Larger tires are one of the most common upgrades most truck owners do. Not only does it enhance the appearance of the truck, but also allows you to haul heavy loads with more ease, as well as improve the truck’s stability and off-road capabilities if done correctly. If you’d like to know what is required to fit 35’s to a 3500 RAM dually, then this article is definitely for you.
To successfully fit 35” tires on a Ram Dually requires a minimum lift of 2” upfront combined with well-engineered hub-centric 1/2” steel spacers between the duals, running 35×12.5 tires.
The above setup will offer sufficient clearance to prevent rubbing and scrubbing at full lock. Always make sure you opt for high-grade quality steel spacers and not cheap aluminum versions. Make sure you fit a 1/2″ spacer on the rear to prevent the tire chaffing on the rear leaf packs, which could cause premature wear and damage.
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Running 35-inch Tires On A Ram Dually (Spacers vs. Aftermarket Rims)
When doing any big tire upgrade, there’s always the inexpensive method and then there’s the other method. That said, there are many Dual owners who’ve opted for spacers instead of fitting an aftermarket rim without any hassles at all.
You are far better off going with a wider wheel with the correct offset
However, if you really want to run 35s on the dually, if possible, invest in a set of wider aftermarket rims that do not require wheel spacers. You are far better off going with a wider wheel with the correct offset. This will allow you to maintain the carrying capacity of the truck since they are properly sized and designed for the larger tires you intend to run. Just make sure you find a decent aftermarket set that doesn’t look tacky.
35-inch Tires on a Ram Dually (Not all 35s Are Created Equal)
Certain tire brands have bigger side lugs which can result in more rubbing, so your tire choice plays a major role. Toyo tires are known to be a good option since they fit well without rubbing. A truck with an empty tub can be very jittery and bouncy, so many owners deflate the rear tires for a more comfortable ride. However, if your tires are too wide, once you deflate them they have a higher risk of rubbing.
The best option without running spacers is a set of 255/80/17s, as long as you keep the tires inflated. 35×12.5s tires will fit perfectly provided you have the correct spacers between the duals.
Modifications to Prevent Rubbing when Running 35” Tires
I find this tool very useful when determining tire size differences and what effect it has on your truck: https://tiresize.com/comparison/
Next, let’s investigate the biggest tires you can possibly squeeze on a Ram 1500 with a stock suspension.
Biggest Tire Size on Stock Ram 1500
So this is probably one of the most commonly asked questions on all discussion forums and FB groups. Every guy wants to know what the biggest tires are he can get away with on a factory stock suspension and stock wheels.
Physical Difference Between 33” vs. 35” Tire
| Measurement | 33-Inch | 35-inch | Difference |
| Diameter | 285/75/17 | 305/75/17 | +7% |
| Width | 11.2” | 12” | +7.1” |
| Sidewall | 7.9” | 9” | 13.9” |
| Circumference | 102.7” | 109.9” | +7% |
| Revs/Mile | 617 | 576 | -41 |
Biggest Tire on 2019 Ram 1500 with Stock Rims
The biggest tire you can fit on a Ram 1500 with stock rims is 37”x12.5
As mentioned, you will need to do a little bit of trimming on the inside fender liner. This applies to 2500, 3500, and Power Wagon stock wheels. The Power Wagon wheel has a slight advantage since it has a wider offset wheel in stock form, meaning there is a bit more backspace clearance.
Biggest Tire on 2019 Ram 1500 with Aftermarket Rims
Fitting aftermarket wheels when upgrading your tires is always a smarter move. It allows for better backspacing while not forfeiting too much in terms of offset. Provided you don’t go to a very negative offset where the wheels protrude extensively.
A wider stance wheel with a negative offset would probably look insane, however, you’ll need to start doing a lot of Fender flair trimming which are more permanent modifications. Besides, there could be some legality issues as well. This could also pose a problem if you decide to sell the vehicle at a later stage.
When selecting an aftermarket rim, you want to pay particular attention to the offset of the rim. The offset can be described as the distance between the inside face of the rim to the centerline of the tire. The measurement where the rim meets the hub, to the center of the tire is the offset measurement.
A more positive offset (larger backspacing) moves the mounting surface closer to the outside of the wheel which will tuck the wheel further under the truck. A more negative offset (smaller backspacing) moves the mounting surface closer to the inside of the wheel which will push the wheel further out from the truck.
When shopping around for your aftermarket rim, try and stay between offset measurements of +18mm to +27mm.
This will allow for full articulation of wheel travel. Fitting 0 to (-) negative offset wheels might look aesthetically pleasing, however, it doesn’t translate well when venturing off-road. If you decide to go -18 offset rims, you’ll be required to cut a lot of sheet metal and roil the arches to make them fit nicely without rubbing. These are permanent modifications that are hard to reverse and are not highly recommended.
Biggest Tire on 2019 Ram 1500 with Leveling Kit
Once you install a leveling kit on the Ram you are essentially increasing the wheel well area which will allow for a bigger tire. Now it also depends on how much of a lift you are planning, but by way of example, if you go with a 2” lift you could get away with a 35×12.50×20. There will be no rubbing or touching against the UCA or fenders.
The biggest tire you could fit on a 2019 Ram 1500 with a leveling kit is 35×12.5×20. Alternatively a 39” with a 12.5×17.
Obviously, this is purely for aesthetics and will drastically reduce your MPG and off-road performance. This is not a recommended upgrade if you ever plan to venture off-road.
Resources
Ram 1500 2” Front leveling kit
Conclusion
Going bigger tires might look awesome, however, you want to limit how big you go, especially if you still want to maintain the full functionality of your truck. Bigger isn’t always better since the bigger you go, the more modifications you’ll need to make as well as adjusting your speedometer reading. For the best all-around upgrade, we recommend not going bigger than 37”