Pristine1

I didn't add a block to the rear. My tires are 265/70/18 SL rated. Biggest I could go with out going E rated BUT gained around 450 lbs of load rating per tire over stock tires... Suppose to measure 32.64 inches.
Stock tires were suppose to measure 30.5. So I gained around 1 inch in height with the tire change.

Bilsteins set at 1.75 and larger tires.
Approx height after 2 separate times of measuring.

front. 38 1/8- 38 1/4
Rear. 39 3/8- 39 5/8

Measured once right before lift.
Stock height approx.
Front 35 1/8
Rear 38 3/8

My truck specs
18 screw XLT Sport 302a 3.5 eco max tow 2wd
Payload rating 1861.

Pristine1

Pristine1

I ideally I was going to run 275/70/18's. They measure a half inch taller and wider than my 265/70/18's. Problem was they weighed about 12 lbs a piece more due to being load range E. It was a hard compromise to stick with performance instead of getting the size I wanted. Still look at the truck and wish the tires were slightly larger sometimes but they're good enough. Next time if there is one i might consider going up but it's hard to give up more power. I want it all.

Apples

Of course you can re-gear. I'd like to, and run a 33"... but I balk at the cost. Meanwhile, I run 1" larger tires.

Assuming your axle gearing is 3.55:1 and your OE tire was a 265/60-18, you (as you have said) gained 2.1" of overall tire diameter, which, effectively, has changed your final drive gearing roughly .23. Another way of putting it is if you had the factory tire size you'd have a 3.32 axle. You'll need a 3.79 (3.73) to get back to where you were with the stock tire.

But, with the 10-speed, does any of that really matter?* As you have noted too, the additional tire weight in my opinion would be now be the only real hindrance to what is/was your factory performance level.

*There are six underdriven ratios, 7th is 1:1 and then there are three overdrives. As a matter of interest, the 6R80 6-speed does not have a 1:1... 4th is 1.14:1 and 5th is overdriven... making towing with the 6-speed in 4th in a truck with a 3.31 axle effectively a 3.77 final in that gear...

BUT... this being a Bilstein thread... I'll ask you: Did you paint your 5100s?

The Colonel 12

Bilsteins 2.1in setting (top notch). Truck rides great with the Bilsteins, way better than stock. Gained around 2 inches from the level it varies depending on the ground level. But clears 305/55r20 on 20x9 0mm. Rubbed slightly on the crash bars only in reverse. Had to slightly push the front crash bars forward with a few smacks of the sledge hammer, doesn't rub now.

Before:
Front: 37"
Rear 39.75"


After Bilsteins @ 2.1in (top-notch):
Front: 39"
Rear: 39.75"


New Wheels and Tires:
XD828 0mm offset
305/55r20 Nitto Ridge Grapplers
Front: 39.75"
Rear: 40.5"

CCCT

beauty

Pristine1

Nice catch! When I put that pic on I was thinking to myself... I bet someone will be like where are them bilsteins at? Well the front didn't lift itself haha. I did the front bilsteins and tires in December at 2500 miles. Just did the rears last month.

Yes I have the 3.55's that came with the max tow package. I like factory gears and didn't want to re gear a brand new truck. So I planned ahead knowing that I was going with around a 33 tire. I wanted the 3.55 mainly for that reason. After tires it puts me at around what most 4x4 trucks come with standard (331) and I'm a 2wd with less weight.

My stock tires were only 33 lbs. The new ones are 44 lbs. The next size up was 55 or 56 lbs. That first 2.1 inches only cost me 11 lbs. I couldn't see doing another 11 or 12 lbs just for half an inch. A costly half inch.

The 10 spd does help out with its wide range of gears. I still think you need to keep gearing in mind though with the 10 speed. A couple inches in tire not a big deal but if I were to have some heavy 35's planned I would have ordered a truck with 3.73. The big thing with the 10 spd is it skips 2nd gear in normal mode. At first I thought it was stupid but our 3rd gear is close to the 6 speeds 2nd gear. I guess if someone were to run heavier 35's you could always just run it in tow haul or sport all the time to utilize 2nd gear.

What size tires and gearing do you have?

Apples

Unless you have post signatures turned off in your User CP, that info is in my sig.

But here it is: My factory XLT's 245/70-17 Michelins weighed 31 lbs each, according to the Michelin page on TheTireRack. My factory axle gearing was and remains a 3.31 open diff. I have the 5.0, which as we all know isn't as crisp as the EcoBeasts at 2000 rpm and I did not want to bog it down further with a 4" increase in tire nor with another 30 lbs of tire weight... (I can and do drive around that, anyway, by using M + Sport).

So I simply went 1" larger overall, and with a 40 lb Firestone Destination A/T (265/70-17 on an inexpensive, lightweight 17 X 8 wheel) and preserved nearly all of the factory performance. Of course, I did four 5100s in the same weekend. I wish it weren't such a hassle to get at the fronts let alone having to use a strut compressor to change the front ride height; I'd like to raise the front about an inch. I've lowered the rear with 1" drop shackles which helped but then I added Roadmaster Active Suspension (a leaf-spring coil assist) which then raised the rear 5/8"...

Next time I do tires I may go with this same Destination A/T but another inch larger; a 285/70 which weigh 44 lbs apiece, and take the effective gearing hit, but only if I raise the front, and then!... if I want to do that! I may go with the 6112s on the front and 5160s on the rear... blah blah blah. Either way, they'll be Bilsteins.

Traina

Norotso

Install is today. Measured last night 37 3/4 front and 39 rear at the fender edge.