Upgrading Tires and Wheels

[OggyOggy]

I've been diligently surfing the internet all day looking for the answer to what I thought was a simple question. I want to upgrade the wheels and tires on my 2012 2500 RAM 4x4 SRW Laramie Longhorn (w/ Cummins HO) from the stock 17 inch tires which each have a rating somewhere around 3k to something closer to 4k. This is all because I tow a fifth wheel whose pin weight puts my drive axle weight right at my wheel/tire capacity.

Information I found said 8 lug pattern, 6.5 inch or 165.1 mm with standard offset. The stock wheels have an offset of 43.18mm. Not sure exactly what that means to me though.

I'm willing to increase the size of the wheel and tire to achieve my goal. So, where do I find these and what would a larger tire size do to screw up my speedometer?

Thanks,
Joel

 

[SnoKing]

I've been diligently surfing the internet all day looking for the answer to what I thought was a simple question. I want to upgrade the wheels and tires on my 2012 2500 RAM 4x4 SRW Laramie Longhorn (w/ Cummins HO) from the stock 17 inch tires which each have a rating somewhere around 3k to something closer to 4k. This is all because I tow a fifth wheel whose pin weight puts my drive axle weight right at my wheel/tire capacity.

Information I found said 8 lug pattern, 6.5 inch or 165.1 mm with standard offset. The stock wheels have an offset of 43.18mm. Not sure exactly what that means to me though.

I'm willing to increase the size of the wheel and tire to achieve my goal. So, where do I find these and what would a larger tire size do to screw up my speedometer?

Thanks,
Joel

What is the size of our current tires? My FS Transforce AT are 33.19" in diameter and have a load rating of 3640.

Maybe this site will help. If you mouse over the column heads it explains thinks. It says I have 8Jx18 ET43 rims. It says that the ET43 is 43MM of positive offset. http://www.wheel-size.com/size/dodge/ram-3500/2015/

 

[Newsa]

I got mine a bit cheaper off of ebay. I went from 245 70 17. To 275 70 18. My speedo's off by 8-9%.

 

[OggyOggy]

What is on are LT265/70R17, load range E, single 3,195 lbs Which according to your link are smaller, in fact they aren't listed but do fall into the range listed on the right. Provided I read it correctly. If I look for wheel and tires which fall within the range...

Tires for Dodge Ram 2500 2012
•Diameters: 17.0'' - 22.0''
•Width (mm): 245 - 305
•Tire aspect ratio (%): 50 - 70
•Smallest tire size: 245/70R17 116S
•Largest tire size: 305/50R22 113H

Rims for Dodge Ram 2500 2012
• Bolt pattern 8x165.1 ◦ Diameter: 17.0'' - 22.0'';
◦ Width (inches): 7.5 - 9;
◦ Offset (mm): 43 - 57.

I'm ok? Does it being a 4x4 make any difference?

My brain hurts... any recommendations?

 

[wyosteve]

I had a 2012 SRW, 4x4 and found a set of new Ram takeoff 20" wheels. I put BFG AT KO's on them. I can't remember off the top on my head, but I believe that tire rating is higher than what you have. Before I got those wheels, I talked with Discount Tire and they have aftermarket wheels that will have the correct offset.

 

[Jim W]

This was posted sometime ago by me on what I did to upgrade my tires and rims for my 2008, Ram Mega Cab. I am using Mickey Thompson SideBiter II Rims; part number 3079482, size 17X9, bolt circle 8X6.5, back spacing 5 inches and zero offset, Hub bore 4.929 inches and load capacity of 3,640 LBS. My tires are Nitto Dural Grappler LT285/70R/17 126S E/10 ply, (33X11.5R17) rated for 3750 LBS at 80 PSI. I run the tires at 50 PSI front (2755 LBS load capacity) and 70 PSI rear (3415 LBS Load Capacity) each.

I have weighed my truck and trailer on a Cat Scale and the front axle weights are 4900 LBs and the rear axle weights are 6100 LBS.

So the tires and rims that I have chosen should work for you also.
You could also go to a 18" wheel and tire that could work and maybe more easily found in the load capacity that you need.

 

[OggyOggy]

Thanks so much for the information. My CAT scale loaded weight was front 4800, drive 6240, and trailer 9520. With 3195 load ranged tires I'm too close to the edge for my comfort. The drive wheel weight bothered me and then I realized I'd left 200lbs of emergency food in front stowage compartment (removed that) and I had the water tank at 1/3 full. With the water tank at the far rear of the trailer I probably should fill it to shift weight off the pin. I've verified my wheels can take a larger load and will fit the 285s. So unless there's a HEY! DON'T DO THAT! coming, I'll be getting those Dura Grapplers mounted this week. With the speedometer affected I'll have to get it calibrated or just use my Waze GPS. But then again, I never tow over 60mph so the 3ish mph difference won't be very noticeable.

Now I get to look at upgrading the wheels/tires of my Montana. I KNOW those are overweighted.

 

[Regcabguy]

AEV sure has a good wheel out there. 17 x 8.5 with 6" backspace. #3650 load capacity and uses the stock lugs. No thin wall socket necessary.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/shop/vehicle/ram/ram-salta-hd-wheel

 

[photowrite]

AEV sure has a good wheel out there. 17 x 8.5 with 6" backspace. #3650 load capacity and uses the stock lugs. No thin wall socket necessary.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/shop/vehicle/ram/ram-salta-hd-wheel

Yup! If I was going to run a 17" non-OEM wheel I'd be running the AEV. One of the things I love is they are not overly wide, 8.5" is just wide enough IF one wants/needs to run wide tires.

As along time fan of more tire and less wheel, I've come to appreciate the OE 18" wheel as there are several good LT sizes in the 34-35" range I prefer, the 285/75/18 being a favorite (and carry 4,080# each!).

 

[DonR]

Check out the TireRack. They have a pretty good selection of wheels and tires in 17, 18 and 20". I've bought several wheel/tire combinations over the years for other vehicles and they came mounted and balanced perfectly. The website even shows your vehicle with the different wheels so you can see what it would look like.http://www.tirerack,com

 

[GMconvert]

Anyone have updates on this thread? I have been considering getting some 2014+ 18" OEM takeoffs for my 2012 3500 SRW. I am particularly interesting to know if 295/70R18 (4080lbs) tires will rub due to having more offset? I believe the 2012 17" rim has 43.18mm and the 2014+ 18" rims have 57.14mm.

 

[GMconvert]

I know, just getting started on TDR....been spending my "forum time" over at Cummins Forum.

 

[photowrite]

Anyone have updates on this thread? I have been considering getting some 2014+ 18" OEM takeoffs for my 2012 3500 SRW. I am particularly interesting to know if 295/70R18 (4080lbs) tires will rub due to having more offset? I believe the 2012 17" rim has 43.18mm and the 2014+ 18" rims have 57.14mm.

I don't know how they will fit on a 2012, however, I have run several sets of OEM 18 inch wheels on my 2014 and 2017 Rams, and a few different sets of 295/70/18 tires, zero rubbing on those trucks with those wheels/tire size.