tire width and wheel backspace can both play a role in this. And of course, tire diameter too.

[Edahall]

I've got a 1990 Suburban that's the same body style and also with a 2" lift.  I just pulled off a set of wheels that had 305/70/16's tires on it because they got too worn down.  What I can say is that this is about as large a tire as you want with this set up and you'll definitely need wider rims.  If you install 315's, you either need to do some fender trimming or go with more lift.  The 315's are just too large a diameter to fit under the wheel wells.

Also, expect to have some deep pockets to buy a set of 305's.  It'll run you at least $250 each tire.  The 285's are about $100 per tire cheaper.

Also, keep in mind that 16 inch truck tires are becoming more rare.  All the new truck are running 17's and larger.  This is one reason, I decided to move up to a 17" tire.