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There’s a truth about trucks, be they powered by small-blocks, turbo-diesels, or battery packs the size of a Manhattan loft, that the romance fades when the weather turns ugly.
It’s the humble square foot of rubber standing between you, your family, and a one-way slide into a guardrail. Which brings us to a corner of the internet where regular folks on Facebook groups compare tire sizes late into the night.
“Winter is coming….
When looking for three peak snowflake rated tires, since no 24s are available, I was conflicted on what rims to get: GMC 18’s or aftermarket 20’s. Although I liked the look of the GMC rims better, I could not find an 18” dedicated winter tire in a size that fit and maintained the diameter for the Speedo. Could have gone with three peak/snowflake all-terrain 18” tires though….still not sure I made the right choice, trips up the mountain for skiing will tell.
Ultimately ended up with what I hope will be better on mountain winter roads here in BC- 20” after-market wheels (with a 30 mm offset vs the stock 35) and winter Bridgestone Blizzak tires LT 275 65 R 20.
The wheels -Fast Wheels brand EV08 are not my favourite for looks, but going for function over form. They have removable plastic inserts for spokes and also inserts for around rims. Supposed to improve efficiency, we will see. The pic below has the spoke inserts removed. Might remove the rim ones too.
In terms of ride on this 2025 Denali Max, have to admit not sure I can tell the difference. Tire pressures are now the same as stock recommendations at 61/68 psi. Efficiency so far is around 10% less than normal at 2.7 km/kWh. I was getting 3.1-3.2 on the stock tires. Hoping this will improve as the wears.
What are others doing for three-peak snowflake tires?”
That’s Grant Needham, posting in the GMC Sierra EV Group, working through a dilemma as old as winter motoring itself, whether to buy what looks right or what works right. His Denali Max represents the sharp edge of General Motors’ EV engineering: a full-size pickup capable of hauling, towing, and cosseting its driver in leather and silence. But even the most technologically advanced truck can’t outrun physics on a snowy British Columbia mountain road. That’s where choices like Needham’s matter.
GMC Sierra EV Horsepower And Torque Ratings
- Delivers a stunning 754 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque for rapid acceleration and heavy-duty performance.
- Offers an EPA-estimated range of 390-460 miles, with the Denali trim reaching up to 440 miles on a single charge.
- Capable of adding approximately 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes at a 350kW DC fast-charging station.
- Features a versatile Midgate that extends the truck bed into the cabin for hauling oversized items with ease.
The solution was pragmatic, not cosmetic. He bolted up a set of 20-inch Fast Wheels EV08s wrapped in Bridgestone Blizzak LT 275/65R20s, giving up some efficiency for proven winter performance. He admits the wheels aren’t his favorite, “function over form” was his verdict, but the Blizzak name carries weight earned over decades of icy commutes and ski hill approaches. The removable aero inserts, designed to eke out marginal efficiency gains, are a curiosity; whether they actually deliver is a story the season will tell.
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Other owners weighed in quickly. Mario Santerre praised the setup, “Love those wheels, thanks for posting the info, I’ll order those with Blizzaks to put on my AT4”, while Jesse Barth, checking in from Vermont’s back roads, offered his own path: 18-inch Hummer EV rims paired with Toyo Open Country LT285/50R18s, also three-peak snowflake rated. This kind of exchange demonstrates the grassroots knowledge-sharing that has always defined truck culture, now adapted to the EV age.
Are Bigger Wheels Always Better?
Needham himself admitted that the 18-inch route was on the table. But in the end, the clearance of the 20s and the reliability of Blizzaks won out. When another member, Shaun Dylan, asked the most grounded of questions, “How much were the rims?”, the answer was straightforward: 450 Canadian dollars each. Practical data, shared openly, becomes the lifeblood of these communities, giving other owners real-world numbers to work with.
Of course, there’s a cost beyond dollars. Needham reported a drop in efficiency, from 3.1–3.2 km/kWh on the stock setup, down to 2.7 with the Blizzaks. That’s roughly a 10 percent hit in driving range, significant for any EV owner. Yet the tradeoff is simple to understand: range is theoretical, traction is survival. No matter how sophisticated the Sierra EV’s software or motors may be, it still rests on four patches of rubber, and winter demands those patches be purpose-built.
GMC Sierra EV Cabin Technology
- Premium cabin design with high-quality materials, a large infotainment screen, and advanced technology features.
- Equipped with Super Cruise for hands-free driving and an advanced trailering system for enhanced towing safety and convenience.
- Available with an AT4 trim that includes all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and specialized off-road drive modes.
- Positioned as a premium electric truck with a starting MSRP in the high $90,000s, reflecting its luxury and performance.
What emerges here isn’t just a story about one man’s winter prep. It’s a snapshot of early electric truck ownership, where drivers are both consumers and pioneers, testing solutions the factory hasn’t fully solved and sharing results in real time. The Sierra EV is, by any measure, a great truck, powerful, refined, and forward-looking. But as Needham’s post illustrates, greatness is tested not on spec sheets but on icy inclines and snowy descents.
And so, the lesson repeats itself as it always has in the history of the automobile: the engineering marvel in your driveway is only as good as the rubber beneath it. The GMC Sierra EV may point the way to the future, but its owners are writing the present, one wheel choice, one Facebook thread, one snow-covered mountain pass at a time.
Have you encountered something like this before?
Let us know in the comments below!
Image Sources: GMC Media Center
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
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Source: torquenews.com
