Tire Sizes

"What is the best tire size for my truck?"

Most of the time, when customers ask us about tire fitment, what they really want to know is, “What’s the biggest tire I can run?” That question doesn't surprise us, since the common belief in the offroad community is that bigger is always better. But from experience, we can tell you that the biggest tire isn’t always the best tire for you. In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of larger tire sizes to help you decide what’s right for your vehicle.

The Pros

Let’s start with the pros of running larger tires. The most obvious advantage is being able to clear bigger obstacles. A simple way to picture this is by comparing skateboard wheels to longboard wheels.

If you’ve ever ridden a skateboard, you know the dreaded screech that comes from hitting a pebble. Longboards, with their bigger wheels, just roll right over pebbles and acorn, saving you from an embarrassing wipeout in front of your friends. Bigger off-road tires work the same way, just on a much larger scale. Instead of eating pavement, you’re avoiding the humiliation of getting winched out by a buddy. 

Beyond that, larger tires bring other benefits: a larger contact patch when aired down, better protection for your wheels, increased ground clearance, and of course, a healthy dose of Instagram clout. For some, that last one is the real selling point. With so many advantages, it’s easy to see why people chase the biggest tires possible. But as with anything, there are tradeoffs, which we’ll cover next.

The Cons

I’ll start by saying that none of these points should keep you from running the largest tire you want. They’re simply things to keep in mind, especially if you’re new to off-roading.

One of the first challenges you’ll run into with bigger tires is fender and bumper clearance. A mild size increase might only call for a little trimming of plastic, but the larger you go, the more cutting and modifying you’ll need to do. That can mean bumper trimming, fender work, liner removal, or even a body mount chop. If you’re working with a brand new truck or a lease, that might be where the bigger tire journey ends.

Another consideration is how your build evolves over time. Wheels and tires are usually the first modifications people make, but once you start adding things like steel bumpers, winches, rooftop tents, and tire carriers, the extra weight changes suspension performance. Tires that cleared before might start rubbing, which means more trimming and adjustments down the road.

Once you’ve made the tires fit, the next hurdle is often gearing. For example, if your truck left the dealer on 29" tires and you move up to 35" tires, the change in drivability will be very noticeable. That 20% increase in diameter effectively creates a 20% change in gearing. The result is slower acceleration, difficulty staying in the power band, and a speedometer and odometer that both read about 20% lower than true. Some might not mind the speedometer being off, but it’s still a factor worth noting. The typical solution is to re-gear the differentials to match the larger tire size, although this is rarely less than a $1,000 job. Even with proper gearing, a 10-ply off-road tire adds substantial weight, which can noticeably reduce fuel economy.

Another consideration is center of gravity, which is often overlooked. Larger tires usually require a lift kit, and both of these changes raise the vehicle’s overall height. This shift increases the risk of tipping or rolling, especially on difficult trails. Many off-road routes feature off-camber terrain and deep ruts, where taller vehicles have fewer safe line choices. A truck with a lower center of gravity can often approach the same obstacles with more options and less rollover risk.

Final Thoughts

In most off-road situations, larger tires offer more benefits than drawbacks. However, many of our customers use their trucks as daily drivers or prefer only light off-roading. In these cases, the largest tires may not always be the best choice. Even for those who frequently push their trucks to the limit, driving long distances on 37" mud terrains with single-digit fuel economy requires A LOT of commitment. Our goal with this article is to help you better understand what to consider and why selecting the right tire size is a thoughtful and involved process.