will 12.5" tires fit?

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Shawnr95

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Okay so I've read different responses all over the wed and decided to ask myself. 2004 Ram 1500 Hemi 4x4. Im going to be leveling my truck 2" in a week or so with the stock keys. My plan is to buy 20x9 rims with 33x12.5x20 AT tires. I want to avoid using spacers. I was told I would need at least -12 offset to avoid hitting my control arms. Anyone with Personal info on this would be great!
 

justin13703

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My truck, which is mechanically similar to yours (leveled 08 4wd hemi 1500) has 20x9 -12 offset wheels with 35/12.50 tires on it. Mine will only rub in reverse at full lock. And it only rubs a small part of the plastic wheel well. No suspension components or anything. It doesn't rub at all in drive. Yours should be just fine with 33s. A -12 offset 9" wheel with 12.50 tires will clear your control arms, and the 33s should clear the wheel wells also.
 
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Shawnr95

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I thought the same thing. I read before I should be fine unless I go to 35"s. If you have any pics of love to see. Appreciate the help!
 

justin13703

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I thought the same thing. I read before I should be fine unless I go to 35"s. If you have any pics of love to see. Appreciate the help!

Pics of clearances to suspension or rubbing? Or just pics of the wheel/tire setup?
 
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Shawnr95

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I eventually plan on going to 35"s so if you have any of the clearance that would be awesome. And a pic of the truck just sitting.
 

Ceri

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I just wanted to throw out that the 2006-2008 4wd suspension is nothing at all like the 02-05 4wd suspension. The 02-05 used torsion bars. All of the potential rub points are different.

I put -12 mm offset 17x9s on mine recently. It works out to 4.53" backspacing. The backspacing is the important number. Too high and you'll rub on the inside (sway bar most likely). Too low and you'll wear out your hubs and possibly scrape fender liner. Factory 20s are 5.75" backspacing (+19 mm offset). I had 1.5" spacers on before. The spacers worked fine, but they were temporary due to the safety concerns. No scraping on the fender liner at the equivalent of 4.25” backspacing (5.75” – 1.5” = 4.25”). Never had one loosen up on me, but I only had them on for about 2 months of daily driving.

I stuck 35s on my 17s and it looks great. The smaller diameter rim (bigger rubber tire) has also given me a more comfortable ride with the cranked t-bars. I have a 3" body lift on mine though, so no guarantee on fitment. I've heard that 4wds with cranked t-bars will clear 35s, but you'd want to do some research on that one before dropping $1k+ on rubber. The body lift doesn’t add anything to the suspension components or frame height. I don’t believe the fenders themselves are an issue. The body lift does make it look a lot better though.
 

brandonjansen

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You'll be able to fit 33x12.5's on 20x9 -12 offset no problem with the torsion bars cranked. However if you want to fit 35x12.5's down the road your better option will be 20x9 0 offset wheels. That will pull them under the truck slightly more and give you less rubbing on the back of the inner fender liner when turning with the larger tires.
 
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Shawnr95

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Thanks for all the help guys! I've recently been looking at 20x9 rims with -44 offset. Still going to do the 33"s but would that be better since it'll be further away from my suspension? I currently have 33"s on now with 20" rims. They were on the truck stock.
 

Csanders1992

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Thanks for all the help guys! I've recently been looking at 20x9 rims with -44 offset. Still going to do the 33"s but would that be better since it'll be further away from my suspension? I currently have 33"s on now with 20" rims. They were on the truck stock.



They don't make 20x9 -44 offset. If they are indeed -44 offset than they will be 20x12s


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blackbeautyhemi

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Pushing the tire out further isn't always the best option either cause then it chances ya catching the bottom outside edge of your fender. Like brandonjansen said there's a happy medium with the offset since you're just leveling the truck. What he said will give you the clearance from your suspension and also not push it out too far and start hitting your fender. Now if you were lifting it you'd have the clearance to make the tires stick out further.
 
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Shawnr95

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Wow I feel dumb. I was looking all night at 20x12 and didn't realize. You are correct. So now the question is if I did 20x12 w/ -44 offset with 33x12.5x20 or do 20x9 -12 offset.
 

brandonjansen

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20x12 -44 offset with 33x12.5's will require trimming the back of your inner fender liner and possibly your pinch weld as well. On an 04 I'm not sure if the front valance will be an issue but that may require trimming as well. 20x9 -12 offset and 33x12.5's will fit with no other modification necessary.

At the end of the day it all comes down to how wide you want the stance to be and how much other work you're willing to do to make the setup fit.
 

blackbeautyhemi

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20x12 -44 offset with 33x12.5's will require trimming the back of your inner fender liner and possibly your pinch weld as well. On an 04 I'm not sure if the front valance will be an issue but that may require trimming as well. 20x9 -12 offset and 33x12.5's will fit with no other modification necessary.

At the end of the day it all comes down to how wide you want the stance to be and how much other work you're willing to do to make the setup fit.

Well said.
 
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Shawnr95

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I see, I think I'm gonna go with 20x9 and hope everything plays out fine. I Deffinetly don't want to do any trimming, or replacing parts unless absolutely need be. I love the look when you have the wheels popping out but I guess one thing at a time. New to the wheel world so all the help is greatly appreciated! I'm happy to get answers instead of emptying my wallet on something that won't work.

Also in going to be driving the truck to Washington state from the east coast so I don't to strain anything or do nothing crazy that will cause my to have major problems. Also the reason I'm looking hard Into this.
 

blackbeautyhemi

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I see, I think I'm gonna go with 20x9 and hope everything plays out fine. I Deffinetly don't want to do any trimming, or replacing parts unless absolutely need be. I love the look when you have the wheels popping out but I guess one thing at a time. New to the wheel world so all the help is greatly appreciated! I'm happy to get answers instead of emptying my wallet on something that won't work.

Also in going to be driving the truck to Washington state from the east coast so I don't to strain anything or do nothing crazy that will cause my to have major problems. Also the reason I'm looking hard Into this.

That's probably the best choice. It keep the truck more functional for trips like that. The more the wheel sticks out, the more strain it puts on your suspension components.
 
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Shawnr95

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Disregarding the strain on the suspension, if I were to get 20x12 with -44 offset with 33x12.5x20 would that cause any problems with rubbing?
 

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Ok so this is what you have to do if you want to run the 33x12.5x20.
The tires will fit on the stock rims but you will have to run the 1/4 in spacers. This will give you about 1/2in clearance from the upper control arm. If you want to use the stock rims. That's what I am running and no rubbing issues.
 

brandonjansen

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Disregarding the strain on the suspension, if I were to get 20x12 with -44 offset with 33x12.5x20 would that cause any problems with rubbing?

Already answered

20x12 -44 offset with 33x12.5's will require trimming the back of your inner fender liner and possibly your pinch weld as well. On an 04 I'm not sure if the front valance will be an issue but that may require trimming as well. 20x9 -12 offset and 33x12.5's will fit with no other modification necessary.

At the end of the day it all comes down to how wide you want the stance to be and how much other work you're willing to do to make the setup fit.
 
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