The Silverado 1500 is one of the easiest trucks to shop wheels for. Its bolt pattern is shared by a long list of trucks and SUVs, so there are plenty of wheels to choose from. It is also easy to get wrong, because a wheel that bolts on is not automatically a wheel that fits. This guide covers the numbers that decide it on 2014 and newer trucks, which account for most Silverados being upgraded today. Earlier trucks share the same bolt pattern and bore, but factory sizes differ.
The specs: 6x139.7, 78.1mm, M14x1.5
The Silverado 1500 uses a 6x139.7 bolt pattern, the same pattern many listings write as 6x5.5. That is the most common six-lug pattern on light trucks, so the catalog for it is large. It is not the Ford pattern: F-150s use 6x135, and the two are not interchangeable. The bolt pattern guide explains why a few millimeters decide it.
The hub bore is 78.1mm. Wheels built for the GM pattern are commonly bored to 78.1 exactly, which makes them hub-centric on the truck. Universal wheels drilled for several 6x139.7 vehicles often use a larger bore to clear Toyota and Nissan hubs as well, and they center on the lug nuts unless you add a ring. The center bore guide covers when a ring is worth adding.
| Spec | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | 6x139.7 (6x5.5) | Shared with Sierra 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon |
| Hub bore | 78.1mm | Larger bores need a hub-centric ring to center on the hub |
| Lug thread | M14x1.5 | Match the nut seat to the aftermarket wheel |
| Factory lug torque | 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) | Recent model years; confirm in your owner's manual |
What the factory runs
Silverado 1500 factory wheels run a positive offset in the +24 to +28mm range, 8 to 9 inches wide. The biggest change between generations is the tire. The 2014 to 2018 trucks mostly left the factory on tires about 31 to 32 inches tall. The 2019 and newer trucks moved to taller tires on the 20-inch option, which changes how much of an upgrade a 33 really is.
| Generation | Factory wheel | Factory tire | Approx. overall diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2018 | 17x8 +24 | 265/70R17 | 31.6 in |
| 2014–2018 | 18x8.5 +24 | 265/65R18 | 31.6 in |
| 2014–2018 | 20x9 +27 | 275/55R20 | 31.9 in |
| 2019–present | 17x8 +24 | 255/70R17 | 31.1 in |
| 2019–present | 18x8.5 +26 | 265/65R18 | 31.6 in |
| 2019–present | 20x9 +28 | 275/60R20 | 33.0 in |
| 2019–present | 22x9 +28 | 275/50R22 | 32.8 in |
If your 2019-or-newer truck came on 275/60R20 tires, it already sits on a tire about 33 inches tall. A 33x12.50 on that truck is mostly a width change, not a height change. The door-jamb placard is the only reliable source for your exact size, and how to read a tire size explains the math behind the diameters above. Trail Boss and AT4-style trims ship with a factory lift and larger tires, so they start further along the ladder below.
Offset on a Silverado: what +24 to +28 means
Offset is how far the wheel's mounting face sits from its centerline. The factory +24 to +28mm keeps the wheel tucked under the fender. Lower offsets move it out:
- A +12mm wheel sits about 16mm (roughly 0.6 inch) further out than a +28mm wheel of the same width.
- A 0mm wheel sits about 28mm (roughly 1.1 inches) further out than a +28mm wheel.
- A negative offset such as -12mm on a 20x10 wheel pushes the tire well past the fender, which is the look many owners want and where most rubbing starts.
The wheel offset guide and backspacing vs offset cover the math in more depth.
Stock height
On an unmodified Silverado 1500, the lowest-risk upgrade is a slightly larger tire that stays close to factory width, on a wheel near factory offset. A 285/70R17 (about 32.7 inches) or a 285/55R20 (about 32.3 inches) is commonly run on stock trucks. A full 33x12.50 is wider, and that width is what tends to contact the front liner or air-dam area at full lock, especially with a lower offset.
Leveled (about 2 inches)
Like most half-tons, the Silverado sits lower in front than in back from the factory. A 2-inch leveling kit evens the stance and opens up the front wheel well, and it is the most common first modification.
33-inch tires on a leveled Silverado
A 33x12.50 on a leveled truck is a very common setup and, on wheels in roughly the +12 to +28mm range, it commonly fits with little or no rubbing. Popular pairings are 33x12.50R20 on a 20x9 for a street look, or a 17 or 18-inch wheel when you want more sidewall.
35-inch tires on a leveled Silverado
Some leveling kits are marketed as clearing 35s, and many trucks do run them. Expect some trimming of the front liner or air-dam area, and expect it to depend heavily on offset and wheel width. A near-factory offset and a 9-inch-wide wheel keep the tire tucked; a wide negative-offset wheel on a leveled truck is where rubbing is most often reported. A 35x12.50R20 is roughly 3 to 4 inches taller than most factory tires, so the speedometer will read noticeably low until recalibrated.
Lifted (4 inches and up)
A true suspension lift is where 35-inch tires stop being a compromise. On a 4 to 6 inch lift, 35s on 20x9 or 20x10 wheels with offsets from around -12 to +18mm are the usual target. 37s generally call for a 6-inch-plus lift and often still need trimming at full lock. The 33s vs 35s vs 37s vs 40s guide covers the weight, ride and fuel-economy trade-offs of each step up, and the lift and offset guide covers how the two work together.
| Ride height | Typical tire | Wheel offset range | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 285/70R17 or 285/55R20 (~32.5 in) | Near factory (+18 to +28) | Usually clean |
| Stock | 33x12.50 | Near factory | May rub at full lock |
| 2 in level | 33x12.50 | +12 to +28 | Commonly fits with little or no rubbing |
| 2 in level | 35x12.50 | +18 to +28 | Trimming commonly needed |
| 4–6 in lift | 35x12.50 | -12 to +18 | The usual target size |
| 6 in+ lift | 37x12.50 / 37x13.50 | Varies by kit | Trimming at full lock is common |
Match the wheel width to the tire
Every tire has an approved rim-width range published by its maker. A 33x12.50 or 35x12.50 is typically approved for rims around 8.5 to 11 inches wide, which is why 20x9 and 20x10 are the most common Silverado upgrade sizes. Check the specific tire's spec sheet before pairing a 12.50-width tire with a 12-inch-wide wheel, where many fall outside the approved range.
Common Silverado fitment mistakes
- Assuming every 6x139.7 wheel is made for a Silverado. Bore size and load rating vary by what the wheel was built for.
- Leaving out hub-centric rings on a universal wheel with a large bore, then chasing a vibration.
- Reusing factory lug nuts on an aftermarket wheel with a different seat type.
- Buying "33s" for a 2019-or-newer 20-inch truck that already runs a 33-inch-tall factory tire.
- Skipping the re-torque after the first 50 to 100 miles on new wheels.
Sierra 1500 owners
The GMC Sierra 1500 is built on the same platform, with the same bolt pattern, bore, lug thread and similar factory offsets. Almost everything above applies to it, with factory tire sizes varying by trim. You can browse wheels and tires listed for the Sierra 1500 as well.
Putting it together
Start from how high the truck sits and how it is used, then pick the tire, then the wheel. For a daily driver, a leveled truck on 33s with an offset near factory is the least-compromise upgrade. If a lift is coming later, buy wheels in the offset range that suits the lift so you don't pay for wheels twice. You can browse 18-inch, 20-inch and 22-inch wheels listed for the Silverado 1500, or build a mounted wheel and tire package and choose each part in one place.