RAM · 3500 · Front
Front axle PSI and bar on the RAM 3500
- Drivetrain
- rear-wheel drive
- Body
- pickup / double-cab
- PSI F / R
- 32-35 / 32-35
- Bar F / R
- 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4
psi front
34
2.31 bar · 231 kPa at the steering axle
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
The front axle of a RAM 3500 steers and, on rear-wheel drive cars, often pulls as well. Catalogue front pressure is 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar. Size estimates on this page include 285/70R17, LT245/75R16 and 245/70R16 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker. Commercial and load-biased bodies like this pickup / double-cab often need a higher rear; LT or C-type sizes such as 245/70R16 are not filled like a Fiesta.
RAM 3500 placard versus sidewall
The tyre-information placard on a RAM 3500 sits on the driver’s door pillar (sometimes the fuel-filler flap). Catalogue figures here are a general band: 32-35 / 32-35 psi.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (285/70R17 and others)
If your RAM 3500 no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 285/70R17 or LT245/75R16 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 285/70R17 | 38 | — | 2.62 | — | 262 | — | Wide all-terrain |
| LT245/75R16 | 42 | — | 2.9 | — | 290 | — | LT-metric, higher load |
| 245/70R16 | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | — | Common 16-inch all-terrain |
| LT265/70R17 | 42 | — | 2.9 | — | 290 | — | LT 17-inch |
| 235/75R15 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Older compact truck |
| 275/65R18 | 37 | — | 2.55 | — | 255 | — | Plus-size 18-inch |
| 255/65R17 | 37 | — | 2.55 | — | 255 | — | Highway 17-inch |
| 265/70R17 | 37 | — | 2.55 | — | 255 | — | Typical 17-inch load tyre |
Pressure against load
Load moves the rear of a pickup / double-cab first. If the factory placard already has a “laden” column, use that instead of these sketches.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 34 psi / 2.34 bar |
| Full occupancy | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 35 psi / 2.41 bar |
| Payload / towing | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 36 psi / 2.48 bar |
Steering feel on the 3500 lives on this axle. Do not drop front pressure to “soften” a plus-size 245/70R16; you will roll the sidewall in a roundabout.
How to set the 3500
- Park the RAM 3500 for at least three hours (cold tyres).
- Use a calibrated gauge, not the only meter on a forecourt hose.
- Set the placard for that axle — about 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar front and 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar rear on this catalogue row.
- Recheck all four. A 2 psi miss on a rear-wheel drive 3500 is enough to feel a pull.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the RAM 3500 band (32-35 / 32-35).
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2.07 | 207 |
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 33 | 2.28 | 228 |
| 33.5 | 2.31 | 231 |
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 50 | 3.45 | 345 |
| 60 | 4.14 | 414 |
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this 3500.
| Ambient | Gauge (front mid) | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 31 psi | 2.14 bar | 214 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 32 psi | 2.21 bar | 221 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Baseline |
| 30 °C | 36 psi | 2.48 bar | 248 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
RAM notes
No special RAM exception: the 3500 uses the door-pillar placard. Size estimates on this page only help if you have left the original load index behind.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the RAM 3500 usually follows the higher axle (often the rear, near 32-35 psi). A space-saver is commonly 60 psi / 4.1 bar — read that tyre’s own sidewall. An inflator kit is not a spare; check the sealant date.
Keep the RAM 3500 on the printed band; use 285/70R17 and 245/70R16 only as a map for non-OEM wheels.
Other RAM models
Questions about this 3500
Front versus rear on the RAM 3500?
This row is 32-35 F / 32-35 R. Even when they match, a laden rear can justify a higher number if the sticker prints one.
What tyre pressure should a RAM 3500 use?
Catalogue reference is 32-35 psi front and 32-35 psi rear (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
When does TPMS warn on a RAM 3500?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
Is the sidewall number correct on a RAM 3500?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The 3500 placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 245/70R16?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 285/70R17, LT245/75R16 and 245/70R16 as a planning band.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation