Tire/Wheel Questions

[ARedmon]

I own a 2005 Ram diesel 4x4 regular cab which is still completely stock. I want to upgrade the tires/wheels soon. My questions are:

1. What is the largest (tallest) tires that will fit without modification? The

truck currently has the stock 265/70 17s on it.

2. I've heard that some wheels have offsets that can be hard on wheel

bearings? How do I avoid this? Do I ask for wheels without offsets?

Thanks

 

[MAllen1]

On my 99 I haven't had a bit of bearing trouble with offset wheels. The only trouble in 225k is ball joints at 175,000. I don't know the absolute tallest, but, I know 3 sizes should work---285/70, 295/70, and 305/65 17 should work with that offset with no modifications.

 

[SierraRam]

Stick with 6" backspacing. You can get a 34" tall tire on a stock truck without rubbing no wider that 12". If you run a leveling kit you can clear 35x12. 50's with minor rubbing at full lock on the control arms. The smaller the backspacing the farther the wheels/tires will stick out.

 

[WoodChuck]

Virually every wheel has some sort of offset, either positive or negative although I'm sure there are some neutral wheels. What offset means is the centerline of the wheel beads in relation to the mounting surface. The O. E. M. offset is + 45mm which means the tire center is 45mm inboard of the mounting surface (roughly 2").

Backspace is the number people refer to the most but you really need to look at the relation of one to the other as well as overall width.
Personally I'm running Weld Evo 18x8. 5 with 45mm offset and 6. 522"backspace. The O. E. M. rim was 7. 5 " so that means my wheels have 1/2" more on each side in and out. My tires are the 35x12. 5 Toyo Open Country M/T which has an extreamly beefy side lug design. The only rubbing I get is on the inside of the tire on the link arms and the sway bar at full lock.

 

[WoodChuck]

Also if you look at the top of the forum page there is a FAQs page that has a lot of answers.

 

[RNewberry]

I am running 315/70/17 tires on chrome Hummer H2 wheels with no rubbing of any kind. I dont know what the offset is on these GM wheels, but for the price I paid for 5 wheels and tires, I couldn't be happier

 

[DJamrose]

woodchuck could you send me apicture of the wheels and tires you have and do they still make them

 

[AMcCormick]

I'm running 35 on a stock suspension and wheels with justa bit of rubbing at full lock on the control arms. So far not hitting the fender/wheel well

 

[Dave04]

I have 315/70R17s MT on stock rims. A little rubbing on the inside you can't feel it you can only see the paint wore off.

 

[Jeepr]

I've got 35" Toyo's with Kore lift, but have Mickey Thompson wheels, which are 5" backspace and slightly wider that stock, thus they stick out more. I don't rub on control arms at all, but my drivers tire rubs on the wheel well and fender slightly at the back on hard left turns. It was mostly take care of with some very minor trimming of the plastic and "adjustment" of the metal on the fender.

 

[WoodChuck]

woodchuck could you send me apicture of the wheels and tires you have and do they still make them

I'm not sure if they still make them, I think it was a limited run commissioned by KORE. The stock number is 408-885942.