I am in the market for some new tires and would like to upgrade the tire weight rating since we just got a camper. I know that the 285 tires will fit on the stock 6.5" aluminum rims but what are the pros and cons? I have seen a few trucks around town with them but I was wondering if they feel squirly since they are on such skinny rims.

My other alternative is the H2 rims with 285/70-17 tires but I was hoping to avoid the expense of rims and tires.

Thanks for the help, I have spent several hours reading posts on DP and continue to find valuable info.

i just switched from E Rated 245/75s on the stock rims to D Rated 285/75 on stock rims the ride quality is 100% better over the 245's! it is a bit more loose in the steering but not all THAT noticable. i havn't pulled anything over 4k lbs with the bigger tires yet so i'm not sure of the difference on heavy pulling.

I'm pretty sure that one's been covered;)

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=318093&highlight=285+stock

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319286&highlight=285+stock

Why not bring one of these back?

I'm too tired to search and link the other 20 or so times.

So far I have run the stock 245/75/16 tires. Then 285/75/16 BFG All Terrains. And now 265/75/16 Goodyear Silent Armor. All of them have been load range E. I pull a bobcat trailer and machine about 30% of the time and it's weight is about 14,000 lbs. So far, none of these tires have made it past 25,000 miles. My BFG's lasted less than 20,000 miles. I do rotate and check tires pressure all the time, so that is not the issue. I am now going to be running load range D. I will see if this is any better with the wear. I hope so, because I am sick of spending $$$ on tires. I will try to keep people posted on the tread life of the load range D tires.

I ordered a set of 285 pro comp xterrains this past tuesday and should get them mounted this coming tuesday..Im pumped! Ill post some pics when i get them. I hate these 245s!!!

If you can wait a couple months I'll be able to give you 1st hand experience, lol. I'm throwing my 285's on the pyo's for winter, the 245's just plain suck. 285's on stock rims just looks so right on these trucks at stock/slightly lifted height IMO.

I'm running 285/75/16 E LTX A2's on stock wheels. They ride so much better than the factory 245 tires. I have about 6k miles on them and just got a rotation done and so far the wear is looks good. I had to play with the air psi to get the ride and contact to the road right. At first I did not raise the front but after going off the road I had to crank the front up 1.5" to get so more clearance. I plan on getting a contigo leveling kit soon. Also you may have to trim the air dam some and the fender well some, so trucks you have to and some you don't.

Go to a wider wheel if you plan to run a 285. They will work on the stock 6.5" PYO's but they do not handle a load well in my oppinion, to much sway. The rim is way to narrow, this will also cause premature wear on the tire as its not going to sit flat at correct air pressure.

So if you dont care about handling or tire wear, go ahead and mount them on the stockers. If you do care, put them on a wider wheel such as an H2. Ive had 285's on stockers and H2's myself, the Wider wheel rides and handles ALOT nicer.

My BFG's on 16's lasted about 20k miles and wore uneven. I went to H2 wheels and got 40k easily out of a set of 285 bfg's on them...........and they worn very evenly!

I have about 10k miles on 285 with stock rims. seem to wear fine and at proper psi.
did feel a little squierly at first, but Kumhos come with around 13/32 tread compared to worn coopers I took off. had to trim lower bumper just a bit at stock ride height .

I was also running 285 BFG's on the stock wheels. Looks good until you compare to a 285 on a wider wheel then they look like balloons. I wouldn't recommend doing so if hauling or towing weight. I sold mine and bought some new take off 17" wheels off a NBS silverado and put 285's on them. Much better improvement IMo.

I ordered a set of 285 pro comp xterrains this past tuesday and should get them mounted this coming tuesday..Im pumped! Ill post some pics when i get them. I hate these 245s!!!


you'll love 'em! i do:D

I had 285's on stock wheels and even with constant checking and adjusting tire pressure, alignments, etc my tires wore unevenly. After about a year like that I finally went to an 8 wide wheel but it is probably too late to salvage good wear on my tires now! Start out with the right combination wheel and tire. You will get better wear and better ride out of your tires.
DT

i just switched from E Rated 245/75s on the stock rims to D Rated 285/75 on stock rims the ride quality is 100% better over the 245's! it is a bit more loose in the steering but not all THAT noticable. i havn't pulled anything over 4k lbs with the bigger tires yet so i'm not sure of the difference on heavy pulling.

I just bought a 2005 long bed with 285's on the stock wheels and agree the steering is loose. Since it was a new truck, I was wondering if it was the tires as well, and it sounds like it might be.

I'm also heading out next weekend and I pull about a 10K lb load so after all of these posts, I'm curious to see how the 285's do on the stock wheels....

ran 285's BFG's on stock 6.5's for six month , just got some pro comp 6001's 8" wide alloys and the truck drives better and the tires look alot better. I would get 8" wide wheels from the start, you'll be happier in the long run!!

I would spend the extra money and get the 8" wide in the long run it will be worth it