If you typed ram 1500 35/11.50r17 with -12 offset into Google, you want your truck to look wide, tall, and mean — without rubbing every time you turn the wheel.
You are not alone. Thousands of Ram owners run this exact setup every single day. They drive to work, haul kids, and hit dirt roads on the weekend with zero big problems1.
This super-simple guide is written for regular guys and girls — no fancy words, no confusing math. Just real answers that work on 2019–2025 Ram 1500 trucks (both 4×4 and 2WD).
Why This Combo Looks So Good
- 35 inch tires make your truck sit taller and fix the ugly factory “nose-down” look.
- The tire is only 11.50 inches wide (not the usual 12.50), so it slips past the front suspension parts easier.
- -12 offset wheels push the tires out just the right amount for that perfect wheel poke ram 1500 everyone loves on Instagram.
Result? Your truck looks planted and tough, but you can still park in a normal spot.
How Much Lift Do You Really Need?
Here is the cheat sheet every Ram owner saves on their phone:
| How High You Lift the Truck | Will the 35s Rub? | What Most People Say |
| No lift (completely stock) | Yes – a lot | Only good for shows, not daily driving |
| 2-inch or 2.5-inch leveling kit | Almost none or zero | #1 most popular choice – looks great, cheap & easy |
| 2.5-inch level + small spacers | Zero rubbing ever | Extra safety if you go off-road a lot |
| 3-inch to 4-inch lift | Zero rubbing | Looks awesome, ride gets a little stiffer |
| 6-inch or bigger lift | Way too much for 35s | Save the money unless you want 37s or 38s later |
Almost everyone picks a simple ram 1500 leveling kit with 35s (2 to 2.5 inches) and is super happy.
Best Wheel Size for Zero Problems
| Wheel Size | Offset | How Far It Sticks Out | Does It Clear Everything? (with 2.5″ level) |
| 17×9 | -12 mm | Perfect poke | Yes – 95 % of trucks have zero rub |
| 17×9 | 0 mm | Less poke | 100 % safe, but not as wide looking |
| 17×9 | -25 mm | Super poke | Might need tiny trim |
The winner for most people: ram 1500 17×9 -12 offset wheels. Looks killer and fits great.
Real Trucks – Real Pictures from Real Owners
A guy on Reddit asked the exact same question you have2.
→ Check out the full thread here: Help a brother out with some tire and lift math
The answers were super clear:
- 11.50 wide tire clears the **ram 1500 upper control arm no problem
- 2.5-inch level is plenty
- A few guys added cheap ½-inch spacers and never rub again
Same story on Facebook – hundreds of photos of clean trucks:
→ See the Facebook group post here: 35″ tire fitment discussion
Where Do 35s Normally Touch? (And How to Fix It in 5 Minutes)
| Spot That Might Rub | When It Happens | Super Easy Fix |
| Upper control arm | Turning all the way + big bump | 11.50 width + 2.5″ lift = usually gone |
| Plastic fender liner | Hitting big potholes | Cut 1 inch of plastic or heat it and push in |
| Metal pinch weld (front) | Backing up + full turn | Lightly tap flat with a hammer (takes 5 minutes) |
| Bottom of cab mount | Only with super low offset | Stick to -12 or higher and you’re safe |
Good news: will 35/11.50 rub on ram 1500? Almost never when you follow the steps above.
Top 5 Tires That Actually Measure 35″ Tall in This Size
- Nitto Ridge Grappler – quiet on the highway
- Falken Wildpeak A/T3W – great in snow and mud
- Toyo Open Country A/T III – super smooth ride
- BFGoodrich KO2 – toughest sidewall
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT – best bang for the buck
All of these are lighter than most 35×12.50 tires, so your gas mileage and brakes stay happy.
Step-by-Step: Make It Fit Perfect the First Time
- Put on a good 2–2.5 inch ram 1500 leveling kit (ReadyLift or MotoFab are the most trusted).
- Buy 17×9 wheels with -12 offset.
- Mount your new 35/11.50R17 tires.
- Put only ONE wheel on the truck first (saves time).
- Turn the steering wheel all the way left and right – look for touching.
- Jack the truck up and push the suspension all the way up – look again.
- If anything is closer than the thickness of your finger, add a ½-inch spacer or trim a tiny bit of plastic.
- Drive 50–100 miles and check all the bolts again.
That’s it. Most trucks never need step 7.
Extra Tips to Make Your Truck Look Even Better
- Keep ram 1500 backspacing vs offset around 4.5 inches for the perfect stance.
- If you ever go bigger than 3 inches of lift, get adjustable control arms (not needed for 35s)
.
- Negative offset can make tires wear a tiny bit faster on the inside – just rotate them every oil change.
- Check your state laws – most places allow tires to stick out 2–3 inches past the fenders.
Frequently Asked Quick Questions
Can I run 35/11.50R17 with -12 offset on a completely stock Ram 1500?
No. You will rub hard on the upper control arms and fenders every time you turn or hit a bump. You need at least a 2–2.5 inch leveling kit.
Will 35s fit my Ram 1500 with just a leveling kit?
Yes! A 2–2.5 inch ram 1500 leveling kit with 35s is the most popular setup and works perfect with 11.50-wide tires.
Do -12 offset wheels rub more than 0 offset?
They stick out more (cool poke look), but with a 2.5-inch level and 11.50 width they still clear 95 % of the time. Only a tiny rub is possible at full lock + big bump.
Will 35/11.50R17 rub on Ram 1500 upper control arms?
Almost never. The 11.50 width is 1 inch narrower than the normal 12.50, so it clears the ram 1500 upper control arm clearance way better.
Do I have to trim or cut anything?
9 out of 10 trucks need zero cutting. A few guys trim 1 inch of plastic fender liner or lightly hammer the pinch weld. No metal cutting required.
What is the best offset for 35s on Ram 1500?
ram 1500 -12 offset wheels on 17×9 rims is the sweet spot for aggressive stance with almost no rubbing.
Will 35s hurt my gas mileage badly?
You lose about 1–2 mpg. The narrower 11.50 tire and lighter weight keep it better than most 35×12.50 setups.
Final Answer – Yes, You Can Do This!
Running a ram 1500 35/11.50r17 with -12 offset is one of the smartest and best-looking mods you can do. A simple 2–2.5 inch leveling kit + the narrower 11.50 tire + -12 offset wheels = tough looks with almost no rubbing and great daily driving.
Tens of thousands of Ram owners already love this setup. You will too.
What year is your Ram and how much lift do you have right now? Tell me below and I’ll give you the perfect plan for your truck!
References & Cool Places to See More Trucks
- Big Ram 1500 Owners Facebook group (real daily-driver photos) ↩︎
- Reddit r/liftedtrucks thread (tons of pictures and measurements) ↩︎
