The Silverado 1500 ZR2 has a grumpier face than lesser trims, but below the grill is where the business starts. The bumper’s corners are trimmed back to aid the approach angle (32.5 degrees), while the rear gets the same treatment for the departure angle (23.4 degrees). The bumpers also get red tow eyelets, while the rear bumper loses exit holes for the exhausts as they are re-routed to reduce the chances of getting snagged on obstacles. The fenders are no wider than a regular Silverado’s, although there’s some extra cladding on the edges for protection.
33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory mud-terrain tires are standard on the ZR2, and help with grip but also to raise the ride height. The Silverado ZR2 has 11.2 inches of ground clearance – three inches more than standard Silverados.
Our tester for the week was the ZR2 Bison Edition, which boasts steel AEV stamped-steel bumpers fore and aft, gloss black 18-inch wheels, and steel skid plates for the front and rear differential, transfer case, and fuel tank. The ZR2 Bison Edition also gets a Multi-Flex tailgate.