I have been searching the internet, chatted with Tire Rack and searched this forum for tire advice. I am a novice when it comes to understanding tires but learning as I go. I want on/off road tires with the look of off-road tires and not alot of road noise. I live in FL so not concerned with winter weather.

I have LT285/75R/16 tires on my truck now and want to go bigger but I don't want to do a lift. I want 315/75R/16 tires but Tirerack rep said they will rub and recommend 305/70R/16 instead. Does anyone here agree with Tire Rack that 35s would not work and would rub? I don't want to buy 5 tires if they will not work for me.

I know there are a ton of threads about tires but I cannot find what I am looking for so posting for advice.

Thanks!

 

Gonna rub unless you mod!

'06 H3 oem tire size P265/75R16

 

Thank you Hummerz, appreciate the response

 

MOVED to the H3 section where all H3 related tech questions go. It is a good thing you do not want to do a "lift" as there are no longer any lift kits in production for the H3/H3Ts. You can adjust the OEM T Bars to level the front if you choose.

The OEM Tire on H3 Adventures and Lux Off Road, Alpha Off Roads etc.. are 285/75R/16s like you have. Tire Rack is a retailer, they sell stuff, don't mean they know much.

READ the mutli bazillion Tire threads here, and you would learn that on stock (OEM spec wheels) 35s may rub on the sway bar at full steering lock. Same thing with 305s. Solution, don't turn the steering wheel all the way in the Mall Parking Lot.

I have been running 305s for many years, no issues. A 2006 H3 on 35s will suffer a very noticeable loss in power, free way entrance ramps will seem shorter, Turtles and Snails will be tailgating you when in the left lane.

Tainter's 315s on the left, my 305s on the right.

 

Well firstly the larger the circumference and weight of tire the more usage of fuel and wear and tear on drivetrain. Ask me how I know? LOL!
I went through all of this and I am now back to a simple 265/75-16. I also chose a much less aggressive tread with better road manners and better fuel consumption return values.
There are some awesome tires that are tweeners that will provide all the check boxes being fulfilled and yet keep your H3 from getting 8mpg. I've had all kinds of crazy azz tire combos and really enjoy the tweener/mild atx, at... tire better.
I've ran the TSL Interco bias ply and that was very short lived. I've run soccer mom banana slicks and everything in-between lol. The best tire I've come across are a more simplified tweener pattern. Just my 2cents.
Yakohama makes a really nice tweener. The Pirelli Scorpion seems decent. I personally do not own either but they both offer a tweener style.

 

So, when you go up on size, do you need to calibrate the PCM or just live with whatever is off?

 

Need? No. You can have a company like PCMofSC program the speedo to the new overall height of the tires if you wish to. Might as well get a tune too.

 

You don't say whether your H3 came stock with the 265 (base) or 285 (Adventure/Off-Road pkg) tires. If the latter, then your speedo will be fine with 305's; same height, wider. If you have the base, then your speedo is already off a bit since you say you're running 285's now.

315's (taller AND wider) will definitely affect speedo, power, mpg, etc., while 305's will affect power & mpg, but to a lesser extent. My Alpha went from 15mpg to 14mpg when I switched the 285's for 305's. I can live with that. BTW, I have the same rubbing (tiny bit on sway bar at full lock) with the 305's that I had with the 285's.