The current fourth-generation GMC Sierra 1500 launched for the 2019 model year, and as GM Authority exclusively covered in August, the next-generation GMC Sierra 1500 is just over the horizon, with the latest estimates pointing towards a splashdown for the 2027 model year. Last month, GM Authority listed several key changes and improvements we’d like to see from the next-gen Sierra. Upon further thought, one of the items on that list, namely the 24-inch wheels, can be brought to market quickly and relatively easily, even before the launch of the next-gen model.
24-Inch Selective Machined Wheel With After Midnight Metallic Paint (RF4)
Currently, the largest wheels available for the GMC Sierra 1500 are sized at 22 inches in diameter. However, GM could easily elevate the model’s aesthetic appeal by offering the 24-inch rims already available for the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali. These wheels, identified by RPO codes RF3 and RF4, come in two distinctive styles:
- RF3: Selective Machined and Painted Pearl Nickel Wheel
- RF4: Selective Machined Wheel with After Midnight Metallic Paint
In order to offer these wheels for the GMC Sierra 1500, GM would really only need to do two basic things – first, increase the supply from its current wheel supplier, and second, implement a minor suspension or chassis recalibration to ensure that units of the Sierra 1500 equipped with the new 24-inch wheels maintain the optimal performance and ride quality.
24-Inch Selective Machined And Painted Pearl Nickel Wheel (RF3)
The costs associated with this change would be minimal, especially compared to the potential appeal and differentiation it would bring to higher trims. It’s essentially an opportunity for GM to enhance the premium appearance of the Sierra Denali and establish 24-inch wheels as a standard feature on the Sierra Denali Ultimate, all while offering these plus-sized rollers as an option on other trims.
With quick implementation and high visual impact, adding 24-inch wheels to the Sierra lineup is a simple yet effective enhancement GM should prioritize, even before the launch of the next-gen model. For customers seeking premium aesthetics and performance, it seems like a no-brainer.
Would you like to see the Yukon’s 24-inch wheels on the GMC Sierra 1500? Let us know by voting in the poll!
Comments
bigger wheel = lower sidewall = poor ride quality
no amount of suspension tuning and/or chassis calibration can change that there’s now less rubber between your 5000 lb truck and the road.
Haven’t driven anything with a 24 inch wheel and a properly tuned tire eh?
The 2025 FSSUVs ride better on 24s than they do on 22s. Yes, I’m aware of the differences in suspension hardware for those models when compared to the trucks.
I have driven the 25 FSSUV as I work at a dealer. They look amazing I’ll give you that, but the ride quality is not as good as the 20’s or 22’s. Even with the upgraded suspension components, there is a noticeable difference.
Not sure what you’ve driven. I drove the 2025 Tahoe and Suburban on the new 24s during the media event and the ride quality is on par with 22s, if not better.
Regardless of our opinion about ride quality, do realize that there is a substantial demand for 24s on these trucks. GM would simply be filling existing market demand.
Totally agree with you. I had 22” on my high country and the ride couldn’t compare to my Denali with 20” wheels. Way smoother because there is more rubber. And they are just as high.
Don’t you mean between your 5000 lb. Truck and that pothole?
How in the hell did this fixation on huge wheels get started? They make for a heavier, even though the tire is theoretically lighter, wheel tire combination with the center of mass further out. That means greater rotational inertia, which means poorer acceleration, braking and efficiency/milage. Beyond that, it complicates suspension dynamics having that additional unsprung weight. And, you loose the impact damping from the tire sidewalls. Big wheels are just plain dumb. Give me the smallest wheel that will fit around the brakes.
The Yukon can get away with urban bling 24’s because the rear coils will dampen the blow better than the leaf springs. Low profile tires on trucks are past the pinnacle for desirability – for practical reasons mostly. Also, depending on where you park it, you may come out to find your truck on a set of cinder blocks.
“….relatively easily,”??
Explain how?
There’s nothing “easy” about releasing a new, safety critical component.
This author is not good. Losing respect for this site.
Do tell us more!
The author did great. I’m sorry to say but I visit here less often due to how rude and ignorant the comments are anymore. It’s a shame how much hatred there is.
“Selective Machined Wheel with After Midnight Metallic Paint”
# sakes, this is a TRUCK not an art show!
“Implement a minor suspension or chassis recalibration to ensure that units of the Sierra 1500 equipped with the new 24-inch wheels maintain the optimal performance and ride quality.”
You want ride quality on bicycle sidewalls?
“Customers seeking premium aesthetics and performance”
… will be disappointed by both. Any pothole or curb will be a $1500+ fix (versus something a truck should barely notice).
Counters:
“# sakes, this is a TRUCK not an art show!”
I thought it was common knowledge that a lot of trucks these days are purchased by those who don’t really need to use them as a truck, but rather a regular vehicle that’s unladen most of the time, but that is used to haul or tow on occasion. This is especially true for Denali and Denali Ultimate. So from that standpoint, it’s more about the truck being “an art show” than anything else.
“You want ride quality on bicycle sidewalls?”
“Any pothole or curb will be a $1500+ fix (versus something a truck should barely notice).”
Tell me you have never driven anything with this wheel diameter without telling me you have never driven anything with this wheel diameter.
The 2025 FSSUVs ride better on 24s than they do on 22s. Yes, I’m aware of the differences in suspension hardware for those models when compared to the trucks.
Alex, I usually align with your views but this one is just plain incorrect. First, if they are setting up the suspension to handle minimal amounts of rubber and not get damage at potholes (changing the dampening) and having a smoother ride to compensate for the larger rims, then they are comprising in other area, most notably handling and response. Second, all things equal, the smaller wheels with more tire will ride better, period. That is just physics, rubber has give, metal does not. I am horrible against larger wheels in most instances. We have seen what a 22 in wheel does on our Denali. Curb rash, decreased ride (we drove a Denali with 20’s and 22’s back to back), more expensive replacement cost which we are going through right now, worse mpg’s and acceleration. There is literally one area and it is subjective a 22 is king and that is looks to some. Otherwise, the handling aspect with having less tire to role is nearly offset with the heavier weight it needs to control the wheel motions. I just don’t get it, and that is even worse on offroad trims. The AT4 and Z71 SUV models should have 18’s, on the TB trucks the 20’s shouldn’t even be an option, it quite literally defeats the design purpose of the vehicle…
Having driven the Tahoe/Sub for two days on 24s, I can say I didn’t feel a negative difference in ride compared to the same vehicles on 22s.
But as I commented above, our opinion about ride quality is irrelevant given the real demand for 24s on these trucks. Customers are looking for a bigger wheel than 22s. A cursory search on google, instagram, etc. would show just how many 24s are not only offered but also installed on the Sierra and Silverado.
What is the cost difference between a 17 inch tire and a 24 inch tire? It would be a hard climb for my 70 year old wife to climb into a vehicle with 24 inch wheels.
Maybe I think to practical!
I will stay with the 15s on my S10 and the 17s on the Silverado. I can only imagine what those wagon wheels cost to replace
24 inch wheels on any vehicle is ridiculous! 20 inch wheels should be as big as they should be on trucks and SUVs. The ride quality sucks the bigger the wheel gets because you don’t have enough rubber to soften the blow of anything you run over, suspension will only do little to the impact. It’s just another gimmick for these manufacturers and the government to mark up the vehicle price and put more money in their pockets.
Anyone that buys a pickup with 24’s could have bought a ridgeline because there’s no way they are actually doing truck things with it.
I am legit throwing out some rage bait on this one. lol
Buy what you want whether it’s overkill or not, 24’s are sexy, just not great for doing work and hard truck things
What is the rolling diameter? A significant increase is similar to a rear axle gear change. Going larger will hurt performance, at least in acceleration. Replacement cost of these big tires is on par with trucks at $70-100 grand.
GM trucks should be on a 6 year product cycle, maximum. With a refresh after 3. No new product until 2027? Boring
Not a simple change for manufacturing. I am a GM retired assembly plant process tooling engineering manager. The article writer is wrong with the statement “costs associated with this change would be minimal”.
The Sierra LD pickup is produced in Fort Wayne Indiana. 1,000 miles away from the Yukon in Arlington, Texas. The mounting, inflating and balancing equipment used must be capable. It will require either modification ($$$) to 24 inch capability or worse yet, replacement ($$$). Some assembly plants outsource this process, others have the equipment inhouse. The manufacturing engineering folks need to source the 24 inch assemblies either way. If Arlington has additional capacity, they could ship by truck the assembled tire/wheels to Indiana. ($$) And don’t forget, each vehicle has 4 tires/wheels. Typical plant output is 60 JPH (jobs per hour) – 1 vehicle per minute, so you have 15 seconds to soap, mount, inflate and balance each tire. This equipment is complex and expensive!
The 24″s require the air ride (see “RST Capability Package”) which is not even optional on Silverado. They also won’t let you order a Silverado z71 with any wheel larger than 20″ so this one is probably not in the cards but I appreciate the effort!
If you buy a truck with 24’s how large is the spare? If it’s smaller, how much smaller. ?Can you drive your truck in 4×4 mode with a smaller tire ? If so , for how many miles before the warranty is voided ? Not to mention towing if you have a smaller tire .Big is better as long as there is an easy entry and exit along with no flat tire issues.
I wished they would just fix the transmission and electrical issues. I’ve been a GM fan most of my life but not anymore.
I absolutely love larger diameter wheels. To each their own!
Those who are bickering about ride quality are ones whenever nevr experienced a wheel over 18s. There really isn’t much difference. My 18 Denali didn’t suffer much coming from factory 20s to now 22s. I have 24s on order when spring comes.
I prefer the “sexy” look of the larger wheel diameter more than JACKING my truck 6 inches into the air to over compensate for my EGO, weight, or height!!!!
There is a difference, and it increases with wheel size. You ride in a truck with leaf springs with 18’s versus 22’s or got forbid 24’s, anyone will be able to tell a difference in ride quality. It is amplified when you significantly shrink down the amount of rubber.
Shrink the friggin grill……Emulate the mid-size GMC!!!!!!!!
Anyone who ever uses a truck to actually do truck stuff knows that you don’t want anything bigger than 20s.
We all know that the amount of buyers who actually use these for “real truck stuff” is not all that high on Denali/Denali Ultimate. That’s what Pro and/or Elevation is for.