Legal 35s on a Silverado 1500: How Offroad Industries Makes It Possible in Australia

Most Silverado 1500 owners in Australia know their truck can look the part on 35s. What they don’t always know is that you can run them legally.

4250kg GVM, 1672kg payload, 35-inch tyres, and a 3.5-inch lift — this is what a Stage 4 ZR2 looks like when it's done right.

Offroad Industries Stage 4 GVM upgrade for the Chevy Silverado 1500 can make that happen. 3.5-inch lift, 35-inch tyres, a payload increase over one tonne, what is there not to like. Here’s why the Stage 4 is the Silverado 1500 GVM upgrade most builds end up on.

Running 35s on a Silverado 1500: Why Stage 4 is the One

The Chevy Silverado 1500 sits on a factory GVM of 3300kg. That sounds reasonable until you start modifying it — bull bar, long range fuel, a set of 35s, and towing 4000kg. You’re overloaded before you’ve even left the driveway.

Stage 4 solves both sides of that problem at once. The 3.5-inch lift gives more clearance to run 35-inch tyres and no compromised steering geometry. And the 4250kg GVM upgrade gives you 1672kg of payload to play with. That’s the combination most Silverado 1500 owners are looking for.

Up on the hoist getting the Stage 4 treatment — BDS suspension, FOX shocks, and a GVM certification that pushes payload past the one-tonne mark.

Silverado 1500 Stage 4 GVM Upgrade: Full Specs

This is what the ORI Stage 4 delivers on an Australian-delivered GMSV LTZ, Trailboss, or ZR2 Silverado 1500:

Spec	Details
GVM	4,250 kg (up from 3,300 kg factory)
GCM	8,750 kg
Payload	1,672 kg
Lift	3.5 inches
Tyre Size	295/70 R18 | 35x12.5 R18
Approval	Federally approved under VTA-064440

Key components:

• Fox 2.5 Performance Elite DSC Coilovers (Front)

• Fox 2.5 Performance Elite DSC Shocks (Rear)

• BDS Control Arms

• ORI 200kg Rear Leaf Spring Pack

• ORI 400kg Rear Leaf Spring Pack

• Professional install & wheel alignment

Can You Legally Run 35s on a Silverado 1500 in Australia?

Yes — with the right setup. And this is exactly it.

The Stage 4 lift of 3.5 inches gives the Silverado 1500 enough clearance to run 35-inch tyres. The kit also includes BDS Control Arms, which correct the suspension geometry at that lift height — so you’re not just going higher, you’re maintaining proper caster angle, steering feel, and stability under load.

35-inch tyres on a truck with over a tonne of legal payload — the Stage 4 kit lifts the ZR2 without compromising what it can actually carry.

Because the GVM upgrade is federally approved under VTA-064440 and installed pre-registration as a Second Stage of Manufacture (SSM), the vehicle remains ADR compliant across every Australian state and territory. That means your 35s, your lift, and your increased GVM are all legal from day one - no grey areas.

What the 3.5-Inch Lift Actually Does for Your Silverado

A 3.5-inch lift is the sweet spot for the Silverado 1500. It’s a meaningful ground clearance improvement for off-road use, and with BDS Control Arms correcting the geometry, it doesn’t come at the cost of how the truck drives on the road.

This isn’t just about aesthetics — though there’s no denying a Silverado 1500 ZR2 on 35s with 3.5 inches of lift looks pretty mean. The extra clearance genuinely changes what the truck is capable of on dirt, and the corrected geometry means it still drives properly when you’re loaded up and on the highway.

BDS upper control arms correct the geometry that a 3.5-inch lift introduces.

The Fox 2.5 Performance Elite DSC shocks front and rear are doing the heavy lifting here. The DSC (Dual Speed Compression) adjuster lets you tune the damping for your conditions — softer for corrugated tracks, firmer for highway towing. It’s a shock that adapts to how you’re using the truck rather than forcing a compromise.

Fox 2.5 Performance Elite DSC: Why It Suits the Silverado 1500 on 35s

The Performance Elite DSC is a step above the standard Performance Elite. The addition of the Dual Speed Compression adjuster means you can tune the shock’s response to suit your load and terrain.

For a Silverado 1500 that’s being used as a bit of a touring setup — potentially towing, covering a mix of sealed highways and dirt tracks — the DSC adjuster is genuinely useful. Set it softer for the corrugations, firm it up when you’re loaded and towing on the highway.

FOX Performance Elite remote reservoir on the rear — more fluid volume means the shock stays consistent whether the truck is empty or loaded to its 1672kg payload limit.

Important Notes Before You Buy

This package suits Australian GMSV-delivered Silverado 1500 LTZ, Trailboss, and ZR2 variants. Post-registration installs may require separate engineering certification, not included in pricing. Load-rated wheels and tyres are not included — 35x12.5 R18 with appropriate load rating required. There's an additional cost to the install, if you wish to get 35s with this GVM upgrade.

Silverado 1500 on 35s: Frequently Asked Questions

What tyres can I run on the Silverado 1500 with the Stage 4 GVM upgrade?

Stage 4 is rated for 35x12.5 R18. You’ll need aftermarket wheels with an appropriate load rating. The team at BAW can advise on compatible wheel specs for your build.

Do I need a GVM upgrade to run 35s on a Silverado 1500?

Yes. The GVM upgrade is part that makes the whole setup legal on Australian roads.

Is the Stage 4 GVM upgrade available post-registration?

Yes, though post-registration installs may require separate state engineering certification, which is not included in kit pricing.

Silverado 1500 on 35s: Final Thoughts

The Silverado 1500 on 35s isn’t just a look. With the Offroad Industries Stage 4 GVM upgrade, it’s a properly engineered, federally certified setup that gives you the lift height, tyre clearance, and legal carrying capacity to actually build the truck the way it deserves to be built.

Book a free quote with the team at BAW Automotive in Brisbane and we’ll walk you through exactly what Stage 4 looks like for your specific build.