2021 RAM 1500 Laramie Night Edition - Skinny Wheels Question

[SecuRAM]

I am about to order a 2021 RAM 1500 and may pick up a pretty loaded Laramie Night Edition. I noticed they "upgraded" the wheels here to 22" wheels (from 20") and use a very skinny 285/45R22XL tire.

Judging from the pictures I'm thinking I don't like this tire.

Would it make sense to swap this out with an 18" or 20" wheel and some all-terrain tires? I really like the look of the Rebel rims + Wrangler tires, or what comes on the Big Horn Built-to-Serve edition. I don't know whether this makes sense from a compatibility standpoint or what I will lose/gain by doing so.

This would be my first truck and I don't know what I don't know, including the price/value difference between the various options. Any help would be appreciated!

PS - is the current employee pricing about the best we can expect deal-wise? It would be almost $8k off sticker price before other incentives.

 

[TestPilot57]

It really depends on how you plan to use the the truck. IMO 22s are only good for visual impression. 20s can pretty much handle it all (on a 1500). 18s are the workhorse.

 

[mikeru]

By "skinny" I'm assuming you mean "low profile" (not much sidewall). 285's are definitely not skinny tires in the conventional sense of the word. All new Ram 1500 (5th gen) wheels are interchangeable within the different models. Rebel wheels or BTS wheels will work just fine on your Laramie. Dealers will sometimes do a wheel swap as part of the deal. Ask about it. The only thing I'm going to say about discounts is I always shoot for at least %15 off MSRP. Along with the employee pricing there is also a pop-up on the ramtrucks.com website offering $1500 off. I haven't tried getting that, so I'm not sure how often it pops up. But I've read about people using that discount.

 

[SecuRAM]

By "skinny" I'm assuming you mean "low profile" (not much sidewall). 285's are definitely not skinny tires in the conventional sense of the word. All new Ram 1500 (5th gen) wheels are interchangeable within the different models. Rebel wheels or BTS wheels will work just fine on your Laramie. Dealers will sometimes do a wheel swap as part of the deal. Ask about it. The only thing I'm going to say about discounts is I always shoot for at least %15 off MSRP. Along with the employee pricing there is also a pop-up on the ramtrucks.com website offering $1500 off. I haven't tried getting that, so I'm not sure how often it pops up. But I've read about people using that discount.

I have that $1500 off coupon (expires Feb 24) in my back pocket. I am trying to decide if it's possible to get a bigger discount than Employee Pricing (before incentives) so I can decide if it makes sense to jump on something now before year end with EP discount or wait/build what I want at a higher price next year.

I am finding Employee Discount to be between 11%-12% off MSRP. I don't understand how people are getting 15%-18% off MSRP before incentives. Dealer suggests they would not match ED under other circumstances apart from FCA requiring it during their promotion. Using Friends+Family Discount is about $1900+ more than Employee Pricing.

Are President's Day incentives typically that much better?

@mikeru

 

[mikeru]

I have that $1500 off coupon (expires Feb 24) in my back pocket. I am trying to decide if it's possible to get a bigger discount than Employee Pricing (before incentives) so I can decide if it makes sense to jump on something now before year end with EP discount or wait/build what I want at a higher price next year.

I am finding Employee Discount to be between 11%-12% off MSRP. I don't understand how people are getting 15%-18% off MSRP before incentives. Dealer suggests they would not match ED under other circumstances apart from FCA requiring it during their promotion. Using Friends+Family Discount is about $1900+ more than Employee Pricing.

Are President's Day incentives typically that much better?

@mikeru

It's always a gamble. Even the dealerships don't know what the next incentives will be. If the deal sounds good to you now, you might as well jump on it. You know what your deal will be. Waiting could be better, but it could also be worse. No one here knows what the President's Day incentives will be, or even if there will even be a President's day incentive LOL.

 

[mh3c]

I am about to order a 2021 RAM 1500 and may pick up a pretty loaded Laramie Night Edition. I noticed they "upgraded" the wheels here to 22" wheels (from 20") and use a very skinny 285/45R22XL tire.

Judging from the pictures I'm thinking I don't like this tire.

Would it make sense to swap this out with an 18" or 20" wheel and some all-terrain tires? I really like the look of the Rebel rims + Wrangler tires, or what comes on the Big Horn Built-to-Serve edition. I don't know whether this makes sense from a compatibility standpoint or what I will lose/gain by doing so.

This would be my first truck and I don't know what I don't know, including the price/value difference between the various options. Any help would be appreciated!

PS - is the current employee pricing about the best we can expect deal-wise? It would be almost $8k off sticker price before other incentives.

I just purchased a limited Night Edition. I upgraded the tires to 285/55/22 Nitto ridge grapplers.

Also, I had a $1500 ram coupon and on top of employee pricing I got roughly $12k off sticker.

 

[SecuRAM]

I just purchased a limited Night Edition. I upgraded the tires to 285/55/22 Nitto ridge grapplers.

Also, I had a $1500 ram coupon and on top of employee pricing I got roughly $12k off sticker.

@mh3c

This is relevant to my interests. Which area/dealer and HOW? My dealer would not go any lower than EP pricing. I asked him for the best price after EP ends if I could not get FFP pricing and his numbers were $2k below MSRP!!!

Are you factoring in incentives into your $12k estimate? What is your secret?

 

[Aircooledpurist]

I think low profile tires on a truck look ridiculous.

 

[mikeru]

I think low profile tires on a truck look ridiculous.

Agreed. That's why I went from this...


To this...

 

[turkeybird56]

Agreed. That's why I went from this...
View attachment 490648

To this...
View attachment 490649

Sharp Mikeru, sharp looking. I went from OEM to aggressive Falken for traction and handling, but of course, took a 1 to 1 1/2 mpg hit. But ne thing is better than getting on a rain soaked road, punch the pedal, and do a 360, LOL. I also did the Aeroskin II for in matte for my hood. Gotta do all U can do for the Flame Red.

 

[mikeru]

Sharp Mikeru, sharp looking. I went from OEM to aggressive Falken for traction and handling, but of course, took a 1 to 1 1/2 mpg hit. But ne thing is better than getting on a rain soaked road, punch the pedal, and do a 360, LOL. I also did the Aeroskin II for in matte for my hood. Gotta do all U can do for the Flame Red.

View attachment 490654View attachment 490655View attachment 490656

Thanks! Yours is pretty sharp looking too.

 

[turkeybird56]

Thanks! Yours is pretty sharp looking too.

Thanks, but not half as nice as yours. I like the White on Black or all Blacked out editions. I bought mine in August 2018, the first couple weeks they were out and there were not many choices, but I did get a level package you have to go up in trim to get now ref lighting.