Various tire sizes will fit on standard Ram 1500 wheels without making major suspension adjustments or altering its body. One popular size is 33-inch tires.
35-inch tires on stock wheels typically rub against the control arms and require pinch weld trimming. You can avoid this hassle by opting for high-clearance control arms with sufficient clearance.
Size
Installing larger tires on your truck is an effective way to both increase its off-road capability and enhance its appearance. But before upgrading, it’s essential to understand your stock suspension’s limits, how large of a tire you can fit safely, as well as which wheel and tire combination would best complement it.
A Ram 1500’s most giant tires that don’t require suspension modifications are 33 inches. This site will let you explore different off-road terrain while still maintaining full articulation and droop with its stock suspension system without needing any trimming of fenders or rub-reduction solutions.
On a Ram 1500, various tire sizes can be installed without rubbing against fenders or necessitating suspension modifications. 33-inch tires may fit on stock 15-inch rims without leveling kits or spacers being required; other trucks may require changes such as spacers for their wheels to clear correctly.
To select the ideal tire for your truck, it is crucial to inspect the DOT code on its sidewall. This code will provide valuable insight into its characteristics and performance, such as load rating and speed limit, plus whether or not the tire has an asymmetrical tread pattern.
Truck tires will display their DOT codes on their sidewalls along with their tire size in inches and aspect ratio. The aspect ratio represents how high up on the sidewall your tire stands – an important consideration if your truck will be used for hauling or trailering purposes.
The backspace of wheels should also be taken into consideration since this will determine how close they sit to your fender and whether there is enough clearance for brake calipers. If you wish for your wheels to sit flush against the fender, choose wheels with low backspace values.
Stock wheels on a second-generation Ram 1500 have very limited backspacing and do not permit fitting larger tires. A 285-70R17 tire will work with a 4″ lift kit but, at full lock turn, may come into contact with the front suspension; to avoid this rubbing issue, it would be beneficial to install a high clearance control arm in front of your truck to help ensure optimal clearance and smooth operation.
Width
Size matters when selecting wheels and tires for your Ram 1500 33s. Larger tires require more clearance space to avoid rubbing. A great way to determine what tires will fit is to check manufacturer websites where specifications for wheel and tire sizes are listed – typically width in millimeters, backslash depth (determined by aspect ratio of sidewall height), construction letter, backslash depth, alongside construction letter information that can help you select an appropriate tire for your truck.
Large tires won’t rub against stock suspension without leveling kits or lifts; for more significant tire sizes, you will require leveling kits or lifts; however, you could run 37-inch tires on stock trucks with minimal trimming and fender work needed to fit them correctly. It is also important to remember that wheel size and tire width both affect how much clearance there is between the suspension and fenders.
To determine what size wheels will fit on your Ram 1500, check its manufacturer’s specs or inspect other Ram trucks nearby to see what kind of wheels they are sporting – 20 by 9 inches are typically seen among third-gen Ram models.
Third Generation Rams don’t leave much space for tires. Running 35″ on stock suspension with some minor trimming is possible, while anything wider requires lifting and more extensive modifications.
Choose the ideal wheel and tire size to optimize both the performance and aesthetic appeal of your truck. Keep in mind that larger tires add weight, potentially diminishing ride quality; additionally, larger wheels tend to cause more rubbing against suspension components and the body of your vehicle.
To avoid this rubbing, spacers or a leveling kit may help provide your truck with additional clearance. Spacers will ensure the rim and tire sit closer to the axle, preventing full lock turns from rubbing on control arms when turning at full lock. A leveling kit may also help avoid any unnecessary or damaging friction on tires or suspension systems.
Offset
Installing 33-inch tires onto a stock Ram 1500 is a surefire way to boost its performance, but selecting the appropriate wheel size and offset can be a daunting task. Size will determine how well they traverse obstacles; compensation will affect how much rubbing occurs with suspension components.
20 by 9-inch wheels are the most popular size to accommodate 33-inch tires and provide the optimal balance between handling and ride quality. Their comprehensive rims enable tires to roll over obstacles easily while remaining narrow sufficient for full articulation/droop with stock suspension systems. If considering larger wheels, make sure it is specifically designed to accommodate such tires, along with having a positive offset.
Hostile offset wheels will force tires to be more challenging to clear during turns, potentially damaging and quickly wearing down tires. A positive offset wheel, with 18mm to 25mm of offset, will bring them closer to the body of your truck for easier turning, allowing more easily cleared turns. A good choice would be one with an 18mm to +25mm offset, as this gives your vehicle an aggressive look while still enabling 33-inch tires without needing spacers.
With a 2″+ lift kit, the maximum tire size that will fit on stock wheels with minimal trimming is 35’s; anything more significant requires excessive control arm rubbing at full lock. A 3″+ lift will allow 35s to fit without trimming as long as a set of high clearance control arms that center the axle and provide sufficient clearance between tires and pinch welds are in place.
On a 5″+ lift, it is best to choose wheels with backspacing between 5.5″-4.75″ to give ample clearance for even your most giant tires and clear the brake calipers. Otherwise, these smaller backspacing options could cause them to rub against your fender and cause irreparable damage.
Backspace
Backspacing refers to how far out from its mounting hub the wheel sits. An increase in backspace causes more tucked-in wheels, while decreasing it results in them sticking out more. +18 offset wheels with 5.75″ backspace are an ideal choice for fitting larger tires on your third gen Ram; 35″x12.5″ tires will work without much plastic and pinch weld trimming – see photo below.
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