I have a 1998 dodge 2500 4x4 and want to know what the biggest tires i can fit w/out a lift kit and no rubbing would be.
285's work well and they look good. Few have been lucky on going bigger, but depends on if you haul anything and how much suspension sag your truck has.
My 99 2500 has 315s on American Racing wheels. They rub when you turn sharp but ive heard they clear fine on stock wheels.
BF Goodrich tires are great all around tire. Quiet on the highway, great in the snow, and good in the sand. But don't fool yourself, they suck in the mud. 295's would be a good choice for any truck that sees a different terrain on a regular basis. I have seen 315's on trucks but I think that most were leveled off. I have a set on my 06 Dodge dually. But, I have a Superlift 2" suspension lift on the front. There is a picture of in in the 03-06 Dodge pages and it is under the heading of Wheel spacers. I hope this helps. LT.
I got 315's on my 01 stock hight, they do rub and make it harder to steer when im not moving, But they look sick i have them on a set of 17" 3rd gen's
I have 35's on 18" wheels. No rub, but I do have a 2" lift in the front. Prior to the the Revtek lift I was running 285's with no rub and 295's very little rub at full turn. 285 and 295 were BFG a/t's.
People never seem to give a clear answer on this one... I would definitely stick with 285/75/16's. They will look better and they won't ruin your acceleration or mileage. Additionally, keeping the tire size below 285's will minimize excess wear and tear on your steering and suspension components; too big of tires can cause the steering box, tie rods, and ball joints to go bad quicker than normal.
You're right, should have been more detailed. Not everyone runs stock rims. Sorry, I should have spelled it out --- 285/75-16 and 295/75-16 would be tires, mounted on stock 16 inch rims.
A 285/75/16 or 285/70/17 (33" dia) would be your best bet. The price is still somewhat decent, they're still somewhat easy to find come replacement time (i.e. stocked at dealers, not special order only), and its about the largest you can go on that truck without a lift and wheel it. If you were doing street only driving, a 315/75/16 (35" dia) might fit, but for off-road use (where articulation occurs) they're not going to work well. The 295/75/16 would also work (max recommended), but they'll cost more ($5 to $10 each) and will be much harder to find. The 10mm (0.394in) width difference and 15mm (0.590in) diameter difference isn't worth it IMO.
In addition If you were to break down in the middle of nowhere your odds at finding a 285 tire at a small tire shop in podunk Nebraska are alot better than finding a 295 or 315. Just something else to keep in mind...
