What to Consider When Upgrading Your Chevy Silverado Off-Road Wheels & Tires
At some point, the factory parts may no longer be able to get the job done. From needing a bigger size to wear and tear, it may be time to upgrade those Chevy Silverado off-road wheels and tires. One of the primary things you need to consider when getting new tires and wheels is sizing.
Selecting the Right Tire and Wheel Size
One of the first things you should do is look at your owner's manual. You can see the size of your current factory wheels and tires there. That information can give you a baseline of what sizing you can get away with and what might be too big. You also want to keep the three percent rule in mind.
This rule states that if you get tires that are 3% larger than your current ones, you need to increase your ride height. Additionally, consider that your car was designed for your current-sized tires and wheels. Therefore, ensure that you're evaluating the new tire sizes in relation to your current Chevy Silverado.
Wheel Materials
Wheels can come in a few types: cast, steel, and forged. Each one comes with its pros and cons. Cast wheels are typically not popular for off-roading because they are not as heavy-duty as the other two options.
While they may be rust resistant because of their use of aluminum, they can be easily damaged. Steel wheels are more heavy-duty and are typically more affordable. However, you may sacrifice agility and flexibility as steel wheels weigh much more than other materials. Forged wheels are usually the most expensive out of all three. They are strong and can have a large load carrying capability — making them a viable option for heavy-duty off-roading.
Backspacing
Backspacing and offsetting can help you understand how your wheel likely fits your Chevy Silverado. Backspacing is the length, in inches, between the wheel's mounting surface and the wheel's back lip. Offsetting measures the distance between the mounting surface and wheel centerline. Typically, factory wheels have a larger backspacing measurement to fit the truck better.
Therefore, like the actual tire sizing, you can use the backspacing measurement as a reference to know what wheels you should be looking for and how they'll fit with your Chevy Silverado. You'll need to pay attention to this metric if you consider adding any modifications — particularly lift kits.
Finding the Right Bolt Pattern
Finding a wheel with the correct bolt pattern is critical to upgrade your Chevy Silverado off road wheels. Also known as lug patterns, bolt patterns measure the number of bolts and the circle formation these bolts create. Typically bolt pattern measurements come in the form of two numbers. The first is the actual number of bolts in the wheel, while the second measures the diameter of the bolt's circular formation.
For example, a 6-100 mm bolt pattern means six bolts are positioned around a 100 mm imaginary circle. Finding a wheel with the correct bolt patterns is essential since bolts are what secure your wheels to your Chevy Silverado. If you're getting customized wheels, it'll be easier to ensure you have the exact bolt pattern. On the other hand, if you're looking for a used tire, making sure that those bolts are correctly lining up can be a challenge.
Don't Forget About the Tires
Other than the sizing, there are a few other elements you need to consider when selecting a tire. One of the most impactful is the tire's tread and the tread depth. Because of the terrain that you'll be driving over, you want to ensure a deep tread depth — typically more than 2/32 inches. Additionally, you'll want to pay attention to the tire ply. The ply is the inner layer within the tire and is also a measurement of a tire's load range.
Typically higher ply — like 10 or 12 — create a sturdier tire that is fit for hauling. On the other hand, lower ply numbers indicate that a tire is a bit less stiff and possibly offers a more comfortable ride. You have to balance necessary sturdiness with how much give that you'll need to travel off-road.