I've looked through the posts, but I'm still not sure I have a clear answer.

On the 2nd Gen duallys that were originally equipped with 215/85-16s, can you move up to 235/85-16s, without spacers?

I've seen threads that said yes and threads that said no, anyone with direct experience?

I'm going to need tires soon and I would like to get E-rated BFG MT's, but they don't come in 215's.

 

YES!!! I did this on my truck, it came with 215 and I installed 235! The newer 2nd gen come with 235's. No spacers needed!

 

I know the newer 2nd gens had 235's stock, but I thought thier wheels also had more backspacing.

But you're saying that your early third gen will run 235's with no spacer and no rubbing, correct? Even when loaded? (I occasionally will put 5000-6000 lbs in my bed).

Thanks

 

235's are taller than 215's, not MUCH wider! only 1/2" wider, 1/4 on each side. Most of us use them for the height! around 1 1/2" taller.

 

Wider too.. 235 = section width

Every 235 tire is different, but generally speaking, you can run 'em. My truck had BFG AT's on it when I bought it..no rub.

Now have BFG Commcercial all-seasons, nowhere close to rubbing when grossing 21k with a gooseneck, using 65psi.

 

I've been running 235s on mine for the past 3 years...no problemo.

 

So have most ppl i know

I do have a friend that runs 255's on his truck, no spacers. But the truck is never loaded down. A really nice 2001 24V cummins Dark blue 4x4 lifted six inches, with 255 85 16 BFG mudders

perfect size tho is 235...

Tx

 

94-99 3500 wheels had less offset and were not intended to run a tire that had a larger section width than 215 mm. 00-02 trucks had a larger offset wheel that properly spaces tires with a 235 mm section width. I run 235/85's on my 98.5 and did have visible rub marks (I chalked the tires to verify that they did rub each other) on the tires but only when loaded heavy (yes, the tires were properly inflated for the load conditions). The tires only had a gap of 5/8" between them (FWIW, in some places, this will fail a safety inspection). Empty, there were never any rubbing issues. If you have a 3500 that never gets loaded heavy, you will likely never have any rubbing issues with a 235's on the 94-99 wheel. However, with the right load conditions and with certain tires, you will most definitely have a rubbing issue. Since I have a 5000 lb (wet) slide-in camper that sees long highway trips, I found the safety factor unacceptable if the tires rubbed and decided to run spacers. If you can get your hands on them, the 00-02 wheel is the way to go with 235/85's....they allow for a large gap betwwen the duals and they look cooler too!

 

been running 235\85's for about 3yrs and no problems pulling a 11000lbs 5er at 70psi.

 

235's fit fine, all 3 of our trucks have the same rims! 98-99-00!! The 98 and 99 came from the factory with 215's the 00 came with 235's all the rims are the same! I didn't know the newer dually had differant offset wheels. Maybe for rear disc brakes? If CTDNUT wheels don't fit he must have some oddballs.

 

i JUST got back from town with new tires. they are 255's. stockers were 235's. they dont rub at all. i dont even think they are any wider. jsut a coupla inches taller.

 

The 255's are wider.....20 mm (25 mm = 1") wider than the 235's. This number is the section width of the tire.

 

They are not oddballs....I have already verified that. We may have a different defintion of what an acceptable clearance gap is. With the tires I am running, I only had a 5/8" gap. Like I said before, most probably won't have a problem - only those who have the rear loaded very heavy.....even then, if you have never checked for evidence of rubbing when loaded down heavy, you may never know if a clearance issue actually exists.

 

Thanks for all the replies, looks like I'll be going with the 235's

 

So for the 00-02 rims 255's are fine?
How much clearance do you have blackdiesel02?

The 255 would be .7 inches wider (20mm) and 1.4 inches taller (34mm) than the 235 if they're both /85.

And who makes the specific dual rears? Nothing wrong with my toyo's, just thinking ahead.