Can You Fit 33 Inch Tires On A Stock Ram 1500?

Part of the fun of having a truck is customizing it to be as brawny and rugged as you want. 

witching to larger tires is a simple change that a lot of truck owners really love.

Lots of trucks can handle larger tires without even bothering with any modifications.

Can You Fit 33 Inch Tires On A Stock Ram 1500?

33-inch tires will fit on a stock Ram 1500 without any modifications. Stock Ram 1500s come with a 20-inch wheel, which will be able to accommodate tires up to 35 inches in diameter. To fit larger tires, spacers, a leveling kit, or a lift can be used to avoid damaging the tires or the truck.

To determine what tire is appropriate, you will need to understand the specifications of your truck. 

Figuring out what you want out of the performance and appearance of your truck can help you decide how big to go.

Ram 1500 Stock Specs

When selecting tires for your Ram 1500, the most important thing to consider is the size of the wheels on your truck.

The diameter and the width of the rims will determine exactly which tires will be able to safely fit. 

The stock wheels on a Ram 1500 are 20 inches in diameter and 9 inches in width. 

33-inch tires are produced to fit all sorts of different wheel sizes. 

Make sure the ones you buy are made to fit a 20 by 9-inch rim.

There are a lot of different numbers and measurements included in tire sizes. 

Typically, you will see a letter for vehicle type, the tire width in millimeters, a backslash, the aspect ratio (determines the height of the sidewall), a letter to indicate construction, and then the wheel diameter in inches.

For example, an LT285/60R20 would be a great choice of tire if you want 33 inches on your stock Ram 1500.

LT indicates that the tire is intended for a truck that carries heavy loads. 

The tire width is 285 mm, a little over 11 inches. 

The aspect ratio of 60 tells us that the tire’s sidewall height is 60% of the section width. 

The R indicates that the tire has radial construction.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the 20 tells us that the tire will fit onto a 20-inch rim.

When you are shopping for tires make sure that the last number is a 20, otherwise, the tire will not fit correctly and your truck will be dangerous to drive. 

285/60, 295/55, 305/55, and 325/50 are going to be great 33-inch tire options for your Ram 1500.

When you are buying a stock Ram 1500, it is equipped with P275/55TR20 tires. 

The overall diameter of these tires is 31.91 inches, so it is classified as a 32-inch tire. 

Moving up to a 33-inch tire will be a super simple adjustment that your truck will definitely be able to handle.

Why Get Bigger Tires?

Larger tires are definitely going to change the look of your truck. The truck will be taller, and the large rugged tires can give your truck a really aggressive look. 

For the truck owners that love to show off their machine, large tires will make it look even better.

Beyond looks, tire size can affect the functionality and performance of your truck. 

You automatically have higher clearance for any wild adventures. 

If you love to take your truck on camping trips or strike out into the depths of nature’s roads, larger tires can give you the extra bit of clearance you need to take on any environment.

You will notice improved performance on rough driving surfaces, and may even notice that your truck can tow heavy loads a little bit smoother.

It is important to note that a dramatic increase in tire size will also come with downsides. 

Switching to tires much larger than your truck was intended to handle will affect your steering response and handling.

You will need to be more cautious of tire load limits as well. 

A large tire has more rolling surface area, so the miles and speed tracking on your dash may be a little bit off.

These are common issues with a significant tire upgrade, but switching to a 33 inch on your Ram 1500 is a small enough adjustment that you shouldn’t have any issues.

How to Modify a Ram 1500 for Larger Tires

To avoid any rubbing that will wear down the tires and possibly damage your wheel well and bars, you shouldn’t go any larger than a 35-inch tire on a stock Ram 1500. 

There is just enough clearance for a 35-inch tire and not much to spare. 

If you want to go even larger you will need to add some more serious modifications. 

A leveling kit or suspension lift will allow you to put on larger tires without any damage.

Adding a lift can also add to the look of your truck, even if you don’t necessarily need the tire space. 

A lifted truck will give you a more commanding presence on and off the road.

Typically in a vehicle that is designed to carry heavy loads, the clearance in the back of the vehicle will be higher to account for the expected weight that will often make it sink lower. 

Because of the disparity, the tire size limit is calculated based on the front wheels, which have less space than the back.

A leveling kit is one of the easiest and cheapest ways you can up your clearance. 

A leveling kit will boost up the clearance on the front wheel wells to match the ones in the back.

This can buy you a little more lift for a slightly larger tire or a more brawny look.

A full suspension lift is going to be more expensive and complicated to install, but it will provide the most extra space possible. 

If you really want to get the look and the performance of giant tires, you will need to get a full suspension lift.

This will give you more space in both the front and the back for the most aggressive tires possible.