37x12.5 on AEV Saltas – metal trimming or liner only (2018)?

[JamesWyatt]

I currently have 315/70/17 KO2s on my 2018 Power Wagon, but I have 4 of the STT Pros in 37x12.5 waiting for me at Discount Tire to go on AEV Saltas. I haven't been happy with the balancing and ride of the KO2s. Yes, they're quiet, but even with road force balancing and replacing two of them that took a ton of weights, the ride still doesn't feel balanced. If it's going to ride like this, I might as well be running 37" muds.

Is anyone running 37x12.5s on Saltas (2018 body style)? Did you still have to trim a few inches off the back of the front wheel liners like I've read you have to? I don't mind trimming the liner, but not sure I'm ready to cut into metal just yet.

[DamageWagon]

The trimming to fit 37x12.5’s on proper offset wheels is minimal, nothing to worry about. A torch and utility knife cuts through the plastic liner like butter. That’s probably all you’re going to end up doing for those tires and wheels.

[JamesWyatt]

The trimming to fit 37x12.5’s on proper offset wheels is minimal, nothing to worry about. A torch and utility knife cuts through the plastic liner like butter. That’s probably all you’re going to end up doing for those tires and wheels.

Thanks, I appreciate the reassurance. I read on Thuren's site I might have to hack the metal after which they say "We consider this normal, easy stuff"

[Rodeoflyer]

Ronny made a great utube vid on what needs to be trimmed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QFEVvhWWVs

[JamesWyatt]

I think I did about 6" of pinch weld. 37x12.5 Toyo RTs on XD wheels with +18 offset.

Cut a slit and hammer it over flat. Technically it was clearing after cutting the plastic, but it was really really close to the pinch weld, could possibly make contact with bushing flex in the radius arms.

Yeah, that sounds iffy to not trim the pinch weld then – really hard for me to do on a brand new truck. I've been thinking I will chicken out, so I had Discount Tire transfer over five Toyo MTs in 35x12.5/17 from their warehouse as a backup to the 37s.

[JamesWyatt]

Ronny made a great utube vid on what needs to be trimmed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QFEVvhWWVs

Holy heck, even after trimming that's really tight - no room at all for rock-filled mud to pass around the tire. Surely that's got to hit the body if you come off a rock or ledge too hard. Thanks for posting that!

[OffroadTreks]

We wheel pretty hard, and no one torn up a truck at Power Wagons in moab running 37’s.

[OffroadTreks]

We wheel pretty hard, and no one torn up a truck at Power Wagons in moab running 37’s.

[olyelr]

There would be a bit less rubbing in that area (if any at all) if the factory wheels were used (or aftermarket wheels with more backspacing than those).

[TankerZak]

Yeah a little more positive offset would move you away from the pinch seem and in towards the radius arms and sway bar. I'm at +20 and I'm not that close. +18 i think was in the video and the saltas are +27 even. I dont think you be that close to the pinch weld.

[JamesWyatt]

We wheel pretty hard, and no one torn up a truck at Power Wagons in moab running 37’s.

That surely would have shown any issues with the coming down hard part, although I'm still concerned with gravel-filled mud getting jammed up in there, but perhaps that's a non-issue. The biggest issue for me is not having to cut the metal – I don't got no guts nor no glory

[JamesWyatt]

There would be a bit less rubbing in that area (if any at all) if the factory wheels were used (or aftermarket wheels with more backspacing than those).

Yeah a little more positive offset would move you away from the pinch seem and in towards the radius arms and sway bar. I'm at +20 and I'm not that close. +18 i think was in the video and the saltas are +27 even. I dont think you be that close to the pinch weld.

Exactly what I'm hoping for! I went with the AEV wheel because they state it will allow fitment of 37s, and they didn't mention cutting being required. Also glad I went with the 12.5 width over the 13.5. The tires are sitting at Discount Tire waiting for me, and the wheels should arrive today by FedEx. I'll know for sure tomorrow, but maybe today if the wheels get here early enough.

[KevinABQ]

We wheel pretty hard, and no one torn up a truck at Power Wagons in moab running 37’s.

Yeah, there was some polish on a suspension component from rubbing at full lock, but it was just polishing, no significant issues.

[KevinABQ]

Exactly what I'm hoping for! I went with the AEV wheel because they state it will allow fitment of 37s, and they didn't mention cutting being required. Also glad I went with the 12.5 width over the 13.5. The tires are sitting at Discount Tire waiting for me, and the wheels should arrive today by FedEx. I'll know for sure tomorrow, but maybe today if the wheels get here early enough.

The only non OEM wheels I’d considered were the Rock Monsters bead locks, tell us how they worked.

[JamesWyatt]

Exactly what I'm hoping for! I went with the AEV wheel because they state it will allow fitment of 37s, and they didn't mention cutting being required. Also glad I went with the 12.5 width over the 13.5. The tires are sitting at Discount Tire waiting for me, and the wheels should arrive today by FedEx. I'll know for sure tomorrow, but maybe today if the wheels get here early enough.

The AEV "lift" moves the front axle forward 1", so it gets more clearance to avoid cutting.

I would hope if that's the case they would have stated on their RAM Salta wheels page that one of their lifts is required in combination with the wheels to clear 37s. Usually they're pretty good about giving all the caveats on their site, but who knows –– I know they've made some mistakes like that before

[JamesWyatt]

Exactly what I'm hoping for! I went with the AEV wheel because they state it will allow fitment of 37s, and they didn't mention cutting being required. Also glad I went with the 12.5 width over the 13.5. The tires are sitting at Discount Tire waiting for me, and the wheels should arrive today by FedEx. I'll know for sure tomorrow, but maybe today if the wheels get here early enough.

The only non OEM wheels I’d considered were the Rock Monsters bead locks, tell us how they worked.

I will –– the wheels just arrived, and I have an appointment to get them put on today around 1pm MT. Rock Monsters are great wheels, but what were they thinking with that goofy graphic on the RAM-specific wheels?

[JamesWyatt]

I ended up with the Toyo MT 35x12.5 tires. Discount Tire had ordered the SST Pro in 12.5 but received 13.5s, and I wasn't ready to go monster truck metal trimming just yet I'm actually glad this happened, as the Toyos on the AEV wheels balanced with very little weight and the ride now feels like a Cadillac compared to the KO2s. I'm kinda shocked at how well they ride – zero vibration when hitting bumps or on an uneven interstate -- and this was with the crazy 65 psi all the way around that Discount Tire put in there, so I'm sure it's going to be even better once I lower the pressures. The Toyo MTs definitely sing at highway speed, but at this point it sounds like music since the ride is so nice. I can also feel a little more steering resistance at low speed, so they definitely let you know they are mud tires.

All in all:

• I like that I have an E-rated tire and don't have to deal with the low pressure warning light. The 37s (high-capacity D-range) were 50 psi max, meaning I'd have to go down the dealer-getting-it-adjusted rabbit hole.

• The size difference between a BFG KO2 315/70/17 and the Toyo MT 35x12.5/17 was much larger than I expected. The Toyos with the AEV wheels fit the proportions of the vehicle perfectly. The 315/70 KO2s on the factory wheels are just still too small by comparison (though still worlds better than the stock size).

• I like that I have plenty of clearance in the wheel well for muddy gravel.

• Seeing them side-by-side before they went on, I greatly preferred the aggressive look of the Toyo MTs over the Cooper STT Pros.

Please note that I have a serious WARNING for those that have deflated and fit a 35x12.5 mud tire into the factory spare tire location: PLEASE CHECK IT ISN'T HITTING YOUR REAR SWAY BAR. They were able to let the air out of the Toyo and work it up in there, but it was jammed against the rear suspension with no hope of ever not being that way. I ended up just throwing the factory Duratrac back up in there, and I may add a bed-mounted full size spare at a later date.

Pics to follow.

[TankerZak]

I had a 35x12.5 Toyo RT underneath and it never touched the sway bar. Looked so good when i took it out for 37s that they bought back the tire at full sale price (was the same tire shop). I had it at 18 PSI and its a two person job. One to crank and one to guide.

[OffroadTreks]

Please note that I have a serious WARNING for those that have deflated and fit a 35x12.5 mud tire into the factory spare tire location: PLEASE CHECK IT ISN'T HITTING YOUR REAR SWAY BAR. They were able to let the air out of the Toyo and work it up in there, but it was jammed against the rear suspension with no hope of ever not being that way. I ended up just throwing the factory Duratrac back up in there, and I may add a bed-mounted full size spare at a later date.

Pics to follow.

We already know this. The clowns probably went straight up with it. You need to lower it and guide it up over top of the track bar, then it won't hit. We've all run the size in that spot without issue. Well documented here. The Toyo's are a great tire. Can't go wrong. Practically indestructible.

[JamesWyatt]

Please note that I have a serious WARNING for those that have deflated and fit a 35x12.5 mud tire into the factory spare tire location: PLEASE CHECK IT ISN'T HITTING YOUR REAR SWAY BAR. They were able to let the air out of the Toyo and work it up in there, but it was jammed against the rear suspension with no hope of ever not being that way. I ended up just throwing the factory Duratrac back up in there, and I may add a bed-mounted full size spare at a later date.

Pics to follow.

We already know this. The clowns probably went straight up with it. You need to lower it and guide it up over top of the track bar, then it won't hit. We've all run the size in that spot without issue. Well documented here. The Toyo's are a great tire. Can't go wrong. Practically indestructible.

We deflated it completely and did get it all the way up into the well, up as far up as you have it pictured, but it was touching the hitch on one end and the track bar on the other. The Toyo MT tread blocks look bigger than the tire you have in there, maybe the Toyo MT is too big (it's .3" taller than the Toyo AT) or my hitch is further back. Once it's up there, are you pushing the deflated tire back toward the hitch so that the hitch is pushing that side of the tire flat, then while it's being held away from the trackbar, the second person tightens it? The clearance you're showing at the track bar is exactly what the smaller 315/70 KO2s left me.

Either way, this isn't something I'd want to fight with if I get a flat, having to get that thing back out of there then jam my muddy flat tire back in. I think I'll get the Wilco hitch-mount carrier and use the 33" factory tire as an emergency backup.

[Reloaderguy]

If you pull back the fender liner there is more clearance. 37's fit perfectly with +18mm offset wheels.

[Rodeoflyer]

I purchased a used cooper mtp 315/70-17 for $100 on eBay and it fit in the spare location fully inflated with a little wiggling. I wasn’t going to purchase a brand new tire as a spare.


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[Shaved Ice]

Exactly what I'm hoping for! I went with the AEV wheel because they state it will allow fitment of 37s, and they didn't mention cutting being required...

I remember reading it had to be a 37” BFG KO2 because they run small. Toyos run true to size or even bigger. This is probably where the discrepancies are coming from.

[JamesWyatt]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and all the help with this. Here's how it ended up! I'll post more in the official Power Wagon Picture Thread.

[TankerZak]

Exactly what I'm hoping for! I went with the AEV wheel because they state it will allow fitment of 37s, and they didn't mention cutting being required...

I remember reading it had to be a 37” BFG KO2 because they run small. Toyos run true to size or even bigger. This is probably where the discrepancies are coming from.

I've never seen a true to size tire.. hell i think my 37s are actually 35.75 when run at a reasonable pressure. They are 36.5 before you put the truck on em.