2015 Ram 3500: Tire & Wheel Specifications

Quick Answer

Here are the essential tire and wheel specifications for the 2015 Ram 3500. Always confirm details on your vehicle's door placard before making any purchases or adjustments.

• OEM Tire Sizes: LT235/80R17 (DRW), LT275/70R18 (SRW), LT285/60R20 (SRW)
• Recommended Cold Tire Pressure (Placard):
  • SRW Front: 60-65 PSI (confirm for gas vs. diesel)
  • SRW Rear: 80 PSI (max load) / 45 PSI (light load, if applicable)
  • DRW Front: 75 PSI
  • DRW Rear: 65 PSI
• Bolt Pattern: 8x200mm
• Wheel Size: 17x6.0" (DRW), 18x8.0" (SRW), 20x8.0" (SRW)
• Load Index / Speed Rating: Load Range E, e.g., 121/118S
• Spare Tire: Full-size, typically matching the primary LT275/70R18 or LT235/80R17 tires.
• TPMS Frequency: 433 MHz

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2015 Ram 3500 Tire Sizes by Trim

The 2015 Ram 3500's configuration—Single Rear Wheel (SRW) or Dual Rear Wheel (DRW)—is the primary factor determining its factory tire size. Higher trim levels often included optional 20-inch wheels on SRW models.

Trim	Axle	Standard Tire Size	Optional Tire Size
Tradesman	SRW	LT275/70R18E	-
Tradesman	DRW	LT235/80R17E	-
SLT	SRW	LT275/70R18E	LT285/60R20E
SLT	DRW	LT235/80R17E	-
Laramie	SRW	LT275/70R18E	LT285/60R20E
Laramie	DRW	LT235/80R17E	-
Laramie Longhorn	SRW	LT275/70R18E	LT285/60R20E
Laramie Longhorn	DRW	LT235/80R17E	-

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Recommended Replacement Tires

Choosing the right tire depends on your budget and how you use your truck—from daily driving and highway cruising to towing heavy loads and venturing off-road.

• Premium All-Terrain/Highway: Michelin Defender LTX M/S - ($$$$) A top-tier option known for its exceptional tread life, quiet ride, and excellent wet/dry traction. It's an outstanding highway tire that can handle light gravel and job sites with confidence.
• Mid-Tier All-Terrain: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 - ($$$) A legend in the all-terrain category, the KO2 offers a perfect balance of on-road manners and aggressive off-road capability. It's a great choice if your truck frequently sees dirt, mud, or snow.
• Value All-Terrain: Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT - ($$) Often cited as one of the best values on the market, the Discoverer AT3 LT provides durable construction for towing and hauling, reliable all-terrain traction, and a comfortable ride without the premium price tag.
• Dedicated Commercial/Towing (DRW): Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse HT - ($$$) For dually trucks that spend most of their time pulling heavy trailers, a commercial-grade highway tire is often the best bet. This tire is built for stability under load and long-lasting performance on pavement.

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When to Inflate to Max Load PSI

As a heavy-duty truck, your 2015 Ram 3500's door placard likely shows two different rear tire pressure recommendations. The lower pressure (often around 45 PSI on SRW models) is for unloaded or "light load" driving to provide a more comfortable ride.

You must inflate the rear tires to the higher, maximum load pressure (80 PSI for SRW; 65 PSI for DRW) whenever you are:

• Towing a trailer.
• Hauling heavy materials in the bed (over 1,000 lbs).

Failure to increase tire pressure to the recommended maximum before loading the truck can cause excessive tire flex, dangerous heat buildup, poor handling, and greatly increases the risk of a blowout. The front tires, which support the consistent weight of the engine, typically only have one pressure recommendation (e.g., 60-65 PSI for SRW) that should be maintained at all times.

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Lug Nut Torque & Pattern

Properly torquing your lug nuts is critical for safety, preventing wheel damage, and avoiding warped brake rotors.

• Lug Nut Torque Spec (SRW & DRW): 149 ft-lbs for steel wheels and 130 ft-lbs for aluminum wheels.
• Socket Size: 22mm
• Tightening Pattern: Always tighten the lug nuts in a star or crisscross pattern to ensure the wheel is seated evenly against the hub. Never tighten them in a circle. Torque the nuts in stages (e.g., 50 ft-lbs, then 100 ft-lbs, then the final spec) using a calibrated torque wrench.

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Common Tire Issues for the 2015 Ram 3500

• Rapid Front Tire Wear: The heavy front end, especially with the Cummins diesel engine, can cause rapid wear on the outside edges of the front tires. This is often a sign of an alignment issue, specifically incorrect camber or toe settings. Regular tire rotations (every 5,000 miles) and annual alignments are essential.
• "Death Wobble": While not strictly a tire issue, worn tires can exacerbate the violent front-end vibration known as death wobble. The root cause is typically worn steering or suspension components (track bar, ball joints, steering damper), but out-of-balance tires will make the condition much more noticeable and frequent.
• TPMS Sensor Faults: The 433 MHz TPMS sensors can fail with age. The battery inside the sensor is not serviceable, so the entire sensor must be replaced when it fails. A persistent TPMS warning light on the dash, even with correctly inflated tires, points to a failed sensor or a programming issue.

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