I realize that there are many posts on this forum regarding tires, but I can’t seem to get a clear understanding on what I can do in my situation. I also mistakenly posted this initially on the 3rd Gen section, and I'm trying to figure out how to delete that other post. Anyway, I have an 01 Dodge Ram Sport 1500, 4WD, ½ Ton, 360 engine. I bought it used, and I think someone replaced the original rims on it. I need to get tires, and I would like to put 285/70R17 tires on there.

The door sticker says it calls for P245/75R16 tires, yet I currently have LT275/70R17 tires on the truck. So, I know I have 17” rims, and I had someone measure their width at a tire shop yesterday, and they are 8 ½” wide. Theoretically, I should be able to put 285/70R17 tires on the rims, but I don’t know if that is a bad idea to do that or not. I spoke with someone yesterday that said if I do that, it could potentially affect the speedometer, the shifting of the gears, and also the ABS system. As far as my use of the truck, I mostly use it to drive anywhere from 35-50 mile trips (each way), on curvy roads and hills. I have a bed cover and do not haul a lot of weight, but I will sometimes pull a 13’ trailer with a load of mulch or 1 ton of gravel.

I figured that I might find some experts on here that would have the best advice on this matter. Here are pics of my door sticker, along with the rims I have, and a pic of the truck showing the clearance with my current tires. I would like to get the 285/70R17 just because I think they would look a little better on there, but it certainly wouldn’t be worth damaging anything on my truck. I didn’t realize there were so many factors that went into buying tires. Can I safely put these bigger tires on, or would that be a bad idea for this truck?

This is what my truck currently has:

Mastercraft Courser AXT LT275/70R17 C/6PR WL
Aspect Ratio: 70
Rim Diameter: 17
Overall Diameter: 32.2
Load Index: 114/110
Speed Index: R
Tread Depth: 16.5
Weight: 47.0

This is what I am interested in buying:
Lexani Terrain Beast AT LT285/70R17 121/118Q M+S
Load Index: 121/118
Speed Index: Q
DOT: Yes
Overall Diameter: 33.000

Thanks,

Anthony



By measuring across the rim, it appears that they are 18" rims, but I think that must not be the proper way to get the true diameter of the rims, since I have 17" tires on them.

 

You are only going not even an inch larger. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

Thank you. I just didn't want to do something that would cause issues.

 

Those are stock Off Road wheels from 2000-01. Door stickers are not indicative of added packages or trims. You can most definitely put the 285s on and even larger but your speedo will be off.

Look at my tires.