Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

I've got a '98 c1500 swb, 2wd with a 5.7. I'm going to install a Ride Tech, street grip 4/6 kit. My spring/summer/fall tires are the ones in the pictures and have the same size snow tires for winter (235/75r15).

Will these tires clear front and rear?

Thanks...

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

I think they are the same size I have on my suburban and they work on mine. The front might be close but the back should tuck in. If you lower the front first and the fenders are sitting on the tires don’t worry till you get the back lowered, I usually lower the back first because of this problem when you drop that much. Just make sure you get correct shocks for the drop.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Thanks oldschool18,

That makes sense. I'll wait to see how it is once its sitting on the ground, lowered front and rear.
As for shocks, the kit comes with fully adjustable shocks front and rear with replicators for the rear. Great kit!

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Did it come with a c-notch?

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Yep...

Front:
Spindles, Coils, adj shocks

Rear:
Flip kit, C notch, shock re locator, adj shocks

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Have you ever done a kit like this before?

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

they will fit, you will have to trim the "rain gutters" on the lower control arms to clear the wheels.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=775833

Start reading from post #12

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Nice, this info is exactly what I needed. I've done similar kits like this before without having to do mods ('66c10, 71c10), none on this body style. I'm going to taper the rating guard like lip on the A arm instead of a blunt cut though. I do plan on tubular upper and lower arms this summer.

Here's my old '66 C10 and '03 S10 I did...

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Here we go...

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

I didn’t trim anything on my control arm, and I just wanted to ask cause that isn’t an afternoon project.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

We're planning on a solid day to do the suspension. One of the bed rail supports has to be notched to clear the 3rd member. Well trim and grind where necessary.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

What was the price on that, I was thinking about doing one...

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Fir the Ride Tech kit, its $1500. Yes, there are cheaper kits out there. I like how their kit is built specifically to provide much better performance and ride quality without sacrificing load capacity.

I plan on continuing to haul and tow with it so it was an easy decision for me to go with their kit. I'll probably end up fabbing some overload airbag brackets to add to the truck.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

I’m running 235/70/15 up front on my Tahoe with 4/6 drop. The spare with a 235/75 will fit as well, but I think it would cause issues if the fender lip wasn’t trimmed (or rolled). I also have trimmed rain gutters on my lower control arms.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Thanks, likaroc13

I haven't trimmed or rolled my fenders yet. I know I'll have to down the road. I've got some smaller snow tires I bought for my '66 that I never used. I think they're 215/75r15's. I may just use them in the front for now.

I'm also guessing that I'll end up trimming the rain gutters off my LCA's as well.
Nice build BTW!

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Thanks! I ran 225/70's up front on my old '93 C-1500 with a 5" drop up front. Doubt you'll have any issues with a 215/75. If you plan to run 15's, the LCA's will definitely need to be trimmed. Btw, I have a '66 as well. :chevy:

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

I am planning on running my stock 15's for now. I'll save up for 20's this summer...
I tried to pull up your '66 but my phone wouldn't work.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

The tire sizes discussed are all fairly tall for a ~4" drop up front. They will fit... but @ those OD's there sure is the possibility of buzzing. The taller the combo, the more it's going to happen.

Same truck. Same drop. It's 'based' on a 4/6 drop (2" spindles; 1-coil removed from OE 6cyl coils; flip kit + shackles). It's possibly a tad lower; definitely so in the rear. With the 15" Ralleys, it ran 215/70-15 BFG's (26.8") & did not buzz the wells. The new combo recently installed is closer to the sizes you guys have discussed & it constantly buzzes (225/60-17's @ 27.6").

Spring rate up front will come into play. If running a taller combo, I would def ensure the spring rate is upped to help prevent the annoying buzzing.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Thanks for your info, SCOTI. The 215/75r15 I'm wanting to run is right at the same height as your 225/60r17. I think im going to go with a smaller one for sure. I'm not wanting to tear anything up, tire or fender...

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

My buddy who now owns the truck swapped the larger dia 17's on there for an updated but old-school look. I cringed @ the tire height choice & mentioned concern. He confirmed my concerns & said it buzzes more than he cares for but that "it's fine on smooth roads though".

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Having them rub would get really annoying. I plan on continuing to use my truck to haul and tow so having tires that dont rub is crutial.

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Everyone's experiences may be different, so I can only speak from mine personally; but I never had any "buzzing" issues with my '93 that had an approximately 5" (possibly lower) front drop with Western Chassis spindles & springs. The springs were actually trimmed just a bit because they sat more like a 4" drop. I ran a 225/70 up front with factory 15x7" mid-90's Caprice steel wheels. It had Doetsch-Tech shocks.

For the rear, I would definitely consider helper air bags if you plan to tow/haul. On the '93, I had a mini-notch that came with the drop kit. It had a flip kit with 2" drop shackle, so 8" total. I never hauled/towed anything, but it would bottom out on decent sized dips/bumps. It would've helped if I had trimmed the bed crossmember just above the "pumpkin." I ran a 255/60 rear tire on the same 15x7" Caprice steelies. Not sure if there are any differences between fleet & stepside bed pertaining to clearances.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1648/...340ec7d8_b.jpg19 by likaroc13, on Flickr


My '97 Tahoe has a 4" drop up front with spindles/springs. It has a 235/70 on 15x7" Wheel Vintiques smoothie wheels with custom 4.5" backspacing. Shocks are Belltech Street Performance. I've never had any "buzzing" issues with these either, & I've been over more rough roads in this than I ever took with my '93.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1741/...a78db807_b.jpgIMG_3595 by likaroc13, on Flickr

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

Hello likaroc13, nice rigs!
I appreciate your detailed info, very helpful!
I'll take as much info I can from all of you, thanks.

I'm guessing that the buzzing noise is the tire tread, scraping the inner fender plastic, making a buzzing sound...I've heard it myself when I did the 5/7 on an '03 S10. Easy fix though...tire was hitting the plastic screw fastener over bumps and dips in the road. Removed the fastener, no more noise.

I've had my fair share of dropped trucks and know all are different. I've never lowered one of these before. I went ahead and put my 215/75r15 tires on the front so I should be just fine, we'll find out.

I'm going to notch the brace under the bed to clear the pumpkin. I'll also be putting overload/helper bags on the back to haul and tow. At 4/6, I should have more than plenty clearance around everything. If I make it a 5/7, I should still be ok.

FYI, this is exactly why I joined this forum. Like minded people sharing their real world experience. No BS...is so nice!

Re: Lowering my c1500 4/6...need front tire advice
 

After a long day and "suprise", 4" of snow...my buddy Eric and I lowered it. The RideTech kit is awesome. The quality and fit are great. Very well engineered too. I put the 215/75r15's on. We'll see if they rub or not.?.?.? I have to get an alignment done ASAP.