Best Tires for Ram 1500

The Best Tires for Ram 1500

So your truck needs new tires and you’re looking for advice. We’re glad you’re looking here and we’ll try not to get too bogged down in the tiny details, but instead deliver an easy-to-understand overview of the best tires for the Ram 1500.

As you might expect, there probably isn’t one “best” tire for any truck. So we’ve made a selection of suggestions below based on driving style personas. And if that’s still more info than you’re looking for, we’ve decided to put our reputation on the line and actually pick one best tire.

Ready?

Best Tires for Ram 1500

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin Defender LTX M/S Review

Here it is, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. This is as well-rounded a truck tire as you’ll find anywhere from the folks at Michelin – the world’s premiere tire manufacturer. (And if you think BF Goodrich is the world’s number one tire maker, well, BFG is made by Michelin… so we’re both right).

Here’s what makes this tire so special: it’s quiet, comfortable and long lasting with tread life of 70,000 miles (50,000 miles for LT versions). It can tackle some light off-roading and on-road delivers the best balance of grip in both in the wet and dry.

In fact, it features heavy siping to allow better winter grip than you’d expect in an all-season. It’s also engineered to hold up better if you do use it on gravel roads.

Plus, Michelin engineered this tire with it’s Total Performance guarantee. What this means is that the Defender LTX M/S is part of a new breed of tire that is specifically designed to maintain its performance over the life of the tire.

So what’s not to love? Well, it’s doesn’t do any one thing exceptionally well. So if you want crazy long life or superior off-roading, we’ve got a few additional selections for you.

PROS

  • Does all things well
  • Solid tread life
  • Long life
  • Maintains high levels of grip over the course of the tire’s life

CONS

  • Less off-road grip than many other options
  • Premium price

     

Best Off-Road Tires for Ram 1500

BFGoodrich T/A KO2

As mentioned, BFGoodrich is a sub-brand of Michelin and it really is the most truck-focused brand of tires out there. And amongst BFG’s tire options, the T/A KO2 is just an exceptional choice.

In an industry where tire manufacturers keep coming out with new “next-generation” versions of their tires to sell you on their evolutionary upgrades, BFG is holding steady. And why not when your tire is so much better than everything else on the market.

It’s durable, has amazing side-wall protection, is rated for snow use and overall is just the very best at all sorts of off-road pursuits, from pounding miles of dirt and rock trails, to rock-climbing, digging through mud and more.

Recently BFG even updated the latest version of the tire to include a tread life warranty of 50,000 miles. That’s low by all-terrain tire standards, but you can be sure you’ll get that mileage even with hard use.

PROS

  • Incredible off-road grip
  • Amazing durability
  • Winter capable

CONS

  • Definitely expensive
  • Limited on-road grip in the wet compared to most other all-terrain tires
  • Shorter tread life

     

Best All Season Tires for Ram 1500

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S

And when we say all-season, we actually mean it. We don’t mean three-season tires that are totally useless in winter weather. We mean certified winter tires.

From Cooper Tire, the Discoverer AT3 has long been a top choice for all-terrain truck tires. The 4S model adds to that with true winter weather grip, guaranteed by the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall. But it’s more than just a logo, the folks at Cooper understand winter tires (they’re based in Ohio after all).

And more than just winter tires, these are tier-1 all-terrain tires as well, so there’s grip in all sorts of circumstances, while the tire still retains the civility of an A/T tire too.

PROS

  • True off-road grip
  • Civilized on-road
  • Long tread life
  • Winter certified
  • Reasonably priced

CONS

  • Not as extremely capable as some rivals

     

Best On-Road/Off-Road Tire for Ram 1500

Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT

goodyear wrangler fortitude ht review

Highway Terrain tires are all the rage right now. Essentially an all-terrain tire with more on-road manners, overall these tires can be a bit of a let dow off the beaten path. Still, they’re superior to a conventional all-seasons. In that sense – think of them as all-season tires that are made for trucks that drive off-road more than once a year.

The real reason to get this tire is that it delivers off-road grip that’s pretty close to an all-terrain tire but with a tread life guarantee that ranges from 50,000 to 65,000 miles, depending on the specific tire.

PROS

  • Quiet and comfortable
  • Reasonably long life
  • Some off-road capability

CONS

  • Pricey
  • Limited off-road capability

     

Long Lasting Ram 1500 Tire

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus

Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza Plus review

Tires always seem to wear out fast than you want them to. The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus however, might actually be the one exception to that rule.

It’s a decent on-road tire with above-average grip in both wet and dry conditions. Plus it’s also a quiet ride and comfortable too.

But here’s the reason to buy: an 80,000 mile treadwear warranty. Yup, that’s massive!

Usually only mediocre all-season passenger car tires get a rating like that, but this is 80,000 miles on a big pickup truck through varied use. (A note of warning that if you do more than occasional off-road driving, you might not get to 80k). Still, for the majority of folks who use their truck for long hauls or just plenty of on-road miles, you’ll be seeing some impressively long life here.

PROS

  • Extremely long tread life
  • Both comfortable and quiet
  • Solid all-season performance

CONS

  • Driving dynamics not quite up to other premium rivals

     

Best Budget All Terrain Tire

Pathfinder AT

There are plenty of dirt cheap all-terrain tires on the market from brands you’ve never heard of. Now chances are you’ve never heard of Pathfinder tires before either, but that’s because it’s a house brand of tires made specifically for Discount Tire by Kumho Tires.

Offering decent, though not fantastic off-road grip, these tires are reasonably civilized on-road with above-average handling capability too. They come with a solid 55,000 mile tread life warranty and you’ll save a bundle on them.

PROS

  • Attractive pricing
  • Decent tread life
  • Impressive on-road manners

CONS

  • Limited availability
  • Mediocre off-road performance

Cheapest Tire for Ram 1500

Laufenn X Fit HT

We often preface our “cheapest tire” recommendations by saying this: you definitely can find a cheaper tire out there than the Laufenn X Fit HT. We just don’t recommend you buy that tire.

Now Laufenn might sound like some junk brand you’ve never heard of, and what it’s probably not a familiar name it is a division of Hankook, a globally respected brand in its own right.

This highway terrain tire offers very light off-roading capability but is mostly designed for on-road use. Handling is just ok. Noise volume and comfort are quite impressive. Tread life of 60,000 miles is just ok, but when you consider the price, these are a serious value.

PROS

  • All-terrain grip at a budget price
  • Reasonably refined on-road driving performance

CONS

  • Less capable off-road than most all-terrain tires
  • Short 45,000 mile tread life

 

Best Mud-Terrain Tire for Ram 1500

BFGoodrich TA KM3

What we love about the BFGoodrich TA KM3 isn’t just that it’s incredibly capable in loose earth and deep mud, but it’s also build for exceptional rock-crawling too. And it’s as tough as anything in the segment too.

On the tread you’ll find all the usual elements like huge tread blocks and plenty of void space, to dig into soft surfaces. Plus, the external tread blocks feature alternating scalloped edges to help generate additional grip. At the same time, the space between those treads includes stone ejectors, that flex to force out rocks or clear away mud to prevent buildup.

The center tread section includes unique divisions in the blocks that are designed specifically for when the tire is aired down. When it is, these work as additional edges to give grip on hard and sharp surfaces.

And as you might expect, this tire is also excellent at holding up over time. In addition to a 3-ply sidewall is uses BFG’s CoreGard Max Technology that was developed on the KM3 race tire. This more durable tread surface means it’ll withstand a lot of punishment.

PROS

  • The ultimate in off-road grip
  • Next-level durability
  • A mud-terrain tire that’s amazing on rocks

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Very expensive

     

Ram 1500 Tire Sizes

Below we’ve outlined the different trim levels available for the Ram 1500 pickup as well as the tire sizes available from the factory for each trim.

Big Horn Edition 275/65/18 or 275/55/20

Classic Express 265/70/17 or 275/60/20

Classic Tradesman 265/70/17 or 275/60/20

Classic Warlock 275/60/20

Laramie 275/65/18 or 275/55/20 or 285/45/22

Laramie Longhorn 275/55/20 or 285/45/22

Limited 275/55/20 or 285/45/22

Rebel 275/70/18

Tradesman 275/65/18 or 275/55/20

What Tires Come on the Ram 1500?

Below is a list of the factory equipped tire options for the Ram 1500.

18-inch tires

Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT

Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

20-inch tires

Nexen Roadian HTX RH5

Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza

Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

22-inch tires

Goodyear Eagle Touring

Will All-Terrain Tires Affect The Ride Quality of My Ram 1500?

All-Terrain tires should have little to no impact on the actual ride quality of a pickup truck. They will impact overall noise levels, though how much really depends on the specific tire.

Several versions of the Ram 1500 already come equipped from the factory with all-terrain tires, with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W being one such example.

All-Terrain tires are more likely to show an impact in on-road grip, with their larger and taller tread blocks flexing more under cornering. As well, some AT tires offer less wet grip, due to a lack of circumferential grooves for water evacuation.

A middle-of-the-road alternative that’s likely to work for many tire shoppers is a Highway Terrain tire. Some Ram 1500 models also come equipped with these from the factory. HT tires offer some light off-road grip while offering handling and noise levels that are nearly identical to an all-season. As well, highway terrain options have much longer tread life than all-terrain ones.

Tire Buying FAQ

Where can I find the best price on tires?

There is no one answer to this question unfortunately. Sites like Tire Rack and Discount tire offer deals all the time on specific brands. You can also find deals on Amazon though they are much harder to find and often only apply to a specific size or group of sizes. Visit our Tire Deals page for more info.

When is the best time to buy tires?

It’s common that many shoppers buy tires once its already too late. At that point you don’t have a lot of choice and can often over-pay. If you’re planning ahead, generally, retailers offer significant tire deals around major holiday weekends (especially in the summer), as well as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

How much is Shipping?

Shipping is often included when you purchase tires online. Many retailers offer free shipping if you get your tires shipped to an installer that they recommend. Even if you ship to your home, Tire Rack offers free shipping on purchases over $50. And if you’re buying new tires, that won’t be hard.

How long does shipping take?

Shipping can take just a few days, or over a week in the worst cases. Often it depends on where you live. anyone in a larger urban center or living closer to a tire distribution center can get them quite quickly.

Does anyone offer mobile tire installation?

Depending on where you live, there may be numerous local mobile tire installers available. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of tracking one down, TireRack offers its own service. You don’t even have to purchase tires from TireRack to use it.

While it’s more expensive than bringing your tires to the shop, it’s also a lot more convenient. Prices start at $25 per tire.

How much does it cost to install a tire?

Generally you’ll pay between $25 and $50 per tire for installation services. This includes mounting and balancing, while using the latest tools so your rims don’t get scuffed or scraped.

Do I need to replace the tire pressure monitoring system when I change tires?

It’s not necessary to replace TMPS sensors when you change tires, but you may want to consider it. The units can fail over time due to damage or corrosion. Also, most units contain a battery and as a sealed unit, they must be replaced when the battery wears down. While most tire installers will handle sourcing these parts for you, you can also buy your own here.

Do online tire retailers offer rebates?

Absolutely! In fact, rebates are offered by most brands (even premium ones). Often these incentives are offered with other deals including up-front discounts and credit card offers.

1 thought on “Best Tires for Ram 1500”

  1. I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie 4×4 that came stock with the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus. They are ok in the warmer months but my experience has been they are the WORST winter truck tire I have been around. The compound is hard as a diamond block once temperatures reach near freezing or below. They have absolutely no traction on ice. The are ok if you have snow pack but in deeper snow again they become useless. I loved my Falken AT3W that I had on my RAM that I traded in a few years ago other than they were heavy and you could feel the performance hit in both gas mileage and acceleration. The grip was very good in about every weather condition otherwise.

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