Top 10 Best Tires for a RAM 2500

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The RAM 2500 offers many features you don’t usually get from a heavy-duty truck. These include a versatile and high-tech cabin, comfortable and plush seating, and a quiet ride. Wi-Fi connectivity and tow-specific navigation further enhance its excellent reputation.

Best Tires for RAM 2500

At the same time, it offers impressive power and torque and terrific off-road capability. The built-in rear air suspension makes towing and hauling heavy loads a cinch. And if you’re an off-road enthusiast, the Power Wagon and Rebel models won’t leave you wanting. 

However, even with the above qualities, the RAM 2500 won’t be able to provide you with a noise-free riding experience unless you pair it with the right set of tires. Its legendary air suspension needs help from tires to do all the heavy lifting you expect this truck to do.

That is why we have come up with this guide. In the following paragraphs, we’ll rate and review the 10 best tires for RAM 2500. All the RAM 2500 tires you see below will fit all this truck’s trims, including RAM 2500 ST, SLT, Lone Star, Power Wagon, Big Horn, and others.

#1. General Grabber HTS 60 – Best Overall

General Grabber HTS 60

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The General Grabber HTS 60 is one of the best RAM 2500 tires on the market. That is because it offers excellent all-around performance, has the toughness to resist punctures, and is backed with a decent treadwear warranty. Best of all, it comes at a budget price point.

A cut- and chip-resistant tread compound does exactly what its name implies. It prevents road debris from penetrating the rubber and helps the HTS 60 handle heavy payloads and poor road conditions without breaking a sweat, making it a reliable tire for light off-roading.

The HTS 60 also has decent road manners for a highway truck tire. A vehicle-tuned tread pattern absorbs road vibrations and dissipates road noise which, together with the RAM 2500’s already quiet riding, makes for a noise- and, more importantly, vibration-free driving experience.

To cast the net wide, General offers this model in two versions. The lighter version (the one with the smaller load rating) will come in handy if you use this truck for everyday driving. For towing and hauling the heavy stuff, the heavier model might turn out to be a better pick.

Unfortunately, there is one area where tire disappoints. Its snow traction is non-existent, so you would do well not to tempt your luck in wintry conditions. Yet, when juxtaposed with the above qualities, this shortcoming shouldn’t sway your opinion in opposition to this tire.

Pros

  • Competitively priced
  • Provides excellent high-speed stability
  • Heavier models are great for towing and hauling
  • Backed with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

  • Isn’t a reliable performer on snow

#2. Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best Runner Up

Michelin Defender LTX MS

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The Michelin Defender LTX M/S rivals our top pick on many counts.

Its symmetric tread pattern will work alongside your RAM 2500’s rear air suspension, absorbing road vibrations and deflecting road noise. Four circumferential grooves ensure quick and effective water evacuation for a reduced risk of hydroplaning.

MaxTouch Construction helps this tire wear evenly for an extended treadlife. It does that by evenly distributing the pressure forces your vehicle will subject this tire to. Small wonder, then, that the LTX M/S is warranted for 5,000 miles extra than our top pick.

Another thing that goes in this model’s favor is that it offers solid traction on light snow. The biting edges on the tread area enable it to easily tackle mild-to-moderate wintry conditions. This distinguishes it from the Grabber HTS 60, which struggles on snow and ice.

Despite all these qualities, this model isn’t our top pick for RAM 2500. Want to know why? The Defender LTX M/S is a prohibitively expensive highway tire. Don’t look at that as a problem? Then we see no reason why you shouldn’t go for this tire. 

Pros

  • Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
  • Offers excellent levels of grip in dry and wet conditions
  • Superb hydroplaning resistance

Cons

  • Doesn’t come cheap

#3. Cooper Discoverer HT3 – Best Highway Tires

Cooper Discoverer HT3

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The Cooper Discoverer HT3 is another exciting highway tire pick for RAM 2500. This model rivals our top pick in affordable pricing and the LTX M/S in cold weather performance. But its small treadwear warranty (50,000 miles) has seen it drop to the third spot on this list.

A silica-infused tread compound helps it stay useful in summer and (moderate) winter conditions. It does that by striking an optimal balance between firmness (crucial for reliable handling on dry roads) and flexibility (needed to stay applicable in wet conditions).

Juxtaposed with its affordable asking price, this tire’s handling is beyond impressive. The Discoverer HT3 offers decent feedback and is quick to respond to steering inputs. Plus, thanks to the lateral slots in the tread, it will give you a sure-footed feel on the highway.

A combination of circumferential grooves and 3-D micro-gauge sipes is the reason why this model is as reliable on water-logged roads as it’s on light wintry conditions. Bear in mind, though, that the sipes aren’t aggressive enough to merit using this tire on thick snow.

All in all, the Discoverer HT3 is a capable highway tire, let down by its below-average treadwear warranty. Had Cooper backed this tire for 20,000 or even 15,000 extra miles, we’d have been compelled to place this tire a lot higher on this list.

Pros

  • Offers remarkable year-round traction
  • Quick steering response for a highway tire
  • Rides relatively quietly and comfortably

Cons

  • Average treadwear warranty (50,000 miles) for a highway tire

#4. Firestone Transforce HT – Best OE Tire

Firestone Transforce HT

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The Firestone Transforce HT is one of the tires installed on the RAM 2500 by the factory. As you may expect from an OE tire, it strikes a decent balance between price and performance, with a tread that shows encouraging signs of lasting at least 50,000 miles.

Its ‘Long Link Carbon’ tread compound has given this tire more traction and agiler handling than most original equipment tires. The tread compound also encourages even wear, giving us confidence that was taken away by the absence of a treadwear warranty.

A computer-optimized tread pattern does what it can to deflect road noise, though it struggles at absorbing road vibrations. Furthermore, broad shoulder blocks enhance its road grip for better stability during cornering, braking, and sudden acceleration.

Wet traction is another area where this tire shines. A set of lateral and circumferential grooves deserves total credit for this, given how it ensures quick water evacuation from the tread area. Thanks to their effective action, this tire doesn’t skid or slip.

Throw into the mix its numerous sipes (which help this tire stay useful on light snow and ice), and you’d think that there’s nothing wrong with this tire. Unfortunately, as evidenced by the lack of a treadwear warranty, that is certainly not the case.

Pros

  • Offers excellent dry and wet road stability
  • Ensures a noise-free driving experience
  • Stays useful on light snow and ice

Cons

  • Doesn’t have a limited treadwear warranty

#5. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus – Best Treadwear Warranty

Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza Plus

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The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza is one of the most reliable highway tires on the market. How can we be so sure? Its 80,000-mile treadwear warranty is the reason. Such an extended warranty means that this tire could easily last 5 or 6 years, even if you use it daily.

A symmetric tread pattern helps this tire on multiple counts. First, it ensures even road contact for even tread wear, thereby helping this model outlast its treadwear warranty. The even road contact, in turn, prevents the build-up of road noise or vibrations.

The ruggedness of the continuous center frame enhances this tire’s high-speed stability, giving you the confidence to push it to its limits. Parallel grooves are also available, ensuring quick water evacuation and helping this tire perform at its best on waterlogged roads.

Surprisingly for a highway tire, the H/L Alenza Plus has a low rolling resistance, meaning you can count on it to enhance your RAM 2500’s fuel economy. Which is excellent news, given that this pickup truck already does a respectable 15 to 20 mpg on the highway.

That said, two issues with this tire might force you to look away. The first of which is its astronomical asking price, which can rival that of the Defender LTX M/S, one of the costliest models on this list. Secondly, this model doesn’t have what it takes for reliable winter driving.

Pros

  • 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
  • Quiet and vibration-free driving experience on the highway
  • Offers reliable year-round traction

Cons

  • Not designed for snow driving

#6. BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA KO2 – Best All-Terrain Tire

BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2

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The BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA KO2 has everything you could expect from tires in this category. But the first thing that goes in this model’s favor – availability in multiple sizes from 15 to 14 inches in diameter – is something all-terrain tires aren’t usually good at.

A combination of double-thick tread compound and Tri-Gard sidewall design helps this tire offer the best of both worlds. The tread compound strengthens the tire to help it withstand massive abuse. The sidewall design, meanwhile, lowers the risks of cuts, chips, and punctures.

Tests conducted by BFG reveal that this tire offers a 19% higher traction on snow than its predecessor, a number that seems too good to be true. That is until you look at the biting edges on this model’s tread area, which look primes to plow through snow and ice.

BFG further claims that the TA KO2 offers 10% better mud traction than the TA. The credit for this goes to this model’s side biter lugs and mud buster bars, though the side biter lugs also enhance this model’s rock crawling ability in addition to improving its mud traction.

Keep in mind that all this extra traction will translate into added fuel consumption, especially on difficult terrains. It might also make the T/A KO2 loud on gravel.  

Pros

  • Backed with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
  • Can be used for rock crawling when aired down
  • Highly resistant to cuts, chips, and punctures

Cons

  • Might get noisy at high speeds

#7. Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventurer – Best All-Terrain Tire

Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar

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Exceptional off-road performance? Check. Extended treadwear warranty? Present. Quiet and comfortable driving experience? Yes. Useful in light snow conditions? Absolutely. Small wonder, then, that the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventurer has made it to this list.

A Kevlar-reinforced tread compound has given this model the ruggedness to go all the way on soft, hard, and loose surfaces. Kevlar’s toughness has made the rubber almost impregnable to stones, rocks, and other sharp objects. It has also enhanced steering feedback and response.

Yet another feature you don’t usually associate with all-terrain tires is a symmetric tread pattern, given that this tread design is mostly used by all-season tires. Still, we aren’t complaining. The tread design is the reason why this tire offers a quiet and comfortable riding experience.

The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol indicates that this model can handle light wintry conditions with ease. However, keep in mind that this symbol only comes on the LT-Metric models. The P-Metric models thus shouldn’t be relied upon in snow and ice.

A 60,000-mile treadwear warranty gives this model an edge over the above BFG All-Terrain T/A KO2, which is backed to last up to 50,000 miles. But this the All-Terrain Adventurer’s higher asking price balances things out.

Pros

  • Backed with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
  • Superb off-road and light snow performance
  • Is quiet and comfortable for an all-terrain tire

Cons

  • 3PMSF rating only comes on LT-Metric models

#8. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 – Best Mud-Terrain Tire

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain TA KM3

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The BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is the third generation of the brand’s famous mud-terrain lineup. According to the tire manufacturer, the KM3 features sidewalls that are 27% more resistant to punctures. The brand also boasts an 8 percent improvement in traction on rocks.

A trinity of features is responsible for this model offering almost 30% increased puncture-resistance to its predecessors. They include its Krawl-Tek tread compound, 3-ply sidewalls, and enhanced shoulder protection (vis-à-vis BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM2).

Massive voids in the tread area enable the KM3 to dig into snow, sand, and hardpacked mud. Their width also enables self-cleaning, thereby limiting the risk of stone drilling. Furthermore, linear flex zones help it conquer rocky terrains, especially when it’s aired down.

In saying that the T/A KM3 is 80% for off-road and 20% for city or highway driving, BFG has all but admitted that this model isn’t made for paved roads. So, if you decide to purchase this tire, you might have to purchase an additional set for everyday use.

Pros

  • Outstanding traction in deep mud
  • Incredibly tough and durable construction
  • Quiet and smooth for a mud-terrain tire

Cons

  • Uninspiring grip on snow and ice

#9. Cooper Discoverer STT Pro – Best Cheap Mud Tire

cooper discoverer STT Pro

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As noted in our comprehensive guide on the best cheap mud tires, the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro is an excellent pick for budget-minded shoppers. That is because this tire strikes an optimal balance between price, performance, and treadlife.

Cooper insists that the internal 3-ply Armor-Tek3 protection and the advanced silica and carbon black tread compound enables this tire to be 50% tougher than your average 2-ply tire. If true, this ruggedness will make the STT Pro almost puncture-proof.

An aggressive tread pattern is the reason why this tire grips the road so securely, not letting your confidence waver in its ability to stay glued to the surface. Still, despite the extra traction, this model isn’t loud, thanks to the rib pattern which cancels out road noise.

Multiple mud release scoops and dimples self-clean the tread area to prevent mud-buildup. Side biters, known as shoulder cleats in technical language, help offer enhanced traction on mud.  Together, these two design elements make it one of the best RAM 2500 mud tires.

Pros

  • Superb mud traction
  • Quieter than most mud tires
  • Has a tough and reinforced tread compound

Cons

  • Consumes a lot of fuel

#10. Bridgestone Blizzak LT – Best Winter Tire

Bridgestone Blizzak LT

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The Bridgestone Blizzak LT isn’t the most popular model in its own family. Its siblings such as the Blizzak WS90 are far more famous and installed on far more vehicles than this tire. But as we’re going to show you, the lack of fame isn’t because this tire isn’t good at what it does. 

Bridgestone claims that the Blizzak LT has 30 percent more biting edges than the Blizzak W965. This should translate into enhanced snow traction. The tire brand also wants you to believe that this model has more water evacuation channels (grooves) for a lower risk of hydroplaning.

The Blizzak LT features a reinforced internal structure, too. Its internal construction features a steel belt and polyester structure to keep the risk of premature deformation at bay. This should be great news for RAM 2500 drivers who intend to use this tire for hauling heavy loads.

Stabilized tread patterns go both ways. On the one end, they increase the feedback to the steering, making this tire much more responsive. However, increased feedback also means a firmer driving experience, meaning this tire won’t be too comfortable to drive.

Pros

  • Unique siping detail for enhanced winter performance
  • Minimizes the risk of premature deformation
  • Large number of water evacuation channels

Cons

  • Driving is a bit firm

Best Tires for RAM 2500

Highway Tires                     

Given that they occupy the top 5 positions on the above list, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that highway tires are the best option for the average RAM 2500 driver. There are various reasons as to why we’re so confident about highway tires being the best for this truck.

The first of which is that these tires come in higher load ranges. Almost every highway tire listed above comes in LT-metric sizes, making them ideal for trucks with load carrying capabilities of 0.75- to 1-ton, a range which the Dodge RAM 2500 neatly fits into.

Two more excellent advantages of highway tires are their price and treadlife. With the exception of touring tires (which you can’t install on RAM 2500 for obvious reasons), these models are the most inexpensive on the market. You can thus easily afford them.

Aside from that, these models come with respectable treadlife warranties – our top three picks are all backed to last more than 50,000 miles. This means that you won’t have to replace them for quite a few years.

All-Terrain Tires

All-terrain intentions indicate their intentions with their name. These models are designed to work well on almost every type of terrain, including the highway, dirt, gravel, and even rocky terrains. You can also count on them to do well for mud and sand driving.

The best RAM 2500 all-terrain tires also come with respectable treadwear warranties. Take the two models recommended above for proof. The Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventurer and BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 are backed for 50,000 miles and 60,000 miles.

However, while these models have their fair share of qualities, they also suffer from a few drawbacks. The most glaring of which is their noise, which does get loud on the highway.

Mud-Terrain Tires

For serious off-road enthusiasts, noting beats mud-terrain tires. These models have extremely aggressive tread patterns and deep grooves that gives them the traction needed to thrive in mud. Their self-cleaning ability also makes them the best choice for mud driving.

However, unlike highway and all-terrain tires, they aren’t covered by treadwear warranty. This, together with their higher upfront asking price and relatively shorter treadlife, makes them an expensive option to buy.

Conclusion

Dodge RAM 2500 is one of the most capable light-duty trucks on the market. Yet it can be more effective when paired with the right set of tires. It is therefore imperative that you choose premium tires or your RAM 2500. Only then you’d be able to take full advantage of all its qualities.

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