New truck woes; need new tires now

Well I got some crappy news last night. I'm away from home on a work trip, and my wife took the truck (just bought one week ago) to work and the driver rear tire blew on the highway. Thankfully she's ok, and got it towed back to our house to await me when I get home The tires are 265/70r16 Duratrac's that had a good deal of tread left, so it's pretty frustrating. They weren't my favorite tire but I liked how they looked, so I was going to ride them out while I saved up funds to get the lift/tire setup I wanted in one fell swoop.

So now I'm left debating what to do now with limited funds without having to redo everything down the road to get it how I want. My main priority is tires, I really don't want to cheap out on tires as crappy tires have been plaguing my wife and I for the last couple years. I loved the KO2s I used to have on my Jeep and never had a single problem with them. Awesome on road with still exceptional off road characteristics.

So I guess what I'm leaning towards is just a relatively cheaper lift kit or spacer and the biggest tire I can fit with no trimming, maybe around a 265/75r16? This would allow me to progress it from there as time goes on by 1) upgrading to a better 2-2.5" real lift kit (probably Bilstein or OME), then 2) once tires wear out (might be a while for those KO2s, for better or worse! haha), go up from there in size with any necessary trimming.

I would gladly welcome any advice on best leveling/ spacer/lift kits for the $$ and appropriate tire size. Ufortunately I don't know the backspacing of the aftermarket wheels the truck had when I bought it..any way to find this out once I get home in a few days?

 

Nitto Ridge Grappler's for the win!....
G

 

Bilstein 5100’s
Never had your wheel size so I’m not sure about the tire size
I’m going back with nitto terra grappler G2’s or Cooper ATX AT’s. I am also considering the ridge grapplers as well. But running a skinnier tire on either. I’m not a fan of the Ko2’s I’ve got and how wide they are. I’ve had some traction inssues with them when it first starts to rain they don’t like to grip. This is my second set. Only reason I have the ones I have now is because they came on the truck. No sense in throwing away a good set

 

To find the backspacing take a wheel off and lay it on the ground face down. Put a piece of wood or pipe or anything flat across the wheel from lip to lip. Measure from the wheel where the lugs go through up to the object and you'll have it. Around 4" is pretty good for these trucks.

265/75/16 is a good size. I have seen guys run these without lift by trimming some inner plastic out of the fender.

For lift, 5100s might set you back a bit more than a spacer but it's a better way to go. Spending $100 now on a spacer and $230 later for 5100s is more expensive. May as well pay the $230 up front and be done.

Glad your wife is okay, it's a terrible feeling getting that sort of call when you're too far away to help.

 

It definitely is, I couldn't stand it. Thankfully her parents live nearby so her mom watched our son and her dad went to help her out.

And ya that's a good point..I guess I was looking more at the ARB complete kits for ~$900. So it looks like I could pick up the Bilstein 5100 front+rear for ~$360 as a standalone product for now and use those with my current front springs and rear leafs? And then down the road upgrade the springs/leafs (with like ARBs or Dobinsons or Eibachs or something)?? I completely agree that would be better money spent, but $360 is near the top of what I could afford right now along with 4 new tires (and hopefully not one new rim...I haven't seen it yet to know if it was damaged).

Or could I even get away with (I hate using those words; obviously I will be improving this setup much sooner than later) just getting the Bilstein 5100 fronts for $200, and get enough lift out of the front to fit bigger tires without needing to raise the rear? Not sure how much extra space there is in the rear without lifting.


Thanks for the advice!

 

Just get fronts. The front ones at the middle notch with your factory springs will put you level. Keep in mind you'll need alignment after so keep cash for that too.

If you get rear shocks later those can be swapped without worrying about alignment since they don't change the height.

 

Ya definitely. I actually am able to get some guys I work with to help with the mounting and alignment for cheap or free, as well as get some discount on the KO2s! So that will be awesome. Still think I'll save some dough for now and just go with the 5100 fronts. By middle notch with stock springs, you mean at circlip 2?




It would be nice to grab some springs too so I can set it to the height I would eventually want it at to fit the tire size I would eventually want, which would be that 4th circlip if we're all being honest...and then at that point I might as well just spend the $150 for the rear 5100s

 

3rd clip should get you about level.

 

And that will work with stock springs?

Thanks for all the help. My first IFS vehicle I've worked on

 

Sorry, thought you had an access cab. 4th notch should be right. The 5100s are meant to use the stock springs.

 

Cool thanks. Just ordered the 5100 fronts so I'll take some base measurements while I wait for those to come, then get those installed and see what kind of space it looks like I'm dealing with before I pull the trigger on the tires. Also need to check backspacing on my wheels once I get home. It would be awesome if I could fit 285/75r16, just .8" wider than stock so if the backspacing on these wheels can help me out. Also those KO2s are like $50 cheaper per than the stock 265/70r16

 

Take some before and after measurements with the 5100’s. Its good to match theory with reality on that lift chart. Glad you are getting things worked out.

 

Decided to go with front Bilstein 5100s and some Falken Wildpeak AT3W 265/75r16s. Bilsteins were $200, and got 5 AT3Ws out the door for $610. Looking forward to getting it all put together, too bad I'm away this weekend when it all arrives. Thanks for all the input!

 

Got the tires in ahead of the front Bilstein 5100s, planning to mount them today to get off the spare. They're only 265/75r16 vs stock 265/70, so they should fit in the meantime? Just in case I'll have them wrap the wheel of the blown tire first and test fit that in front. That way if it doesn't fit I can keep the duratracs and spare on till I install the Bilsteins.

 

265/75/16 should fit just fine. the only issue you might have would be at full lock in reverse.

 

Thanks! I actually have seen that post which is how I decided on the 265/75r16s. I was just hoping I could get by with it until the 5100s came.

Alas, it was a little too close for comfort, especially with michigan roads. Riding basically on the UCA at lock. So will update once I get the 5100s!

 

After having no time lately to get around to installing these 5100s I found this article and decided just to go for it (did one more check with the test fit mounted tire, slow driving/full lock turns out of driveway). So far no unexpected issues! Just the smallest bit of rub at the rear of the front tires at full lock and really only in reverse.

As much as I want to get those 5100s installed now to help with that rub and just level the truck out a bit, I'm leaning towards returning them for now to free up a couple hundred bucks for other more immediate things. And to do a more complete lift in one go when the time comes, rather than piecing it together here and there.

 

One more pic