This is the ultimate guide to fitting larger tires like 33s, 35s, 37s, 38s, or even 40s on your 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024 Ram. In this guide and video, we cover everything you need to know from wheel specs to trimming to suspension lift and level kits.
contrary to popular belief, tire fitment is all about the wheel specs
While the word on the Internet has always been that you need more lift to clear more tire, that actually isn’t necessarily true. While height increase does help, wheels and having the proper offset, backspace and width are actually the key piece of the puzzle for stuffing a big tire into a small space. Follow along as we do a deep dive into the proper specs needed to clear different setups!
Stock Height
A 2014+ Ram truck with stock wheels and stock suspension will fit 285-295 metric sizing tires on the factory wheels with no trimming or very minor plastic trimming on the inner front fender liner with aggressive mud terrain tires. One thing to note is that the limitation with size isn’t lift, it’s wheel specs. The factory wheels are around +45 offset, which is extremely tucked into the truck. That means you’ll have contact on the radius arms and sway bar when turning to full steering lock with tires larger than a 295 or even some 285 tires with large side lugs like a Toyo MT.
Wheels with +18mm or similar offset that are 8”-9” inches wide with anywhere between 5” and 6” backspacing will fit a 35”x12.50” tire with no trimming. If you want a more aggressive stance (wider with maybe 1.5-2″ of poke from the fender) a 0 offset wheel that’s 8.5-9″ wide can be used. With that spec you might have to trim a small amount of plastic fender liner.
.5″-3” Leveling Kits (Stock Rear height)
On stock wheels, you can fit up to 295 tire with no trimming. This Is the same as a stock height truck since the factory wheels are the limiting piece of the puzzle. They are so tucked in that they cause rub on the suspension when turning to full steering lock. Tires with large side lugs such as Toyo MT’s will have more radius arm contact at full steering lock than rounder tires like an all terrain.
37”x12.5” tires can be run on stock wheels, but there will be moderate radius arm rubbing at full lock. Trimming of the plastic fender liner will also be necessary. Using a high clearance sway bar and radius arm will help, but there may still be some contact. You can also attempt to band aid the wheel specs with spacers, but our preferred Method is simply selecting the right wheels for the job.
+18mm to +27 offset wheels that are 8-9 inches wide with anywhere between 5.57” and 6” backspacing can fit up to a 37”x12.5” tire with minor plastic fender liner trimming. When running a 37”x13.5” tire, slightly more trimming of the pinch weld and plastic is necessary. Keep in mind the larger the side lugs, the more trimming is necessary.
+1 to +12 offset wheels that are 8.5 to 9.5″ wide offer a but more poke, and are typically around the limit for what we would consider light trimming. This spec combined with a 37″ tire will require fender liner plastic trimming, and some metal pinch weld trimming with 12.5″ wide tires and more with 13.5″ wide tires.
0mm offset wheels that are 8”-9” inches wide with anywhere between 4.75” and 5” backspacing will fit up to a 37”x12.5” tire with more pinch weld trimming than the previous spec. A 0 offset wheel will have about 2″ of poke from the fender line. With a 37”x13.5” wide tire on the same wheel, more significant trimming will be needed for full clearance. You will be trimming the plastic fender liner, and most of the pinch weld.
-12mm offset wheels that are 8”-9” inches wide with 4.5” backspacing will fit a 37”x12.5” tire with moderate plastic fender liner trimming and with trimming most of the pinch. At full articulation this setup will always have some rub and contact.
-24mm offset wheels that are 10” inches wide, 35’s can generally be run with mild trimming. They can also be run with moderate trimming on a 12” wide wheel. Anything with more than -24mm offset must be run with a 33” tire and trimming. If you want wide wheels, you have to accept trimming and rub, even with a leveling kit.
3-4″ Lift Kits
On stock wheels, you can fit up to 295 tire with no trimming. This Is the same as a stock height and leveled truck since the factory wheels are the limiting piece of the puzzle. They are so tucked in that they cause rub on the suspension when turning to full steering lock. Tires with large side lugs such as Toyo MT’s will have more radius arm contact at full steering lock than rounder tires like an all terrain.
37”x12.5” tires can be run on stock wheels, but there will be moderate radius arm rubbing at full lock. Trimming of the plastic fender liner will also be necessary. Using a high clearance sway bar and radius arm will help, but there may still be some contact. You can also attempt to band aid the wheel specs with spacers, but our preferred Method is simply selecting the right wheels for the job.
+18mm to +27 offset wheels that are 8-9 inches wide with anywhere between 5.57” and 6” backspacing can fit up to a 37”x12.5” tire with minor plastic fender liner trimming. When running a 37”x13.5” tire, slightly more trimming of the pinch weld and plastic is necessary. Keep in mind the larger the side lugs, the more trimming is necessary.
+1 to +12 offset wheels that are 8.5 to 9.5″ wide offer a but more poke, and are typically around the limit for what we would consider light trimming. This spec combined with a 37″ tire will require fender liner plastic trimming, and some metal pinch weld trimming with 12.5″ wide tires and more with 13.5″ wide tires. This is typcially the spec we use to fit 38″ tires as it will allow for more clearance at the radius arm and sway bar. 38s require moderate plastic fender liner trimming, and the trimming of most of the pinch weld. Here’s a video of the trimming process for 38s on a Ram with a 3-4″ Lift.
0mm offset wheels that are 8”-9” inches wide with anywhere between 4.75” and 5” backspacing will fit up to a 37”x12.5” tire with more pinch weld trimming than the previous spec. A 0 offset wheel will have about 2″ of poke from the fender line. With a 37”x13.5” wide tire on the same wheel, more significant trimming will be needed for full clearance. You will be trimming the plastic fender liner, and most of the pinch weld.
If you want to run 39″ tires or 40″ tires, we typically shoot for around 0 to -12 offset on a 8.5-9″ wide wheel. You will also need extensive fender changes with either fiberglass fenders or AEV High Mark fender flares. The other area of concern is at full compression and steering lock. The AEV Dual Sport Suspension system uses large bump stop drops to limit upward travel, but with higher end Carli and Thuren suspension systems that increase wheel travel, you will need to modify the inner fenders and firewall for clearance. 39″ BFG tires work well with minimal inner fender work, but true 40″ tires like a Toyo MT will require firewall and inner fender clearance when used with Carli and Thuren suspension and AEV high mark flares or fiberglass.
-12mm offset wheels that are 8”-9” inches wide with 4.5” backspacing will fit a 37”x12.5” tire with moderate plastic fender liner trimming and with trimming most of the pinch. At full articulation this setup will always have some rub and contact.
-24mm offset wheels that are 10” inches wide, 35’s can generally be run with mild trimming. They can also be run with moderate trimming on a 12” wide wheel. Anything with more than -24mm offset must be run with a 33” tire and trimming. If you want wide wheels, you have to accept trimming and rub, even with a leveling kit.
Wondering what wheels meet the specs we outlined above? Here’s a good list below. Remember that diameter doesn’t impact fitment in any way, but does impact ride. The larger the tire and smaller the wheel, the better your truck will ride.
Here’s a list of wheel and tire combos that work well to result in no or VERY minimal trimming:
8.5-9″ wide wheel with 0 offset:
- 35/12.5 Toyo AT
- 35/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 35/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 35/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 35/12.5 Falken AT and RT
8.5-9″ wide wheel with +12 to +18 offset:
- 35/12.5 Toyo AT
- 35/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 35/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 35/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 35/12.5 Falken AT and RT
- 37/12.5 Toyo AT
- 37/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 37/12.5 Falken AT and RT
8.5″ wide wheel with +18 to +27 offset:
- 35/12.5 Toyo AT
- 35/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 35/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 35/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 35/12.5 Falken AT and RT
- 37/12.5 Toyo AT
- 37/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/12.5 Falken AT
Here’s a list of wheel and tire combos that work well to result moderate fender liner and some pinch weld trimming:
8.5-9″ wide wheel with 0 offset:
- 35/12.5 Toyo AT
- 35/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 35/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 35/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 35/12.5 Falken AT and RT
- 37/12.5 Toyo AT
- 37/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/12.5 Falken AT
8.5-9″ wide wheel with +12 to +18 offset:
- 35/12.5 Toyo AT
- 35/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 35/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 35/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 35/12.5 Falken AT and RT
- 37/12.5 Toyo AT
- 37/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 37/12.5 Falken AT and RT
- 37/12.5 Toyo MT
- 37/13.5 Toyo AT
- 37/13.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/13.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/13.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 37/13.5 Falken AT and RT
8.5″ wide wheel with +18 to +27 offset:
- 35/12.5 Toyo AT
- 35/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 35/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 35/12.5 Nitto Ridge Grappler
- 35/12.5 Falken AT and RT
- 37/12.5 Toyo AT
- 37/12.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/12.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/12.5 Falken AT
- 37/13.5 Toyo AT
- 37/13.5 Toyo RT and RT Trail
- 37/13.5 Nitto Recon Grappler
- 37/13.5 Falken AT
