Will 35 Inch Tires Fit On A Chevy Silverado? [Solved!]

The Chevy Silverado 1500 is the second best-selling truck in America, right behind the Ford F-150. With its impressive towing power, superior performance for off-roading, and a vast range of stock options, it should be no surprise why truck enthusiasts are big fans. 

Part of the fun of being a truck enthusiast is outfitting your rig with modifications, right down to the wheels. Off-roaders are especially keen on increasing their overall ground clearance with larger tires. 

But will 35-inch tires fit on a Chevy Silverado? Read on to find out!

To help you decide whether modifications are worth the work, we’ll walk you through the requirements for lifting your Chevy Silverado, the pros and cons of larger tires, and other Silverado options to consider if you’re in the market for a bigger, better truck. 

To Lift or Not to Lift?

Before you decide to modify your Chevy Silverado for 35-inch tires, there are a few things to consider. 

First, you’ll need a 6” lift to clear a tire of that size. That requires significant dismantling and rebuilding of your vehicle, as well as trimming, grinding, and painting the metal. It’s definitely a worthwhile investment if you’re interested in taking on more challenging off-roading terrain, though. 

Even everyday drivers can benefit from lift kits. Taller trucks are less prone to damage from kicking up gravel, road salt, and other debris, so you can keep your Chevy Silverado looking near-mint for far longer than one without after-market suspension modifications. 

You should also get prepared to spend some significant cash. In addition to the lift kit itself, which can run upwards of $5,000 in parts alone, you’ll need the right tools for the job if you are planning a DIY project. 

Most standard 6” suspension kits for Chevy Silverado require:

• Standard socket set, with sizes ranging from ¼” up to 1”
• Jacks rated for the weight of your Chevy Silverado 1500
• Impact wrench for removing rusted or stubborn parts
• Torque wrench
• Reciprocating saw
• Hand grinder
• Drill and bits

After taking a look through your tool kit to see what you already have, consider phoning a few buddies to see if they have anything you can borrow to save a little cash on new hardware. 

Pros and Cons of Bigger Tires

Bigger tires change the way that your truck sits and drives, so you’ll want to consider the pros and cons before you break out your reciprocating saw. 

Compare the benefits of a safer commute, increased towing power, and smoother handling to the increased cost for replacements and decreased fuel efficiency. 

Pros

• Increased ground clearance for overcoming more significant obstacles while off-roading
• Smooth handling and stability on gravel, dirt, and pavement
• Safer braking
• A more comfortable drive, thanks to efficient shock absorption
• More traction and grip in bad weather
• Better visibility
• More towing power 
• Improves the overall look of your Chevy Silverado

Cons

• Larger tires are less responsive to steering
• Additional costs of modifications
• Increased tire replacement costs in case of flats
• Slower acceleration
• Decreased fuel efficiency

What Are Other Popular Tire Sizes for the Silverado?

Although the 35-inch tires seem to be what most Silverado owners lean towards, there are other options as well.

Please do keep in mind that with each tire size, there are different minimum lifts that you will need to do. This is to ensure that there will be no rubbing against your tire. This is also just the minimum lift requirement and you might need to do more lifting depending on your vehicle.

If you are not sure about how much to lift or if this is your first time working on installing new tires yourself, do not hesitate to check out some online tutorials.

33 Inch Tires

• 33 inch tires are great if you are a driver that tends to drive on highways and the occasional paved road.
• 33-inch tires will give you minor off-road capabilities and the cool appearance of bigger tires.
• If you want to add 33-inch tires to your Silverado, then you will be happy to know that there is not much to it.
• All you will need is a leveling kit- a leveling kit is great because it will allow you the ground clearance you need to fit a set of tires that are a bit bigger than your stock tires.
• Minimum lift: front leveling kit

34 Inch Tires

• If 33 inch tires are a bit too small for you, then you should consider the 34-inch tires.
• 34-inch tires are what people would call a mild lift.
• . When installing 34” tires it is important to leave enough room for usable wheel travel. In order to accomplish this,  it will require minor trimming to eliminate tire rub.
•  Minimum lift: 4.0 inches (or more).

37 Inch Tires

• On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the 37-inch tires. If the 33 inch, the 34 inch, and the 35-inch tires are just not big enough for you then you should consider the 37-inch tires.
• Please do keep in mind that these are very big tires, so make sure this is what you want before you buy them.
• On your 2007 to 2018 Silverado or your Sierra 1500, the 37-inch tires will give your truck a very aggressive look as well as amazing off-road performance.
• Since they are so high up, they will give your truck increased ground clearance.
• It is important to note that the 37-inch tires do require a taller lift in order to have proper suspension. If you do not do this, then your tires will begin to rub and hence, wear out sooner.
• Also, you may need to trim some areas to get rid of tire rubbing. 
• In order to get 37-inch tires on your 2007 to 2018 Silverado or your Sierra 1500, you will need to lift it about seven inches.
• Minimum lift: 7 inches (or more).

Chevy Silverado Stock Wheel Sizes and 2022 Trim Options

If you’re not sure you’re ready to take on the task of lifting your truck, you could always settle for a stock option with larger tires than your current vehicle. While they won’t hit that coveted 35-inches without a lift, it could still be a solid upgrade, depending on your current ride. 

1999-2021 Chevy Silverados can handle up to 33-inch wheels, as long as they have the appropriate side wall-size thickness, width, and diameter. 

We’ve gathered all your tire size options in the chart below:

2016-2021 Silverado 1500	31” options: 255/70 R1732” options: 265/70 R17, 265/65 R18, 275/65 R18, 275/55 R20, 275/45 R22, 285/45 R2233” options: 275/60 R20, 275/50 R22
2014-2015 Silverado 155	31” options: 255/70 R1732” options: 265/70 R17, 265/65 R18, 275/55 R20, 275/45 R22, 295/35 R2433” options: 305/30 R26
2007-2013 Silverado 1500	31” options: 245/70 R1732” options: 265/70 R17, 265/65 R18, 275/55 R20, 275/45 R22, 295/35 R2433” options: 305/30 R26
1999-2006 Silverado 1500	30” options: 235/75 R16, 255/70 R16, 265/60 R17, 285/55 R18, 31” options: 245/750 R16, 245/70 R17, 275/60 R17, 285/50 R2032” options: 305/35 R2433” options: 305/30 R26

The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 also has pretty impressive trim options with stock specs built for off-roading and everyday driving:

Work Truck (WT)

• Configuration: 4WD, Regular Cab, Long Bed
• Engine: 2.7L Turbo
• Torque: 348 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 6,900 lbs. 
• Ground Clearance: 8.22 inches
• Tires: 31” 255/70R17 all-season, blackwall tires

LT

• Configuration: 4WD, Double Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 2.7L Turbo
• Torque: 348 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,000 lbs. 
• Ground Clearance: 8.08 inches
• Tires: 31” 255/70R17 all-season, blackwall tires

RST

• Configuration: 4WD, Double Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 2.7L Turbo
• Torque: 348 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,000 lbs. 
• Ground Clearance: 8.08 inches
• Tires: 32” 265/65R18SL all-season, blackwall tires

LTZ

• Configuration: 4WD, Crew Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine
• Torque: 383 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,100 lbs. 
• Ground Clearance: 7.95 inches
• Tires: 33” 275/60R20 all-season, blackwall tires

LT Trail Boss

• Configuration: 4WD, Crew Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine
• Torque: 383 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,000 lbs
• Ground Clearance: 10.70 inches
• Tires: 32” LT275/65R18C Mud-Terrain Goodyear® Wrangler DuraTrac® blackwall tires

Custom Trail Boss

• Configuration: 4WD, Crew Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 2.7L Turbo engine
• Torque: 348 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,000 lbs
• Ground Clearance: 10.70 inches
• Tires: 32” LT275/65R18C Mud-Terrain Goodyear® Wrangler DuraTrac® blackwall tires

Custom

• Configuration: 4WD, Double Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 2.7L Turbo engine
• Torque: 348 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,000
• Ground Clearance: 8.08 inches
• Tires: 33” 275/60R20 all-season, blackwall tires

High Country

• Configuration: 4WD, Crew Cab, Standard Bed
• Engine: 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine
• Torque: 383 @ 1500
• Max GVWR: 7,100 lbs
• Ground Clearance: 7.89 inches
• Tires: 33” 275/60R20SL all-terrain, blackwall tires

If you plan to off-road often, it’s a smart move to ensure your Chevy Silverado is outfitted to handle everything the great outdoors can throw at you. Swapping out your stock wheels, especially if they are only 30-32”, will make for a much smoother ride and better protection against damage. 

Silverado owners who would rather avoid adding a custom lift kit but still want to experience off-road adventure may be time to trade-in for a newer model. You’ll score a solid set of 33” tires standard on the 2022 High Country, Custom, and LTZ 1500s, a nice middle-ground between most stock options and the 35” tires you’ve been itching to get your hands on. 

The Takeaway|Bigger Tires for Your Silverado

When it comes to truck owners, very few are satisfied with the stock tires their trucks come with. This is because the wheels are fine but they are never just right which is why many people invest in lift kits and want to get bigger tires. If you fall into that category then know that you are not alone.

The Silverado is a great truck to work on, especially when it comes to adding new tires because there are so many Silverado owners that do the same. If you ever feel stuck or are not sure, there are plenty of forums online where Silverado owners all come together to give tips and trade ideas.

Most are more than happy to talk to fellow Silverado owners and if you are someone that prefers to do all of your modifications yourself, instead of depending on an auto mechanic, then they could also help you out as well.