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10 Best Tires For Dodge Ram 1500
The Dodge Ram 1500 was released in 1981 under the Dodge brand to serve the heavy-duty pickup truck market. Dodge ran the Ram 1500 under its name until 2010. Starting in 2011, Ram became its brand, and new launches dropped the Dodge name to become the Ram 1500.
Tires included in this guide are broken into specific categories to meet drivers’ needs. For example, drivers looking for comfort can check out the best touring and best highway tire categories to find something unique for their vehicle.
Many tires included can also play a versatile role and support multiple driving functions. For example, the General Grabber A/TX can be a great all-terrain, mud-terrain, and all-purpose tire with plenty of features to offer.
Below you can find the ten best tires available for the Dodge Ram 1500:
Michelin Defender LTX M/S - Best All Season
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As larger vehicles like the Dodge Ram 1500 continue to become more powerful, tire makers must adjust. In the past, pickup trucks did not have the same capability to drive at high speeds, but that has changed. Michelin has created the perfect all-season tire for the Dodge Ram in the Defender LTX M/S.
The Defender LTX M/S is the successor to the popular Michelin LTX M/S2. This new, upgraded model brings plenty of better features along with it. Michelin ensures that it has a 10% longer-lasting tread and ranks as a top highway, all-season tire choice for Dodge Ram 1500 drivers.
Michelin incorporates the Evertread compound into the design. The more robust, more durable compound can withstand colder temperatures and remain effective. The symmetric pattern also allows for interlocking between the tread blocks and 3D active sipes for more accurate road traction.
Michelin uses an array of lateral grooves and circumferential grooves along the tire shoulders to expel water for wet roads while enhancing road grip and hydroplane resistance. A unique technology known as the MaxTouch Construction is a feature to make a larger contact patch on the tire for more consistent tire wear.
Pros:
- Handles well in icy and snowy conditions.
- Treadlife is fantastic.
- Highway driving is comfortable and safe.
Cons:
- High quality, but expensive.
FAQ
What sizes can I buy this tire in?
Michelin manufactures this tire for many vehicles with available sizes ranging between 15” and 20” in rim diameter. It can be found in both P and LT sizes too.
What warranty is offered with this tire?
One thing that is for sure with every Michelin tire is the warranty policy will be the best. On this tire, there is a six-year or 70,000-mile policy for T and H-rated tires. The warranty dips down to 50,000 miles for LT tires.
How many miles will this tire last?
Customers have claimed to use these tires long past the 70,000-mile warranty policy in the past. The treads are reliable and give you multiple years of usage.
Continental CrossContact LX20 - Best Touring
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Continental is a reliable tire brand to pair with your Dodge Ram 1500. The newer, upgraded CrossContactLX20 improves the traditional CrossContact LX with better handling and performance features. For additional comfort and longer-lasting tread life, the best choice is to put this touring tire on your Ram 1500.
There are a few reasons why we love the CrossContact LX20 so much more than other competitors' touring/* tires. The eco-friendly tread design, all-season performance capability, and superior internal structure for optimal ride comfort make it a reliable option.
The eco-friendly tread contains Tg-F polymers and +Silane additives, unlike other tires solely relying on a silica or carbon compound. Continental uses something that provides better fuel efficiency and can also last longer because of more consistent road contact.
Continental uses both circumferential grooves and Traction Groove technology to layer the tire structure with outboard ridges for better water, ice, and snow outflow to maintain excellent all-season driving. The placement of these grooves is more strategic than most realize to promote both better traction and reduce road noise.
While the groove placement does help with ride comfort, the features don’t stop there. There is extra tire support on the internal structure from a wrapped polyamide for added tire strength.
Pros:
- High-end treadwear warranty.
- Absorbs road vibrations with ease for quiet riding.
- Handling is pure on all surfaces.
Cons:
- Winter braking is a minor defect that can struggle at times.
FAQ
What sizes can I buy this tire in?
This is a popular touring tire choice. Continental releases sizes between 15” and 20” in rim diameter to perfectly fit your Dodge Ram 1500.
What warranty is offered with this tire?
The warranty offered by Continental is a six-year or 70,000-mile limited tread life warranty policy. An extended policy like this is reassurance from the tire brand and a display of confidence in the tread life.
Can this tire drive in the snow?
Yes absolutely! We are confident in the overall handling of this tire in the snow, but caution is required. It does not provide winter tire support levels. The braking could be improved, but traction is extremely reliable.
Firestone Transforce HT - Best Summer
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The Dodge Ram 1500 is unique because there isn’t a traditional summer tire to put on this vehicle. They are better suited for more lightweight, performance driving vehicles. The Ram 1500 focuses on power, making the Firestone Transforce HT the best summer tire option.
Firestone uses Long Link Carbon as the primary compound in this tread design. This compound creates more traction, better durability, and enhanced handling features. Another unique design is the computerized pattern with center rib interlocking capabilities.
Broad extension shoulder blocks support cornering to grip the road better while turning, steering, and braking. These shoulder blocks also interlock with the middle tread blocks for wet pavement traction.
A set of four circumferential grooves and lateral groove channels provide optimal hydroplaning resistance for more accurate and safe driving in rainy weather. There are also sipes and biting edges to gain extra grip functionality.
What separates this tire from other summer tire picks is the new noise reduction feature in recent Firestone tire models. It is a 5-degree noise reduction pattern technology in the treads to absorb the road vibrations more accurately.
Pros:
- Road stability is best-in-class.
- Smooth riding with extra comfort and noise reduction technology.
- Dry traction is elite.
Cons:
- Winter performance is poor.
- No limited treadwear warranty.
FAQ
What sizes can I buy this tire in?
This tire is rarer on the market, with only a handful of sizes available. It can be found in sizes between 15” and 18” in rim diameter.
What warranty is offered with this tire?
There is no limited warranty on this tire. However, there is a uniformity warranty for one year or the first 1/32” of tire wear.
What happens if I drive this tire in the winter?
While technically, this tire does use an all-season tread, it is not recommended for winter driving. It offers below-average support in snow, ice, and cold temperatures.
Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi3 - Best Winter
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Winter driving requires a tire with a soft enough rubber compound to remain flexible as the temperature gets colder. The best pick for the Dodge Ram 1500 is the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi3. New upgrades on this third-generation model help separate from other competing winter models.
The winter tread is made from FleX-Ice silica, a unique technology developed by the Michelin team. It creates extra flexibility in the tire for more all-around road traction. It can handle warmer roads and temperatures better than any other winter tire on the market.
Michelin also puts a lot of focus on eco-friendly technologies with the GreenX tread. It helps lower rolling resistance and reduces CO2 emissions—all of this to improve tire fuel efficiency.
A directional tread pattern creates a reliable channel for the cross Z sipes to do their damage. This is an efficient way to cut through snow, ice, and slush without sliding. Along with the tread blocks, Michelin uses Mico-Pumps to improve the grip on slippery surfaces.
Michelin even goes as far as to say this tire provides a 10% increase in short distance braking on snow while doubling the expected tread life compared to the Xi2.
Pros:
- Most reliable tread life on the winter tire market.
- Best-in-class snow and ice traction.
- Comfortable highway and street driving.
Cons:
- Cornering in wintry conditions could be upgraded.
FAQ
What sizes can I buy this tire in?
Available tire sizes for this winter model range between 15” and 18” in rim diameter.
What warranty is offered with this tire?
Michelin has you covered as one of the few brands on the market to offer a reliable winter tire limited treadwear warranty. This policy is for six years or 40,000 miles in coverage.
Can I use this tire in the summer?
We do not recommend this tire for summer usage. While it does provide adequate handling as the temperatures warm up, performance levels will drop, and the tire will wear down significantly quicker when exposed to consistent heat.
Falken Ziex S/TZ05 - Best Performance Street
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If you are looking to add new driving features to your Dodge Ram 1500, a performance street tire is one option to consider. You can expect to significantly improve the dry road traction, cornering, and high-speed stability with a change to the Falken Ziex S/TZ05 tire. It is an all-season tire with specific technologies used to enhance critical driving characteristics.
The tire development begins with the all-season tread made from a five non-rib design and a directional tread pattern. This compound combines to create an internal structure that rides more evenly on the pavement. By doing so, the tread life improves, and the traction with cornering and braking is nearly perfect.
Steering responsiveness is another strength due to the firm center rib. This creates reliable power laterally across the tire to handle difficult situations like braking and quicker turns with ease.
Wet handling is above average too. There are double tapered blocks along the treads to give the tire a sleek look while emphasizing the consistent water flow through tire channels for hydroplaning resistance.
Most importantly, road noise is minimal because of the upgraded lug grooves along the interior of the shoulder blocks. They use noise reduction rubbers to absorb sounds while keeping the ride comfortable and smooth.
Pros:
- Wet road handling is highly accurate and high-performing.
- Dry traction is consistent and the best feature on this tire.
- Tread life is solid.
- Steering is accurate on highways and cornering.
Cons:
- Snow and winter performance is below average.
FAQ
What sizes does this tire come in?
This tire is made for more oversized vehicles, and sizes are sold in the upper range of sizes. The exact sizes available are between 18” and 26” in rim diameter. While this tire won’t fit every Dodge Ram 1500 model, it is an excellent choice for compatible models.
What is the warranty on this tire?
Falken provides a reliable 50,000-mile limited tread life warranty on the Ziex S/TZ05. Uniformity is also covered for the first 2/32” of wear.
How noisy is this tire?
Tire noise is a strength of this tire. Falken addresses the issue from past models by upgrading to noise-blocking lug grooves to improve driving experiences with this tire.
Kumho Road Venture APT KL51 - Best Highway
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Highway tires are a necessity for some drivers. If you spend most of your time taking long drives or just want to maximize the comfort and tread life from your tire, this is the category you should be shopping in. The best highway tire for the Dodge Ram 1500 is the Kumho Road Venture APT KL51.
It is an all-season touring tire made to serve the SUV and pickup truck markets effectively. Kumho has created a unique all-season that focuses on durability and comfort while maintaining performance features like traction and handling.
When the weather turns, winter and rain can cause you headaches. This tire utilizes a continuous rib throughout for stability in all weather conditions. With the rib in place, the tire can maintain a center of gravity for better balance while driving.
Wet traction is supported by circumferential grooves, lateral grooves, and interlocking sipes. All three features run through the independent tread blocks to create the ultimate winter performance product. With the sipes releasing extra bite particles on snow and ice, short distance braking in the winter becomes reliable.
Pros:
- Overall, tire comfort is as good as you can find for this model vehicle.
- Steering improvements are evident right away.
- Cornering is sharp and precise.
- High-end warranty policy.
Cons:
- Winter braking could use an upgrade.
FAQ
What sizes does this tire come in?
This tire comes widely available in sizes ranging between 15” and 20” in rim diameter to fit every available model of the Dodge Ram 1500.
What is the warranty on this tire?
This warranty is in the top tier for all-season highway tires. The policy provides six years or 60,000 miles in limited tread life coverage.
Is this a good winter tire?
Yes absolutely! This is one of the more balanced tires. While you shouldn’t expect winter tire levels of traction and handling, it still performs above average and can be counted on consistently to deliver.
General Grabber A/TX - Best All-Terrain
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As pickups and SUVs continue to expand with features and new releases, the importance of all-terrain tires only continues to increase. Both natural, hardcore off-roading vehicles and tires are in high demand, and finding a top-notch option is not an easy task. However, we have a real winner in the General Grabber A/TX.
General has a long list of tire options in the Grabber lineup and continues to upgrade older versions. The A/TX is an innovation from a predecessor to address lacking tire strength, durability, and performance. With new advanced technologies, customers can expect the best.
The most notable upgrade is in the tread design with the StabiliTread Technology. This is an advanced compound that increases the traction both on pavement and on off-road terrains.
Another unique technology is the DuraGen Technology that adds ultra-strength to the tire’s internal structure with better twin steel belts and an upgraded polyester casing. All of this works to combined toughness and comfort.
General also focuses on-road comfort, knowing the importance of a tire that rides over complex surfaces. The Comfort Balance technology does everything to improve ride stability, tire longevity, and road noise levels.
Expect only the best when relying on the Grabber A/TX.
Pros:
- Long-lasting tread life with maximum durability tire construction.
- Quiet driving is unbeatable in the all-terrain tire category.
- Winter traction is exceptionally reliable.
- A low percentage of tire punctures and flats.
Cons:
- There are better options in this category for highway or street driving.
FAQ
What sizes does this tire come in?
This tire is available in sizes ranging between 14” and 20” in rim diameter for a wide range of Dodge Ram 1500 models.
What is the warranty on this tire?
The warranty on this tire is for six years or up to 60,000 miles. Coverage drops to only 50,000 miles for LT-rated tires.
Does this tire drive comfortably on pavement?
It does drive comfortably on the pavement. Road vibrations and noise are minimal. Other tires perform better on pavement, but overall comfort is excellent.
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 - Best Mud-Terrain
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The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 is our favorite mud-terrain tire for the Ram 1500. It is a high-performance off-road option with maximum traction and durability features.
The compound consists of an off-roading rubber tread with thicker blocks for traction on wet, slippery surfaces like mud. Something new to this upgraded model is the linear flex zones that create a unique pattern on the treads to absorb obstacles on the road better. It also helps to avoid punctures from stones or rocks.
The tire contains wider voids and sidewall lugs to increase traction. With more prominent grooves, mud can get into the grooves more without disrupting the traction on the road. It also works on rain, snow, and slush too.
Ride comfort is excellent, too, with a single-strand bead holding the internal tire structure together.
Pros:
- Off-road performance is solid.
- Quietest tire pick in the mud-terrain category.
- Tread life is long-lasting with cut and chip resistance.
Cons:
- Icy roads are a weakness and constrict the short distance brake ability.
FAQ
What sizes does this tire come in?
This tire is available in sizes ranging between 15” and 20”, with most of the available sizes as an LT-rated model.
What is the warranty on this tire?
There is no limited tread life warranty available for this tire, but you can expect many miles before any wear is noticeable.
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus - Best All-Purpose
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One of our top three overall tire recommendations is the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus. This tire can do a little bit of everything and is made a high-performance tire from one of the most reputable brands on the entire tire market.
You can expect a tread that focuses on a lower rolling resistance, better fuel efficiency, and overall traction improvements. The silica tread makes it all possible and works in an asymmetric pattern to bring it all together.
Wet conditions are handled with ease too. There are longitudinal sipes to help with water flow, ice, and snow. The wide circumferential grooves do the same and create dry tire contact surfaces for braking and handling.
Pirelli has started to focus on creating high-performance tires with eco-friendly features, which is one of the best.
Pros:
- One of the highest performing, eco-friendly tires.
- Comfortable highway driving.
- Widely available in many sizes.
- Traction and handling are perfect.
Cons:
- No cons worth mentioning.
FAQ
What is the warranty on this tire?
Pirelli provides an unlimited time and 65,000-mile tread life warranty on this tire.
Goodyear Radial Spare - Best Temporary Spare
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When searching for a temporary spare, it is essential to match the spare with your original tire dimensions for the best fit and overall ride quality. It is a great backup plan to have in an emergency, and the Goodyear Radial Spare is the best compatible choice for the Dodge Ram 1500.
The significant difference in a temporary spare is that the tread depth is thinner, and the tire weight is much lighter. This allows installation and storage to be easier, but driving ability drops quite a bit. Vehicles experience major setbacks while driving on a temporary spare.
The Goodyear Radial spare weighs 32 lbs with a max capacity load of 2,535 lbs. This is one of the larger spares available to handle big trucks like the Ram 1500.
Pros:
- Lightweight construction to avoid weighing down the vehicle.
- Optimal sizing for more accessible trunk storage.
Cons:
- Not as durable as a traditional tire.
- Cannot handle higher speeds or long distances.
FAQ
How many miles can this last?
This temporary spare is made to last up to 70 miles of driving distance. After 70 miles, you are risking a potential tire blowout or vehicle damage. The treads are too narrow, and with such shallow depth, they wear very quickly.
What is the top speed I can drive?
The top speed you should drive with the Goodyear Radial Spare on your Ram 1500 is 50 MPH. Any faster can cause issues with your vehicles like a flat tire or internal suspension failures. Avoid the highways when possible and maintain lower speeds to stay safe.
Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus - Factory Tire
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Bridgestone supplies the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus as a popular option for the crossover, SUV, and pick-up truck market. You can expect to get all-season traction, fuel-efficient performance, and overall driving comfort.
The design begins with a symmetric pattern that generates more traction while reducing road vibrations for smoother, more comfortable rides. It is designed as a way to provide highway stability and long-term driving durability.
Road stability and corner are aided by notched shoulder blocks and a continuous center rib that interlocks for more steering responsiveness and handling capability. Bridgestone likes to market its ability as a long-term tire, and we have seen the results in our tests for how well the treads hold up over time. Drivers can expect up to 80k miles before severe wear occurs.
All-season driving relies on a few key features to hold up during rain and snow. As the temperature drops, this tire tread maintains flexibility for above-average handling.
Four circumferential grooves create a channel to expel water from key contact areas on the tire for better traction. The lateral notches and high-depth sipes create a solid and reliable grip with biting particles.
Pros:
- Top limited tread life warranty available.
- Highway and steering responsiveness is precise.
- All-weather traction is highly consistent.
Cons:
- Short-distance braking is an issue for drivers.
FAQ
What sizes does this tire come in?
This tire comes in sizes ranging between 15” and 20” in rim diameter for any drivers interested in purchasing.
What is the warranty on this tire?
Bridgestone offers a five-year or 80,000-mile limited tread life warranty on the Alenza Plus. This is one of the most reliable warranties found in the tire market.
How to Read a Dodge Ram 1500 Tire?
Each tire comes with a string of characters along the sidewall describing key specifications such as the tire type, width, etc. For a newbie, understanding exactly what this writing means can be complex. We have created an easy-to-read chart describing what each symbol means so you can shop and make accurate purchasing decisions for your Dodge Ram 1500 tire.
Dodge Ram 1500 Tire Sizes
The Dodge Ram 1500 was an available model until 2010. After 2010, Ram broke off from Dodge and became its own brand. Releases officially became the Ram 1500 in 2011 and still release this way today.
Below are the different sizes that fit your vehicle based on the vehicle type and release date.
About The Author
Tyler Herndon
Working as a restoration tech on exclusively Mopar offerings of the late 60’s and early 70’s honed the skills to build what I consider the most prestigious make of American cars of that era. The iconic slant six, behemoth 426 Hemi and everything in between shaped my view on the automotive world. I’ve translated those skills towards vehicles that “everyman” has access to enjoy and Mopar influence still plays a significant role.
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