2019 Ram 3500: Tire Size, Pressure & Wheel Specs

Quick answer

• OEM Tire Size: LT275/70R18E (standard on most trims)
• Recommended Cold Tire Pressure (Placard): 65 PSI (Front), 80 PSI (Rear) for most applications. Always verify with your driver's side door jamb sticker.
• Bolt Pattern: 8x200 (8 lug)
• Wheel Size: 18x8.0 (standard)
• Load Index / Speed Rating: 125/122S
• Spare Tire Size: Full-size spare, typically LT275/70R18E
• TPMS Frequency: 433 MHz

Tire Sizes by Trim

Recommended Replacement Tires

Choosing the right tire depends on your budget and how you use your truck. Here are a few popular and highly-rated options for the Ram 3500:

• $$$ (Premium): Michelin Defender LTX M/S - A top-tier, all-season highway tire known for its exceptional ride comfort, long tread life, and excellent wet/snow traction. It's a perfect choice if you spend most of your time on pavement.
• $$ (Mid-Range): BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 - If you mix on-road driving with off-road adventures, the KO2 is a legendary choice. It offers aggressive off-road traction and a tough, durable construction without sacrificing too much on-road comfort.
• $ (Budget-Friendly): Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus - A solid highway-terrain tire that provides a good balance of performance and value. It delivers a quiet ride and reliable all-season performance for daily driving and hauling.

When to Inflate to Max Load PSI

Your 2019 Ram 3500 is a heavy-duty truck designed for serious work. The recommended cold tire pressure on your door placard (e.g., 65 PSI front, 80 PSI rear) is ideal for everyday driving and light loads. However, you should inflate your tires to the maximum cold PSI indicated on the tire's sidewall when you are:

1. Towing a Heavy Trailer: When towing a fifth-wheel, gooseneck, or heavy conventional trailer, inflating the rear tires to their maximum pressure provides the stiffness needed to handle the tongue weight and prevent sway.
2. Hauling a Heavy Load in the Bed: If you have a significant amount of weight in the truck bed (e.g., a slide-in camper, construction materials), inflating the rear tires to the max ensures stability and prevents excessive tire sag and heat buildup.

Running max PSI provides the tire's maximum load-carrying capacity. Always return to the placard pressure for normal driving to ensure proper tread wear and ride comfort.

Lug Nut Torque & Pattern

• Lug Nut Torque: 149 ft-lbs (202 Nm)
• Lug Pattern: 8x200
• Tightening Pattern: Always tighten 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 two stages: first to half the specified torque, then to the full 149 ft-lbs.

Common Tire Issues for This Vehicle

• "Death Wobble": Like many solid front axle trucks, the Ram 3500 can be susceptible to a violent shaking of the front end known as "death wobble." This is not a single-cause issue, but it is often triggered by hitting a bump at speed. Worn or out-of-balance tires can be a major contributing factor. If you experience this, have your tires, steering, and suspension components (track bar, ball joints, steering damper) inspected immediately.
• Rapid Front Tire Wear: Due to the weight of the Cummins diesel engine, front tires can wear more quickly, especially on the outer edges. Regular tire rotations (every 5,000–7,500 miles) are critical to maximizing tire life. Ensure your alignment is checked annually, as incorrect camber or toe settings will accelerate this wear.

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