[Hackapoid18]

Hi everyone, I just bought a 1995 Suzuki Sierra (leaf spring). it has the stock wheels with 205/70R15’s (approx 26inch). Was thinking of upgrading to an all terrain 215/75R15’s (approx 28inch). Does anyone know if this is a good upgrade or should I upgrade to 29’s on some wider wheels and get a 2inch lift + reduction gears? Are 28’s a good size or am I better off spending more $$$ to fit 29’s?
Thanks

[Gwagensteve]

I can’t answer that question- only you can answer that. Yes, the car will be more capable on the larger tyre, but I doubt there’s anything you can drive with a 29 you couldn’t drive with a 215.

Suspension lift doesn’t have anything to do with tyre size.

Reduction gears are a bit of a different thing- a Sierra is ok to drive on road with 28’s and slightly less ok with 29’s, but low range is marginal regardless of tyre size without reduction gearing.

Likewise, the benefits of aftermarket shocks and springs aren’t associated with tyre size.

I guess my point is it’s not an either/ or deal.

[bumstein]

Hackapoid18 wrote:

Hi everyone, I just bought a 1995 Suzuki Sierra (leaf spring). it has the stock wheels with 205/70R15’s (approx 26inch). Was thinking of upgrading to an all terrain 215/75R15’s (approx 28inch). Does anyone know if this is a good upgrade or should I upgrade to 29’s on some wider wheels and get a 2inch lift + reduction gears? Are 28’s a good size or am I better off spending more $$$ to fit 29’s?
Thanks

Hi Hackapoid

Which tyre you choose should depend on what your budget is, what you use your vehicle for, how you drive and what gearing you are prepared to do. It’s a really personal choice so it’s not a question we can answer here definitively here.

My personal choice is 235/75R15’s in Bridgestone AT694. Whole gearing is not 100% essential on my setup and how I use my cars (yours may be different) it certainly is ideal

Oh, and stick with the 15x7 wheels

[Jack jr]

g'day i have 600-16s on a sierra which i think are about 28inch and only occasionally wish for bigger tyres when trying to drive though ruts bigger cars dug out,
but most of the time have no problem following landcruisers on 33s.
Cheers Jack jr.

[Gwagensteve]

Which comes back to the local use and terrain. Our preferred tracks here in Vic typically have patrols etc on 35-37's driving them, so a 28" tyre is a problem but ~31 is ok.

As were all saying, it's all about who you're driving with and where you're driving. for my local terrain, gearing is mandatory pretty much regardless of tyre size, but not everywhere is steep and if you're often driving sand, there's no point to a super low low range.
If you're driving with mildly setup bigger cars you won't really need more than a 28" tyre, but if you're driving with other suzuki's, have a look at what the people that drive the terrain you're interested in are driving.

(It goes without saying you should never go 4WDing by yourself - hence the reason it's all about what the other people in your group are driving)