Need advice - 275/65/20 vs. 275/70/18 stock runs and tires

Greetings! Would love some real world experience as I’ve read and re-read the largest tire thread on the forum, explored pics and done tire comparisons on calculator.net for sidewall and overall height. I also priced out tires and looked at availability.

I have a 2016 Platinum with the stock 20s. I will eventually do bilsteins around 2” upfront and add a leaf in the back with bilsteins.

My desire is to get more height/ground clearance. I do not tow, don’t desire wider tires or special rims. Stock 18 or 20 is fine. Clearance is for when we camp, hunt, etc. The current setup has the stock sidesteps and those things will get bumped at times off-road or in town. I’d remove but kids and a wife seem to get lost without them….

We do run chains in CO at times due to mud, rain and snow for November hunting. I have the small diamond shaped quick ones for all fours vs. large old school v chains. So perhaps rubbing could be an isssue. I’ve also read plenty on 18s vs. 20s on sidewall height for off road and comfort. Not sure if the 34” 275/65/20s would provide this added comfort and capability as it’s the same as stock 18s sidewall and the 18s oversized only have .9 diff of sidewall. Or if those are too tall for chains and 275/60/20s are a happy medium or then just going to 18s for more tire. Ugh! This is where I struggle.

Any recommendations and real life experience would be most helpful! Thanks all!

 

I'm looking for the same thing on my Gen 2.

 

I think you would need to have basically stock size tires to run chains on a stock truck. Lots of clearance in the rear....front is tighter and would be a problem.

Stock tundras with stock wheels can clear 34 tall, 11ish wide tires on stock +60 offset wheels, and no way chains would work with such clearances.

 

275/70R18 General Grabber A/TX is the way to go in snow. Have Bilstein 5100 at middle setting in front, ARB/OME shocks in rear and +1" shackles in back. Run Leer topper, steel semi-hidden front bumper w/ winch and 10 GA steel skids all the way to transfer case. The clearance is about where it was stock, sags further when loaded for snow camping.

I've got SCC QG3229CAM chains recently, but didn't try them yet. Tire clearance at UCA may be just enough with these 33" tires and chains.

 

@vtl - This is helpful. If I go 33”, likely I’ll do 18s and have room for chains.

hoping someone has given chains up front a shot! Again, I have those quick connect diamond shaped ones. Helps a lot more with steering in these parts vs. nada.

 

What's your driving conditions? Why you want chains? For ice those Grabbers can be studded and that would make them a one hell of a winter tire.

 

@vtl - I run All Terrains year round as we live in CO, have family over the mountains, camp and hunt. Chains are for hunting. At times 2” of snow, some ice or mud makes it impossible to get out of some conditions. We carry a come-along and recovery gear as well.

Very familiar with studded tires but I no longer live in a mountain town and wouldn’t need them.