Guide to Leveling & Wheel and Tire Sizing for 06+ 4wd Ram 1500's

[ibow24]

Hey All, new guy here.
Just traded my 07 for a 2018 1500. It's like a luxury car compared to my 07.
Anyway, I ordered the Bilstein 5100 struts. I'm going to set them at 2.1" and leave the back end alone. My question is more about wheels (I did read all the posts but I'm still confused). Everywhere I look stock 20's are listed as 20x9. My Big Horn has chrome clad and the window sticker says 20x8. I'm not looking to go bigger with tires. Probably LT275/60/20 BFG's. What wheels should I be looking at? 20x9 0 offset or something else?
If I could find specs for a 20x8 it says I have it might be easier to answer my own question...just a bit confused here.
thanks
Steve

 

[yortnodnarb]

Hey All, new guy here.
Just traded my 07 for a 2018 1500. It's like a luxury car compared to my 07.
Anyway, I ordered the Bilstein 5100 struts. I'm going to set them at 2.1" and leave the back end alone. My question is more about wheels (I did read all the posts but I'm still confused). Everywhere I look stock 20's are listed as 20x9. My Big Horn has chrome clad and the window sticker says 20x8. I'm not looking to go bigger with tires. Probably LT275/60/20 BFG's. What wheels should I be looking at? 20x9 0 offset or something else?
If I could find specs for a 20x8 it says I have it might be easier to answer my own question...just a bit confused here.
thanks
Steve

A 20x9 0 offset would be a very good setup, especially with stock size tires. The stock 20x9's are a +19 so the 0 will give you a little "stance" but not so much to sling **** down the sides too bad.

 

[JB1]

^^get the 20x9 +0, +1 or -12mm max, don’t get the 20x9 +18mm, also try to find s wheel with a hub bore of approx 78mm, if not you’ll need to buy hubcentric spacers. Keep in mind some wheels have a dual pattern so they might have 8 holes, these wheels will not have the lugs exposed, they will have a plastic hubcap covering that mess.

http://www.ramforum.com/threads/fuel-wheels-cracking.109610/

 

[LethalTruck]

Hey Gents,

Reading through the topic and want to thank the OP for the detailed layout. Overall I understand a lot of what he is saying, but have more questions to understand what wheel I should be going with.

I picked up a 2018 1500 Crew Cab and plan to install a 2.5" leveling kit. I also plan to keep the same 17" wheel size in hopes to maintain the smooth ride the truck offers.

My question revolves around specs being thrown out by Fuel Wheels. I am looking at the Anza D557 wheels but they have a crap ton of options with different OS:, BS: and Bore: (I have no idea what these are)

The wheel is a 17" x 8.5 and I know I need the 5x5.5 Lug pattern, but what about the other options?

I see these options:
OS: -06, BS: 4.5 Bore: 78.1
OS: 06, BS: 5 Bore: 78.1
OS: -6, BS: 4.5 Bore: 108

That all being stated, looking at the Toyo Open Country A/T's 285/70/17, I am being told I might be able to fit the 315/70/17, but I fear that will be too wide or might rub. Any thoughts , suggestions or help?

Edit:

I think I figured it out. The only Fuel wheels I could make work were the D556

• D556 17x9 5x5.5, BS: 4.5, OS: -12, Bore: 87.1,

I paired it with the Toyo Open Country 305/70/17 tires. Lets hope it all works out with the leveling kit.

 

[JB1]

Your bore is 78mm so you will need to get hubcentric spacers or you’ll get vibrations. Fuel gives you plastic ones but they are junk

 

[LethalTruck]

Your bore is 78mm so you will need to get hubcentric spacers or you’ll get vibrations. Fuel gives you plastic ones but they are junk

Ended up getting the D556 setup, has an offset more close to the stock wheels and shouldn't require and spacer.

 

[Mpcalfa2]

Would 35x12.5xR17 fit with a 2.25 Rancho front level? I apologize if this was already answered but didn't see it. Previous owner had 2.8 Bilstein with 2" back spacers.

 

[mr red beard]

This might not be the right place to ask but I have a 2014 1500 tradesmen crew cab 4wd. I purchased Bilsteins 5100's and did the 2.75 leveling setting
I plan on doing a 4inch tuff country lift and want to make sure i can use my bilsteins in the front and stock shocks in the back with this kit.
https://www.suspensionconnection.com/34106-ram-1500.html any help would be appreciated!

 

[autumnwalker]

Excellent thread; very informative!

Can we add roof / shark fin height measurements? It'd be great to know the various average heights of trucks leveled / raked, 4" / 6", on 35's, 37's, etc.

 

[hoss2695]

Thanks a lot. It informed me on all my questions that I had with spacers. Thanks again

 

[fisstt]

This is one amazing write up. I really appreciate having somewhere to learn. I just bought me a 2015 bighorn. crew cab 4x4 with hemi 5.7. beautiful truck. nut I want to put a 6" lift with bilsteins front and back to get it level. was gonna get a zone lift kit. im on a budget now lol. my question is what would all would I need to put 35/13.5/20 on stock rims? if I can do it I would like to put 37/13.5/20" tires if they would fit. how would it look? everyone's opinion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[vwboomer]

A good write up - but it cost me money because I saw how easy/cheap it would be lol

Well, it wasn't easy on one side. I fought the front end for a few hours before claiming victory - ended up cutting the shaft of the stock strut with a sawzall because that hex end stripped off. 2 years and it was rusted tight.

I also put bags and TGC 1" spacer in the rear - that took a total of 45 minutes. I had read about the clicking noise and was unconcerned as my hitch also rattles some.

But, being that I live in the Rust Belt, that metal to metal contact concerns me. I feel like they should have included a rubber isolator to prevent that.

But the truck looks damn good now without that 2.5" rake that came stock

 

[DustanT]

Thanks for the write up, I just did the 5100 on 2.8 and a spacer 1" in the back. I'm wonder what you guys think of this spacer, not sure it's of good quality.

 

[dalton2425Texas]

Thanks for the write up, I just did the 5100 on 2.8 and a spacer 1" in the back. I'm wonder what you guys think of this spacer, not sure it's of good quality.

View attachment 137589

View attachment 137590

Is it not fully seated? What brand?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Turncoat]

I was looking at running 305/55 Ridge Grapplers on my 20x9 -12 wheels. I have Bils set at 2.8 and a 1 inch rear spacer. I’m thinking the Ridge Grapplers are going to rub now with the aggressive sidewall. Hmm...

 

[FirstHemi]

Im pretty sure the spacer is supposed to go on the top side of spring.

 

[WhiteHotRam]

Im pretty sure the spacer is supposed to go on the top side of spring.

They make spacers to go top and bottom. the one in the pic is made to go on the bottom as shown.
Nothing wrong with it, but the top pic does look like its not seated correctly.

 

[FirstHemi]

Never saw them like that, thanks for clarifying that, that's why i joined this forum. To learn and share when possible.

 

[WhiteHotRam]

Never saw them like that, thanks for clarifying that, that's why i joined this forum. To learn and share when possible.

Yeah, same here, there are thousands of threads, millions of opinions and a gazillion components and ways to lift trucks. Ya just have to sift through as many as you can stand to figure out what's right for your own application. Still tryin to figure out mine.

 

[Randy Oglesby]

Hey, I have a question pertaining to the Bilstein B8 5100 adjustable struts. I understand how they work but wouldn't they compromise the overall ride quality of the truck by compressing the spring more than factory and cause a stiffer ride?