Bought new wheels for the Tahoe (again!)

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Dec 7, 2012
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Back in Dec of last year, I bought a brand new Genuine set of 22" GM Black wheels (SGM option code) and Toyo Open Country AT3 tires in 275/50/22 for my 2024 Tahoe. The wheels were very pretty and the tires had great traction in the snow. BUT... I could NOT get a horrible high speed vibration out of them. It aggravated me to all get out. I had them rebalanced 2x beyond the initial mount and balance and still... SHAKE. Even one time was a Roadforce (but no printout.. so I probably got scammed).

So I thought I'd try some new tires. I bought new Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent tires in 275/50/22 and had them mounted and balanced. Unfortunately same situation. Nice tires, really liked them in the 1 day of snow we got. Before I put these back on the truck, I noticed one wheel had 7.5oz of weight, where others only had maybe 2-3oz.

So that was new wheels, new tires, mount and balance (1), re-balance (2), re-balance alleged Roadforce (3), mount and balance new tires again (4).

So I am figuring one of two possibilities:
(a) bent wheel, or damaged in shipping
(b) no one knows how to balance the 22" GM wheels with a lot of offset

I read a lot online, and GM TSBs about how these newer 22" GM wheels needs a specific cone for balancing to make sure the wheel is square on the balancer. So I honestly gave up and said enough of this nonsense and decided to part ways with these wheels and tires, sell them locally and buy something else.

Went back down to 20" wheels as I'm a little afraid that maybe a 22" is too hard to balance... (I don't know I'm just thinking out loud) and the sidewall additional cushion is nice. Bought my first ever set of aftermarket wheels. I have for ages been a stickler for OE only wheels but decided to try something else. Fuel Flux 6 in 20"x9" with a +20mm offset. About 8mm more than OE. I did really like the Dueler A/T Ascent with 3PMSF rating, so I wrapped them in another set, this time 275/60/20.

Probably the best part. They do not shake. They are smooth at 75-80 mph. I am so happy and I really love this wheel design.

I am going to finish up with saying, I have put in the work and am so sick of dealing with tires, ugh!

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Had no idea these rims were that finicky to balance. I guess I'll have to go to the dealer to balance my escalades 22's once I get new tires which will be next year maybe 2 more years as it's at 45k miles so far. Did you keep the factory set or did those get sold?
 
Back in Dec of last year, I bought a brand new Genuine set of 22" GM Black wheels (SGM option code) and Toyo Open Country AT3 tires in 275/50/22 for my 2024 Tahoe. The wheels were very pretty and the tires had great traction in the snow. BUT... I could NOT get a horrible high speed vibration out of them. It aggravated me to all get out. I had them rebalanced 2x beyond the initial mount and balance and still... SHAKE. Even one time was a Roadforce (but no printout.. so I probably got scammed).

So I thought I'd try some new tires. I bought new Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent tires in 275/50/22 and had them mounted and balanced. Unfortunately same situation. Nice tires, really liked them in the 1 day of snow we got. Before I put these back on the truck, I noticed one wheel had 7.5oz of weight, where others only had maybe 2-3oz.

So that was new wheels, new tires, mount and balance (1), re-balance (2), re-balance alleged Roadforce (3), mount and balance new tires again (4).

So I am figuring one of two possibilities:
(a) bent wheel, or damaged in shipping
(b) no one knows how to balance the 22" GM wheels with a lot of offset

I read a lot online, and GM TSBs about how these newer 22" GM wheels needs a specific cone for balancing to make sure the wheel is square on the balancer. So I honestly gave up and said enough of this nonsense and decided to part ways with these wheels and tires, sell them locally and buy something else.

Went back down to 20" wheels as I'm a little afraid that maybe a 22" is too hard to balance... (I don't know I'm just thinking out loud) and the sidewall additional cushion is nice. Bought my first ever set of aftermarket wheels. I have for ages been a stickler for OE only wheels but decided to try something else. Fuel Flux 6 in 20"x9" with a +20mm offset. About 8mm more than OE. I did really like the Dueler A/T Ascent with 3PMSF rating, so I wrapped them in another set, this time 275/60/20.

Probably the best part. They do not shake. They are smooth at 75-80 mph. I am so happy and I really love this wheel design.

I am going to finish up with saying, I have put in the work and am so sick of dealing with tires, ugh!

View attachment 275197

View attachment 275198
The 20s look great.
 
Had no idea these rims were that finicky to balance. I guess I'll have to go to the dealer to balance my escalades 22's once I get new tires which will be next year maybe 2 more years as it's at 45k miles so far. Did you keep the factory set or did those get sold?
I gave them to my Dad for his W/T 2022 Silverado. The OE 20” Z71 wheels look good on it. Much better than his factory 17” steel wheels.

Here’s some info on what GM says for wheel and tires on new stuff. And the communication with the wheel seller (I still think they sold a bad wheel but I’m past any eBay help).

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I agree these 20's do look better than the 22's after looking at an older post. The extra tire profile goes well with the z71 aesthetic though I'll always be a big chrome guy but that looks really good and I'd be satisfied with it.
 
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What was wrong with the factory wheels in the first place?
Going into winter, I realized how poorly the Goodyear Wrangler Territory A/T were in the snow. So I at least wanted to new tires. And I had always wanted new wheels. I was not a huge fan of the “technical grey pockets” on the OE 20” wheel. They did not match the Z71 asthetic of all trim black with body color. That wheel should’ve been black with machined aluminum faces.
 
My boss and friend purchased a used Yukon XL which came with OE 22s. He couldn’t get them to balance and figured out that 3 of the wheels were out of round. They are very thin metal. He doesn’t like aftermarket but was shocked beyond belief at the cost of a set of OE 22s, especially knowing that they bend so easily.

I showed him what a set of 20” enkeis would look like, and he got really nervous, keyed in the order and made me hit the “submit” button. He got the 20” enkeis mounted and LOVES THEM. 20’s ride better and handle better on the XL.

I think the 22s fail sound requirements by a margin.

Also, @redhat, how do you like the bridgestone ascents? Steering? Noise? Wet? These are at or near the top of my list.
 
Also, @redhat, how do you like the bridgestone ascents? Steering? Noise? Wet? These are at or near the top of my list.
I REALLY like this tire… a lot. So I had the on the 22s and even though they shook (no fault of the tire) they were a comfortable tire, very compliant and quiet. A touch of road noise… to be expected with any A/T but very little. Nothing like an Off-Road A/T. I only drove in one 2-4” snow day and they were leaps and bounds ahead of the OE Goodyears Territory AT and I’d say even better than the Open Country AT3. They have a lot of siping in the tread blocks and a nice pattern-I’d assume that’s where that good traction and no slip is coming from.

Wet- I did great in rain. On 65mph thruway/highway with moderate rain, never felt like I was loosing control or hydroplaning.

Steering. The 22s maybe were a touch more complaint than the 20s in steering. But again, not a big enough margin. Would make sense with less sidewall.

So after going back to the 20s with the same tires I’ll say that the ride quality is night and day better. More sidewall meat = a lot less bumps are felt.

Definitely check these tires out, I’m happy they’re 3PMSF and intent to run them year round.
 
I REALLY like this tire… a lot. So I had the on the 22s and even though they shook (no fault of the tire) they were a comfortable tire, very compliant and quiet. A touch of road noise… to be expected with any A/T but very little. Nothing like an Off-Road A/T. I only drove in one 2-4” snow day and they were leaps and bounds ahead of the OE Goodyears Territory AT and I’d say even better than the Open Country AT3. They have a lot of siping in the tread blocks and a nice pattern-I’d assume that’s where that good traction and no slip is coming from.

Wet- I did great in rain. On 65mph thruway/highway with moderate rain, never felt like I was loosing control or hydroplaning.

Steering. The 22s maybe were a touch more complaint than the 20s in steering. But again, not a big enough margin. Would make sense with less sidewall.

So after going back to the 20s with the same tires I’ll say that the ride quality is night and day better. More sidewall meat = a lot less bumps are felt.

Definitely check these tires out, I’m happy they’re 3PMSF and intent to run them year round.
Thank you - helpful!
 
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