The Ram 1500 is one of the most popular half-ton pickup trucks out on the market today.
Even with its close rivalry with the likes of the F-150 and Silverado 1500, it remains a top contender in its class to this day.
Just like the other pickup trucks that we’ve reviewed, we will be focusing on the correct bolt pattern and other relevant details that are specific to the Ram 1500.
Note that despite Ram’s split with the Dodge brand in 2009, we have still included the details of earlier-generation Ram 1500 trucks that were made under Dodge to complete our list!
What is the bolt pattern of a Ram 1500?
2019 to 2022 Ram 1500s are equipped with a bolt pattern of 6×5.5 inches (6×139.7mm)
2011 to 2018 Ram 1500s and Dodge Ram 1500s and 150s manufactured from 1981 to 2010 all used the same bolt pattern of 5×5.5 inches (5×139.7mm)
As you can see above, the Ram 1500 truck only ever used two different bolt patterns since the name “Ram” was officially used by Dodge for the previous Ram 150 truck in 1981.
These various year models and generations, however, have different measurements for their other bolt specifications and even tire and rim sizes.
Just like the bolt pattern, these other measurements are also essential to achieving proper wheel fitment on your Ram 1500, so we will also be going over them in detail.
Wheel and Bolt Specifications for Each Ram 1500 Generation
The Ram 1500’s wheel and bolt specifications are a lot more specific compared to its bolt patterns, as it depends on the generation or production year.
The wheel specifications will simply be the tire and rim sizes available for each Ram 1500 generation. These will be paired with the various trim levels for that generation.
As for the bolt specifications, we will be including each Ram 1500 generation’s center bore diameter, wheel fastener type, thread size, and torque tightening requirement (torque spec).
5th-Generation Ram 1500 (2019 – Present/2022)
The 5th and current-generation Ram 1500 has 6 total trim levels, half of which have the “Rebel” designation that adds upgraded exterior and interior features compared to the standard Ram.
When the 5th generation first kicked off in 2019, only the 3.6 and 5.7-liter engines were offered.
It wasn’t until the following year (2020) that the smaller 3.0-liter engine would be added into the mix.
But despite having various trim levels, the 5th-generation Ram 1500 still shares the same set of bolt specifications across all of its trim levels and production years.
However, there are only two tire sizes and one rim size that come as standard from the factory.
Which of these two tire sizes you’ll have will simply depend on whether your Ram 1500 is a Rebel or non-Rebel trim.
Center Bore Diameter: 3.06 inches (77.8mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (6)
Thread Size: M14x1.5
Torque Spec: 130lb-ft (176Nm)
4th-Generation Ram 1500 (2009 – 2018)
The first two production years (2009 and 2010) of the 4th-generation Ram 1500 still made use of the “Dodge” badge despite the manufacturer’s decision to split from the Ram Trucks brand.
When the 2011 model year came, it was simply called the “Ram 1500”, which marked a new beginning for the Ram platform.
Despite the removal of the Dodge badge, the 2011 year model still specifically kept the same 9/16” – 18 UNF thread size found in prior Dodge Ram trucks.
Although, if you were to convert this thread size to the metric system, you would still land exactly at M14x1.5, which is the one used for all 4th-generation Ram 1500s from 2012 and up.
Even with this identical conversion, we’ve still found it necessary to point this out since older vehicles tend to use different units of measurement for their thread sizes.
Another thing to point out in this generation’s bolt specifications is that those made from 2009 to 2011 could have their bolts torqued 10Nm higher (200Nm) than the later models (190Nm).
As for the wheel specifications, the 4th-generation Ram 1500 had a plethora of available tire and rim sizes for each of its trim levels below.
Center Bore Diameter: 3.06 inches (77.8mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: M14x1.5
9/16″ – 18 UNF (2011)
Torque Spec: 118 – 140 lb-ft (160 – 190Nm) (up to 200Nm for 2009 to 2011)
2nd and 3rd-Generation Dodge Ram 1500 (1994 – 2008)
Both the 2nd and 3rd-Generation Dodge Ram 1500’s bolt specifications are almost identical, with the only differentiating factor being their thread sizes.
The 3rd-generation Ram 1500’s used a 9/16” – 18 UNF thread size, while the 2nd-generation ones used a smaller 1/2″ – 20 UNF thread size.
The 2nd generation’s thread size, when converted to today’s format, would be equal to M12x1.5.
The 3rd generation originally had a total of 4 trim levels when it was first introduced in 2002, but the 5.9-liter engine variant was later discontinued after just two production years.
The 3.7-liter V6 variant had its own set of tire and rim sizes, while all the remaining trim levels shared the same three sets of wheel specifications.
The 2nd generation, which first started in 1994, had only two trim levels over the entire course of its production run.
These two trim levels both shared the same set of tire and rim sizes throughout the 2nd-generation Ram 1500’s production run as well.
Center Bore Diameter: 3.06 inches (77.8mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: 9/16” – 18 UNF (3rd Generation)
1/2” – 20 UNF (2nd Generation)
Torque Spec: 110lb-ft (149Nm)
3rd Generation (2002 – 2008)
2nd Generation (1994 – 2001)
1st-Generation Dodge Ram 150 (1981 – 1993)
Unlike the previously discussed Ram trucks, the 1st-generation Ram didn’t use the “1500” designation during its time.
Rather, Dodge opted to use a “150” designation similar to Ford’s “F-150”, which means exactly the same thing as the 1500 designation (having a 1500/half-ton capacity).
With that said, the 1st-generation Dodge Ram 150 first started its life as a facelift of Dodge’s D-series pickups back in 1981.
Due to the lack of consistent information that can be found regarding its tire and rim sizes, we have only listed possible wheel specifications that only serve as a rough guide.
Also, take note that the rim sizes listed are only aftermarket options that should be treated as alternatives that can fit the Ram 150’s bolt pattern.
We still recommend inquiring with an authorized automotive shop or dealer regarding wheel sets that are safely compatible with your specific Ram 150 model.
Other than that, the bolt specifications remain the same for all Ram 150 trucks produced throughout this generation’s production years.
Center Bore Diameter: 3.06 inches (77.8mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: 1/2″ – RH
Torque Spec: 105lb-ft
How to Tighten the Bolts on a Ram 1500
We’ve mentioned earlier how the Ram 1500 only has a total of two different bolt patterns ever since the 1st generation.
Thus, there will also be two ways to properly tighten the bolt (or lug nut) of each pattern.
The 5th-generation Ram 1500 trucks are the only ones that have a 6-lug pattern, which naturally means that there are 6 bolts to tighten.
The rest of the Ram 1500 generations utilize a 5-lug pattern, so only 5 bolts would need tightening.
The left diagram shows the correct tightening order used for all 6-lug patterns.
Simply tighten the bolts while following the numbers and arrows until you perform the criss-cross pattern shown above.
The right diagram demonstrates how to tighten 5-lug patterns, which would require you to tighten the bolts following a star-shaped pattern instead due to the odd number of bolts.
Keep in mind that when you’ve already jacked up your truck, you need to tighten the bolts to only about half of the specified torque value for each generation.
It’s otherwise unsafe to fully torque the bolts while the truck is still off the ground, as you can potentially knock it off the jack stands with the force you’re applying.
After lowering it back to the ground, you can then use a torque wrench to tighten them fully while still following the patterns shown above.
To ensure that the bolts are not prone to loosening, it’s recommended to drive the truck for about 50 miles and recheck their torque specifications.
If there is any change at all, you should immediately retorque them back to the proper specification.
How to Change the Tires on the Ram 1500
While we’re on the topic of bolts, wheels, and whatnot, it also makes sense to talk about the Ram 1500’s tires and when you should be changing them.
The Ram 1500 is a workhorse, just like any other pickup in the half-ton (1500) category, so it’s important to be aware of its tires’ condition as it’s hauling or carrying heavy loads around.
Under normal use, The Ram 1500’s tires are good for about 60,000 to 75,000 miles ((97,000 – 121,000 kilometers) on the clock.
Even if you don’t use your truck that often, it’s still recommended to change its tires every 4 to 5 years.
Now, what if you’re not sure just how many miles your tires have driven or how long they’ve been on your Ram 1500?
Well, not to worry, as we’ve got two common ways to check a tire’s tread life for you right here.
The first one would be to look for your tire’s “tread wear indicator bars” that sit between the grooves. These bars will initially be a lot deeper compared to the treads on newer tires.
But once these bars are at the same height as the treads themselves, then your tires are already too worn out and in need of changing.
The second way to measure tread wear is to take a penny and put it upside down between the treads as shown above.
If half of Abraham Lincoln’s head is hidden from view, then your tires are still in considerably good condition.
But once you can see the top of his head, then you have less than 1/16 of an inch left on your treads, which signifies that your tires are already due for a change.
When to Rotate the Tires on the Ram 1500
If you’ve passed all of the tests above and you’re sure that your tires are still in good running condition, then there’s one more thing to do to keep them that way for as long as possible.
Just like any other truck or vehicle, your Ram 1500’s tires need to be rotated regularly to ensure that they evenly wear out over time.
It’s also essential to know the proper way of rotating its tires, as it’s also dependent on the vehicle’s drivetrain.
Since the Ram 1500 was only released in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD), we’ll be using the appropriate tire rotation pattern below.
The diagram shown is called the “rearward cross” pattern, and it’s the correct way to rotate tires for both RWD and 4WD vehicles.
This should be done every 5,000 to 7,000 miles (8,000 to 12,000 kilometers) for RWD Ram 1500s and 3,000 to 5,000 miles (4,800 to 8000 kilometers) for 4WD ones.
