Chevy & GMC Vans

Hey all. Now that I have my lift on it's time to sort out tires. For reasons I can only partially explain, I found myself being drawn to the 215/85-16 size. I guess I've been hanging out on the ExPo forum too long, looking at all the Land Rovers and Syncros with tall skinny tires. Due to the limitations of the search engine, I can't seem to search for "215/85"...

Anyhow, wondering if anyone else has tried running this size on a lifted van?

Seems like going taller without going wider might help with some of the fitment issues (since it's nominally a 30.4" tire), and everything I've read on offroad/expo tire size selection says the 215-235 range is more than enough width for the weight of our rigs. The problem is that for some reason there isn't much in the 235/75-16 size for AT tires. OTOH, I have several interesting choices in the 215/85 range, and some of them are stupid-cheap to boot - probably because some of them are "Commercial Traction".

I admit I'm a bit of an AT tire noob, so is there any reason I wouldn't want to use this class of tire for my mixed mini-van baby-hauler/off-road camper?

If there's a compelling reason not to go with 215/85, then I'd probably be looking at a 245/70-16, which would be wider, but also heavier, etc.

Thoughts?

There is no reason you can't run the 215/85R16. Most guys run the wider tires to simply fill the wheel wells more.

Thanks for the confirmation.

I'm learning an important lesson in the "tire economy" too - I visited one the local small tire business that deals in new/used/retreads, etc. and it looks like his pricing for a lot of the new tires is better than what's online, so I may be able to fit new 245/70-16s for a similar price...

Hi,

Well, the Cooper LT215/85-16 tire at $138 at Tire Rack is looking pretty good for my 2003 Astro to replace the LT225/70-16 BFG KO.
The KO is great tire, but H=28", section width 9" and 35 lbs weight
Vs 30" for me 85 profile with 8.4" section width and 38 lbs.

With 2" body lift and not willing to crank torsion bar ,
Taller tire could be the way to get a bit more lift.

My 3.42 axle may not like the taller tire but now that np231C transfer case is installed, I have low range.''
Apparently, there is a mod to get the no231 t case to have an optional 2 Lorange as well?

There is a very nice Atlas t case made in California by Advance Adapters that does have 2hi, 2 LO, 4 hi and 4 LO. It is a gear driven twin stick shift very striking t case $2,000 but awesome.
Or I could get 4.10 or at least 3.73 axles and rear locker.

Hi,

Americas tire also can supply 215/85-16 Cooper AT 3.

They even have a $75 off coupon for a set of 4. I would need to buy 5 actually to have matching spare.

I wonder if Costco can order 215/85-16 tires?

AP