Investing in the Right Tires For Your 3rd-Generation Silverado

Living in and around Cincinnati, you know all too well the importance of having quality tires on your Silverado. From winter tires in the winter, so you don’t go skidding about the streets, or to handle the rainy seasons of spring to the constant stop-go traffic around football season, having the right set of tires keeps your family safe and your Silverado free of accidents. But what exactly is the right kind of tires? Can I find a good discount tire in Cincinnati? What about discount tires for my Chevy Silverado? Here at McCluskey Chevy, the goal is to keep you informed about the latest Chevy models, the features they have, and to keep you driving. So here is everything you need to know about tires for your Chevy Silverado.

Unique Features or Editions of the Chevy Silverado 3rd-Generation

When Chevy released the 3rd-generation of the Silverado it moved from its older 900 platforms and upgraded to the K2XX platform. While it went through the standard facelifts and body alterations, many of the changes took place inside the vehicle, including a new multimedia touch-screen system. On the upper tier systems, Chevy also added Bose surround sound systems into the trucks as well.

If you ever find yourself driving further south in states like Texas or Arizona, you might see the occasional Chevy Cheyenne. This is the Silverado only rebranded in Mexico. From time to time, you’ll see Mexican pickups (and occasionally you might spot a vehicle that isn’t sold in the U.S., which can be rather interesting for any vehicle lover out there).

Most manufacturers put out the occasional special edition vehicle. These are trim packages that include slight adjustments, paint jobs, internal features, and other small tweaks to help it stand out. The 3rd-generation Chevy Silverado is no different. While it didn’t release any for the 2014 model year, the 2015 year did see a release of the Rally Edition 1 and 2, Black Out Edition, and the Texas Edition. The edition alterations didn’t have any impact on wheel size.

The 2016 model year came with a facelift. This included a new grille and headlights, including LED lighting in the LTZ and High Country, two of the top-tier trims found on the Silverado. It also increased the touch-screen size to 8-inches on the interior. In 2017, Chevy added its eAssist to the 5.3L V8 engine. This is a feature designed to replace a traditional alternator and pull energy off of the truck braking. The energy is stored in a separate battery, and then it helps provide additional torque when necessary. In 2016 there were two special edition Silverados: the Custom Sport HD and the Blackout. The Blackout, as you would expect, is completely blacked out from the roof to the tires.

The Custom Sport has some additional chrome touches. The 2017 model had a few more special editions, including the All-Star, High Country High Desert, Rally 2, and Redline. Lastly, in 2018, there were a few special editions, such as the HD Midnight, Special Ops, and Centennial Edition. The Centennial Edition was released to commemorate Chevy’s 100th anniversary or its first truck (built-in 1918).

Understanding Wheel Information

Going back to the tires, if you’ve never read wheel size information, it can be a bit confusing, so here is what you need to know. A rim size, for example, might say “8Jx17 ET24”. The 8 is the rim width. The 17 is the rim diameter (both in inches). The “J” is the mounting flange type. The “ET24” is the positive offset. In this case, the offset is 24mm. Your auto shop will know how to read the specifics, but just so you know (first number rim width, second number rim diameter, the third number is positive offset in millimeters).

3rd-Generation Chevy Silverado Wheel Size

The wheel size for your 3rd-generation Chevy Silverado can vary a bit. If you’ve performed any lifts or aftermarket alterations to the truck, you will need to check the wheels you currently have on (make sure to keep the paperwork whenever you have these kinds of upgrades performed, so you know exactly the kind of wheels you are using). It isn’t always the trim package that matters with the wheel size but instead the engine. The larger engine will mean you can haul and tow more, so to help larger and wider wheels are placed on the truck.

For any of the model years running between 2014 and 2018, if your truck used a 4.3L V6 or a 5.3L V8, you will have either a 8Jx17 ET24, a 8.5Jx18 ET24, a 9Jx20 ET27, or a 9Jx22 ET24. If you have a 6.2L V8 in the truck, you have one of these three sizes: 8.5Jx18 ET24, 9Jx20 ET27, or 9Jx22 ET24.

Starting in 2016, Chevy implemented a facelift for the 3rd-generation Silverado 1500. While the facelift in the middle of the generation did make some subtle changes to the hood, it didn’t change much with regards to the wheels and tires. You’ll find that most trucks don’t vary the wheel well all that often, and as the general weight of the truck remains similar, the wheel sizes will not alter all that much. Now, if you were to drive a Silverado 2500HD or 3500HD, the wheels and tire sizes would increase, so if you are driving a heavy-duty pickup, make sure to look for that specific wheel and tire size.

Visiting McCluskey Chevy

Located right in Cincinnati, McCluskey Chevy is not only your local southwestern Ohio car dealership, but satisfied car buyers come from Lexington and Louisville to the south and Indy to the west even after they’ve purchased their vehicles. We get visitors from all over thanks to not only the large selection of new and used cars on our lot but also the exceptional servicing your vehicle receives from our certified technicians. This includes the installation of tires for your 3rd-generation Chevy Silverado.

If you are coming from out of town (or out of state), we recommend calling us to set up a service time. This way, we can go over your wheel information. Make sure you know your model year, the trim package, and, most importantly, the engine type. All of this information put together will make it possible to pinpoint the exact tires designed to fit your truck. We can then select the perfect tires, depending on if you want winter tires, all-season tires, performance tires, or any other kind of tire you might want.

Find The Right Tires At McCluskey Chevy

Whether you’re looking for the right tires for your 3rd-generation Silverado or you are interested in tire upgrades for an Impala or Malibu, here at McCluskey Chevy, you’re always covered. With everything from performance tires to winter tires and anything else in between, you’ll find affordable tires made specifically for your vehicle and wheel type. So stop putting off new tires while driving on those bald ones and visit us at McCluskey Chevy. You can call ahead to schedule a service time or drop on by Monday through Saturday. Our parts and service department will help make sure we have the right tires in stock. And if not, we’ll order them and have the tires ready for you as quickly as possible. So stay safe and come on out to McCluskey Chevy for the best tires in Cincinnati.