Is there a reason my '87 Power RAM W150 looks lifted?

[dads87]

I recently (this week!) got a 1987 Dodge Power RAM W150. I will need to buy tires, and I would like some that "fill out" the space better, if that makes sense. Is that possible without going to a bigger wheel size? To me, the wheels and tires look kind of lost with all the room they have. I'm thinking maybe it was lifted at some point. Or is this just the look it's going to have with 15" wheels? These tires in the photo are 30 x 9.5 R15. The sale ticket from brand new shows it came with 31 x 10.5 R15. I'm not going to be using this as a farm truck like my father did, but I want to be able to take it on dirt roads--some the kind where the tires are in ruts and the center is raised. I'm working on making it my local daily driver, so I don't want it to look like a monster truck, but I care at least a little about the looks. And, before anybody asks, I'm about to take the hood ornament off to prevent theft. Thanks for input on this.

 

[1979 300]

I had a 1987 W150 I bought new in 1987. This photo was taken around 1990. It had 31x10.5 R15 tires in the summer picture and was all stock, except for Monroe Gas Magnum shocks which were very popular in those days. They may have given it a quarter inch lift at most. The picture in the snow was when it had 30x9.5R 15 tires. The factory shocks were pretty light duty, I actually put the front ones on the rear of a Dodge Dart I had and they fit. This should give you a good idea of how they looked from the factory.

 

[u2slow]

There's some 33" sizes that will fit stock wheels. 10.5" or 9.5" wide (i forget). Popular with the Toyota crowd.

It's very easy to throw 2" spring lift into a stock truck and change nothing else. (May have been done?) That is how the cummins trucks are set up, and 33's fit easily, stock.

 

[dusterdude]

If its lifted,i like a 33x12.50 tire.they look good like that.heres a not so good pic of mine.it has a lift a some kind on it and 33's

 

[dads87]

I had a 1987 W150 I bought new in 1987. This photo was taken around 1990. It had 31x10.5 R15 tires in the summer picture and was all stock, except for Monroe Gas Magnum shocks which were very popular in those days. They may have given it a quarter inch lift at most. The picture in the snow was when it had 30x9.5R 15 tiresView attachment 560171View attachment 560172. The factory shocks were pretty light duty, I actually put the front ones on the rear of a Dodge Dart I had and they fit. This should give you a good idea of how they looked from the factory.

Thanks. That's exactly the tire size this truck had when purchased new, and then now (smaller tires). That top pic gives me a good idea how mine might look if I put the 31x10.5 tires on there. If my tires have any more space than yours did in 1990, it isn't much more.

(I haven't used online forums in a long time, so forgive me if I did it wrong with the quoting and whatever.)

 

[dads87]

There's some 33" sizes that will fit stock wheels. 10.5" or 9.5" wide (i forget). Popular with the Toyota crowd.

It's very easy to throw 2" spring lift into a stock truck and change nothing else. (May have been done?) That is how the cummins trucks are set up, and 33's fit easily, stock.

That helps. I haven't ever had anything but stock wheels on a vehicle. So, even though I saw a 1987 W150 with 33" tires on a 15" rim, that doesn't mean my stock 15" rims would work with a tire size. Good to know.

 

[dads87]

If its lifted,i like a 33x12.50 tire.they look good like that.heres a not so good pic of mine.it has a lift a some kind on it and 33's

Yep, I like that look, too. I also have to think about how high I want to step in and out of it.

 

[dusterdude]

I hear ya,im a short sob and she will be getting nerf bars in a few months

 

[David Vandercook]

Don't take your hood ornament off, get a grand general brand, they bolt on so you can't rip them off easy. They look to good to not have on there

 

[RamDiver]

Yep, I like that look, too. I also have to think about how high I want to step in and out of it.

You're best off asking others about the maximum tire size to prevent inner fender scuffing on full turns but, another useful tool is an online tire comparison.

Be sure to click the comparison tab and enter the new tire size that you're considering.
This chart will also display the speedo error at different speeds.

I'm not certain if the usual apps we use to correct wheel sizes will apply to an '87.
Most States and Provinces only allow a 4% variation to remain legal.

Tire Size Calculator

The best tire size calculator. Use our tire size calculator to find tire size specs and suggested tire sizes. Then check prices for all available tire sizes.

tiresize.com

.

 

[u2slow]

Dodges usually have significant speedo error from the factory. On both the trucks I drive, 1-3" larger diameter has improved accuracy.

Edit: same thing on the gf's 2005 jeep liberty.

 

[Badger 13]

My 1985 W150 sat tall as well. I think I had 30" tires on it at the time.

 

[dads87]

Don't take your hood ornament off, get a grand general brand, they bolt on so you can't rip them off easy. They look to good to not have on there

Oh, I agree! I wanted to keep the original on there. When I move out of Dallas, I'll probably put it back on. Meanwhile, I'll see what Grand General and maybe other brands have out there. Also, I noticed that Razorback plate on the truck, and I see you're from Maumelle. I know it very well.

 

[dads87]

My 1985 W150 sat tall as well. I think I had 30" tires on it at the time.

View attachment 560388

I like that look a lot. Mine doesn't have that look. Is that a shortbed? I think the relative length might be fooling my eye when I look at other trucks online, and then find out they are the shortbed version.

 

[dads87]

Dodges usually have significant speedo error from the factory. On both the trucks I drive, 1-3" larger diameter has improved accuracy.

Edit: same thing on the gf's 2005 jeep liberty.

Great feedback. Thanks very much for the personal experience input.

 

[dads87]

You're best off asking others about the maximum tire size to prevent inner fender scuffing on full turns but, another useful tool is an online tire comparison.

Be sure to click the comparison tab and enter the new tire size that you're considering.
This chart will also display the speedo error at different speeds.

I'm not certain if the usual apps we use to correct wheel sizes will apply to an '87.
Most States and Provinces only allow a 4% variation to remain legal.

Tire Size Calculator

The best tire size calculator. Use our tire size calculator to find tire size specs and suggested tire sizes. Then check prices for all available tire sizes.

tiresize.com

View attachment 560310

.

I'd found that site, but didn't know it had that tool. I'll have to poke around over there a little more.

 

[dads87]

I hear ya,im a short sob and she will be getting nerf bars in a few months

Thank you for your service to our country. We need more short Marines.

 

[RamDiver]

Dodges usually have significant speedo error from the factory. On both the trucks I drive, 1-3" larger diameter has improved accuracy.

Edit: same thing on the gf's 2005 jeep liberty.

I'm sure they're not the only vehicles with speedo issues.
How often does the aftermarket tire's circumference match the OEM size?
Not too often, I'd bet.

I like to know exactly how accurate my speedo is because speeding tickets are costly.
Any city in this region has those nasty cash grabbers that catch your overspeed, snap a picture of your license plate, and finally that local authority mails you an expensive speeding ticket.

Do you have those systems everywhere in the US?

I tweaked the speedo accuracy on my Ram with AlfaOBD and verified with an old GPS.
With my previous vehicle of 14 years before the Ram, I knew the speedo error amount between summer & winter wheels, thanks to a GPS.

While I often drive like an old fart, sometimes I might be travelling a bit faster and prefer to know where I stand for paying through the wallet.

YMMV

.

 

[u2slow]

Speedo calibration on an '87 is done with different gears in the tail housing of the tcase, or with an inline ratio adapter in the speedo cable

Photo-radar ticketing is gone in BC afaik. There were problems with errors, and also whether it got pinned on the driver or owner. Too much wasted time/money on disputes and collections.

We do have those electronic-sign 'honesty' radars in certain locations reminding you of your speed.

 

[dusterdude]

Thank you for your service to our country. We need more short Marines.

Thank you