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The Exact Bolt Pattern Of A Chevy Silverado 2500HD

The Exact Bolt Pattern Of A Chevy Silverado 2500HD

We’ve written extensively about the Chevy Silverado 2500HD and numerous questions you can have about this car. Today, we will discuss the information you need to select the correct new tires or rims for your Silverado 2500HD. Specifically, we’ll take a look at the bolt pattern for each generation. Let’s start with a quick answer:

Generations of the Chevy Silverado 2500HD manufactured between 2001 – 2010 have a bolt pattern of 8×165.1mm (8×6.5″). Silverado 2500HD manufactured between 2011 – Present have a bolt pattern of 8x180mm.

However, that certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we’ve outlined the bolt pattern in more detail for each generation. We also discuss what lugs/bolts are used precisely, the exact diameter of the center bore hub and the torque specifications of the bolts. Finally, we also have information about each engine type’s exact tire size and rim size. You should know precisely what you can and cannot buy this way. Read on!

Wheel Fitment Specifications Per Generation

To fit a wheel properly on your Silverado 2500HD, you’ll need to know more aspects than just the bolt pattern. Below we’ve outlined all the factors you should be aware of for each generation of the Silverado 2500HD. These include: center bore diameter, wheel tightening torque, whether lug nuts or bolts are used, and the thread size of the bolts.

We also want to clarify that the below-listed specifications are the same for all models within that generation. The Silverado 2500HD, of course, comes in different trim levels and engine options. However, these bolt patterns, lugs used, and torque specifications do not change for other models within a generation.

Furthermore, we also listed the exact tire and rim size used with each engine option to give you a precise idea of what tires you can and cannot buy.

For the gearheads out there, you might want to check out this little experiment that someone did with a Silverado 2500 and 31″ tires:

2001 – 2010 Tire And Rim Size

Chevy Silverado 2500HD manufactured between 2001 – 2010 have a bolt pattern of 8×165.1mm (8×6.5″), a center bore of 116.6mm, and eight lug nuts with a thread size of M14 x 1.5 that need to be tightened with 140 lb-ft (190Nm) of force.

  • Silverado 2500HD with a 6.0, 6.6 or 8.1L engine have a standard tire size of LT245/75R16 and a rim size of 6.5Jx16 ET28.
  • Silverado 2500HD manufactured between 2007 – 2010 also have the following extra options:
    – 6.0L engine: tire size of 265/70R17 and a rim size of 7.5Jx17 ET28
    – 6.6L engine: tire size of LT265/70R17 and a rim size of 7.5Jx17 ET28

2011 – 2019 Tire And Rim Size

Chevy Silverado 2500HD, manufactured between 2011 – 2019, have a bolt pattern of 8x180mm, a center bore of 124.1mm, and eight lug nuts with a thread size of M14 x 1.5 that need to be tightened with 140 lb-ft (190Nm) of force.

  • Silverado 2500HD with a 6.0 or 6.6L engine have a standard tire size of LT245/75R17, LT265/70R17 or LT265/70R18 and a rim size of 7.5Jx17 ET44, or 8Jx18 ET44.

2020 – 2021 Tire And Rim Size

Silverado 2500HD have the same wheel fitment specifications as the 2011 – 2019 generation mentioned earlier.

  • Silverado 2500HD with a 6.6TD and 6.6i engine have a standard tire size of LT245/75R17, LT265/70R17 or LT275/70R18 and a rim size of 7.5Jx17 ET44 or 8Jx18 ET44. The 6.6i engine also has an option for LT275/65R20 tires and a 8.5Jx20 ET47 rim size.

Retightening The Bolts

As said before, all generations of the Silverado 2500HD that we discussed have eight (high-duty) lug nuts. These need to be secured in a specific way when you mount the wheel to the car again. This information is stated in the owner’s manual, but we’ve gone through the effort of instructing you here. Chevrolet advises you to bolt these nuts in the way shown below and this same pattern is used across a variety of Chevy models. You have to follow a crisscross pattern.

eight lug bolt pattern

You do this by tightening all the nuts with a wheel wrench first. Please make sure only to tighten them halfway; otherwise, you’ll run into problems.

In the second round, you tighten them with the wheel wrench to the appropriate lbs-ft or Nm that we’ve stated earlier. Please note that the current Silverado 2500HD needs to have the bolts tightened to 140 lb-ft, which is very tight.

It’s expected that your wheels also have a center cap or cover, and these need to be secured in the same pattern. Please tighten them first-hand snug with your hands. Then, use the wheel wrench to tighten them another one-quarter turn.

It’s also important to check if the lug nuts are still secured after 30 miles (48 kilometers). Please ensure they are all in place and tightened with the proper force. If not, tighten them again and recheck. If this keeps happening, you’ll need to replace the wheel.

When Or Why To Rotate/Change Tires

If you’re looking to replace your tires, it’s also essential to know precisely when to rotate and change tires. Changing a tire should happen every time the tread wear indicators become visible, as indicated in the image below. This occurs when the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or less tread remaining. With most tires of the Chevy Silverado 2500HD, this means they will need to be replaced every 60,000 – 75,000 miles or 4-5 years.

image explaining tire thread depth

Another moment when you’ll need to take off the lug nuts of the wheels or when you need to replace tires is when you’re rotating them. In the owner’s manual of the Chevy Silverado 2500HD, it’s stated that tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) if it has single rear wheels.

Furthermore, it’s advised that you rotate those tires in the exact way shown in the image below. You move the front tires to the rear and the back tires to the front while switching sides.

tire rotation pattern

If the vehicle has dual rear wheels (except for polished forged aluminum wheels), it’s advised you follow the following rotation pattern.

tire rotation pattern of dual rear wheel vehicles

Vehicles with polished forged aluminum wheels have a unique front, rear outer, and rear inner wheel. These need to be rotated according to the following image since you can’t rotate the position of the tire on the car itself.

tire rotation pattern of dual rear wheel vehicles with polished forged aluminium wheels

With this particular setup, the spare wheel can be used in any position in the event of a flat tire. It can be rotated with the rear inner wheels. After reparation of the flat tire, and if the spare is not in one of the inner rear positions, it must be replaced by the correct wheel in the front or rear outer position.

When installing dual wheels, check that the vent holes in each side’s inner and outer wheels are lined up.

Even though tire problems aren’t the main issue facing the Silverado 2500, you still need to know to properly maintain and rotate your tires.

Closing Thoughts

We’ve taken a deep dive into the world of bolt patterns for your Chevy Silverado 2500HD. We’ve broken down the bolt patterns for each generation, shedding light on the precise lugs and bolts used, the diameter of the center bore hub, and the specific torque specifications. While we didn’t compare to other Silverado generations too much, you can learn more about the 6-lug pattern on the 1500 here.

Equipped with this knowledge, you’re now ready to make informed decisions about new tires or rims for your Silverado 2500HD.

But remember, bolt patterns are just one aspect of your vehicle and the often problematic transmission of the 2500 is another big issue to be aware of.

The more you know about your vehicle, the better you can keep it running smoothly and efficiently. So, keep exploring, keep learning, and enjoy the drive!

Sources

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