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Pull a 2023 Silverado 1500 LTZ into a tire shop and the tech's first question is: what size are you running? A base Work Truck rolls on 245/75R17s. A Trail Boss sits on 275/60R20s straight from the factory. Get the wrong size and you face speedometer drift, rubbed fenders, or a TPMS light that won't quit. This guide shows every factory-style size by year and trim, plus the plus-one upgrades and off-road fitments that actually clear the wheel well.
Quick Answer
Most 1500s run between 245/75R17 and 275/60R20 from the factory, depending on trim and model year. The Trail Boss and Z71 packages ship with larger, more aggressive tires than base trims. A plus-one upgrade (one inch larger wheel, lower-profile tire) keeps overall diameter the same and sharpens steering response. Off-road builds commonly run 285/55R20 or 33-inch equivalents once a 2-inch leveling kit goes on.
How to Read a Tire Size Code
Look at the sidewall of a stock LT and you'll see something like 265/65R18 114T. That string tells you everything.
- 265 is the section width in millimeters (how wide the tread sits).
- 65 is the aspect ratio: the sidewall height is 65% of that width.
- R means radial construction (all modern truck tires are radial).
- 18 is the wheel diameter in inches.
- 114 is the load index. 114 works out to 2,601 lbs per tire.
- T is the speed rating (T = 118 mph max).
That load index matters more than most guys realize. GM rates the truck's payload and towing capacity assuming the factory tire's load number. Drop below it and you're technically over-tired for the truck's job.
You'll also see two flavors of tire: P-metric (passenger, marked with a P prefix or nothing) and LT-metric (light truck, marked LT). LT tires run stiffer sidewalls and higher load ratings. If you tow near the truck's limit or haul heavy in the bed, LT is the smarter buy even if the truck came with P-metrics.
Factory-Style Tire Sizes by Trim and Year (2014-2024)
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GM has run two big platforms in this window: the K2 truck (2014-2018) and the T1 refresh that landed for 2019. Sizes shifted with each generation, and the Trail Boss added a whole new factory footprint in 2019.
You can cross-reference against the Chevrolet spec page if you want to double-check your build sheet.
2014-2018 Silverado 1500 Factory Sizes
| Trim | Wheel | Factory Tire Size |
|---|---|---|
| Work Truck (WT) | 17x8 | 245/70R17 |
| LT (Z71 off-road) | 18x8.5 | 265/65R18 |
| LTZ | 20x9 | 275/55R20 |
| High Country | 20x9 | 275/55R20 |
2019-2024 Silverado 1500 Factory Sizes
| Trim | Wheel | Factory Tire Size |
|---|---|---|
| Work Truck (WT) | 17x8 | 245/75R17 |
| Custom / Custom Trail Boss | 18x8.5 | 265/65R18 |
| LT / RST | 18x8.5 or 20x9 | 265/65R18 or 275/60R20 |
| LT Trail Boss | 18x8.5 | 275/65R18 (Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac) |
| LTZ | 20x9 | 275/60R20 |
| High Country | 20x9 | 275/60R20 |
A couple of gotchas from the T1 refresh. The base WT jumped to a 245/75R17 (up from /70R17), which added roughly a half-inch of diameter. The LT Trail Boss went to a 275/65R18 on DuraTracs, which reads more aggressive than the High Country's 275/60R20 despite being on a smaller wheel. And 2022+ ZR2 models roll a beefy 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT from the plant.
The Trail Boss ships on 275/60R20 Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner ATs straight from the plant.
Plus-One Tire Upgrades: What They Are and When to Use One
Plus-one is simple math. You add an inch of wheel diameter, then drop the sidewall aspect ratio so the overall diameter stays within about 3% of stock. That 3% window is the sweet spot: your speedo, ABS, and traction control don't need to be recalibrated, but you get a wider contact patch and sharper turn-in.
Example on a 2022 LTZ: the factory 275/60R20 works out to a 33.0-inch overall diameter. Bump to a 275/55R21 and you land at 32.9 inches. Same diameter, one inch more wheel, half an inch less sidewall.
The good side: better steering feel, better dry cornering, a more planted look in the wheel well. The trade-off is real too. Less sidewall means less cushion over expansion joints and pothole season chews rims faster. And 21s and 22s cost noticeably more per tire than 20s when replacement time comes.
Plus-one makes sense if you spend most of your miles on pavement and want the truck to feel tighter. If you spend weekends on gravel roads or hunting leases, skip the plus-one and put that money into a good all-terrain in the factory size.
Off-Road Tire Fitments for the Silverado 1500
This is where guys make the most mistakes. Rubbing on the front mud flap at full lock, rubbing on the upper control arm on compression, TPMS lights that never go away. It's all avoidable if you match the tire to your lift height.
Stock Height Fitments
At factory ride height on a 2019+ model, you can usually squeeze a 275/65R18 (about 32.1 inches) or a 285/55R20 (32.3 inches) without touching sheet metal. Push past that and you'll rub the front mud flap when the wheel turns hard.
On the older 2014-2018 K2 trucks, clearance is a hair tighter. The safe stock-height ceiling is around a 275/70R17 (32.2 inches) on the WT wheel or a 275/60R20 on the LTZ setup.
With a 2-Inch Leveling Kit
Two inches of front lift is the most popular upgrade on this platform, and for good reason. It clears space for a 285/55R20 (32.3 inches) or a 33x12.50R20 (33.0 inches) with minimal or no trimming. That's real 33-inch territory. Most crew cabs will run these without contact.
A 3.5-inch lift opens the door to a 35x12.50R20 on most configurations. Crew cabs sometimes need the front mud flap bracket trimmed at full lock. Regular cabs and double cabs almost always clear.
Tire clearance grows fast once you add a leveling kit; even 2 inches opens up a 285/55R20.
| Setup | Max Practical Tire |
|---|---|
| Stock height | 285/55R20 (32.3") |
| 2-inch leveling kit | 33x12.50R20 (33.0") |
| 3.5-inch lift | 35x12.50R20 (35.0") |
Trail Boss Factory Setup: What GM Ships From the Plant
The Trail Boss is basically a truck that already got the leveling kit before it left the factory. It gets a real 2-inch front lift, Rancho monotube shocks at all four corners, a locking rear diff on Z71-equipped builds, and skid plates.
Factory rolling stock is a 275/65R18 on the LT Trail Boss (Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac) or a 275/60R20 on the RST Trail Boss (Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT). Wheels are 18x8.5 or 20x9 depending on the year and package.
The upgrade sweet spot on a Trail Boss without adding more lift is a 285/55R20 or a 285/65R18. Both clear the fenders and keep the truck within GM's 3% diameter window. Anything larger and you're back to trimming or adding another 1.5-2 inches of lift.
While you're doing wheel work, it's worth glancing at what size steering wheel cover fits your truck. The truck's wheel is thicker than a lot of cars and a generic cover won't fit right.
TPMS, Speedometer, and Load Rating: What Changes When You Upsize
Three things change when you go up in tire size. Miss any of them and you'll be chasing warning lights or getting speeding tickets you shouldn't be getting.
TPMS sensors. Every truck since 2008 uses direct TPMS with a sensor inside each wheel. Change wheel diameter and the sensors need to be relearned to the truck's ECU. Dealer or any decent tire shop can do it in ten minutes with a scan tool.
Speedometer. Bigger tire means the truck covers more ground per revolution, and the speedo reads low. Rule of thumb: about 1 mph off per 1% change in diameter. Going from a 32-inch factory tire to a 34-inch aftermarket puts your speedo about 6 mph optimistic at 60 mph indicated. A tuner like a DiabloSport, HP Tuners, or a dealer trip fixes it.
Load index. If your new tire has a lower load index than the factory tire, you've effectively cut your GVWR margin. Never drop below the factory load number, especially if you tow. Some are all steering wheels the same size across models, but load indexes on truck tires vary a lot within a single size, so read the sidewall.
Keeping Your Interior Clean After a Day on Dirt Roads
Nobody warns you about the interior after a Trail Boss build. You put big tires on the truck, you take it out to the lease or the trailhead, and by the end of Saturday there's a fine gray dust worked into the driver's seat bolster that no shop-vac is ever pulling out. Add a spilled Yeti of ice water, a wet dog, a coffee that tipped when you hit a washout, and factory cloth starts looking rough at 30,000 miles.
The solution is straightforward. Made-to-fit seat covers for 2023 chevy silverado 1500 drop in under an hour, keep the airbags where they need to be, and cost around half of what dealership upholstery runs. If you're on a different year or looking across the fleet, we also cut seat covers for trucks and work vehicles across most of the K2 and T1 model years.
Tailored covers drop in under an hour and keep factory cloth from taking a permanent beating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the stock tire size on a 2023 Silverado 1500?
It depends on trim. A Work Truck ships on 245/75R17s. Custom and LT trims run 265/65R18. RST and LTZ move up to 275/60R20 on a 20-inch wheel. Trail Boss variants get either 275/65R18 DuraTracs (LT Trail Boss) or 275/60R20 TrailRunner ATs (RST Trail Boss). The High Country matches the LTZ at 275/60R20.
Q: Can I put 33-inch tires on a Silverado 1500 without a lift?
Not really, not on a 2019-and-newer truck. At stock ride height you'll rub the front mud flap at full steering lock with anything over about 32.3 inches (a 285/55R20). A 2-inch leveling kit is the cheapest path to true 33s. It runs about $200 in parts and clears a 33x12.50R20 without trimming on most crew cab builds.
Q: Will upsizing tires affect my Silverado 1500's towing capacity?
It can. Towing capacity is rated against the factory tire's load index. If you swap to a taller or wider tire with a lower load rating, you've effectively reduced how much the truck can safely carry and pull. Match or exceed the factory load number. Also worth knowing: taller tires reduce the truck's effective final drive ratio, which slows acceleration under load.
Q: What tire size does the Silverado Trail Boss come with?
The LT Trail Boss ships with 275/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTracs on an 18x8.5 wheel. The RST Trail Boss and Custom Trail Boss run 275/60R20 Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner ATs on a 20x9. All Trail Boss trims include a factory 2-inch front lift and Rancho monotube shocks at all four corners.
Q: Do I need to recalibrate my speedometer after a tire size change?
Yes, if you change overall tire diameter by more than about 2%. The speedometer reads based on wheel rotation, so a taller tire makes it read low (you're actually going faster than it shows). A dealer or an aftermarket tuner can flash the ECU to the new tire diameter. TPMS sensors also need a relearn any time you change wheel size.
Q: What is the biggest tire I can fit on a Silverado 1500 with a 3.5-inch lift?
Most 2019-and-newer models clear a 35x12.50R20 with a 3.5-inch lift. Crew cabs sometimes need the front mud flap bracket trimmed at full lock, and a few builds rub the upper control arm on hard compression. Regular cab and double cab configurations almost always clear the 35s without touching sheet metal.
Whichever tire and wheel combo you land on, the interior takes the beating first. See the best seat covers for chevy silverado 1500 2023 made to fit your truck. They're airbag-safe, installed in under an hour, and built to handle whatever the truck handles.