2020 Ram 1500 Leg Pattern: What You Need to Know
The better you know your vehicle, the better equipped you will be to care for it. With proper maintenance, the Ram 1500 can last hundreds of thousands of miles, but its wheels are going to be working hard. You need to know what you are dealing with.
What is the lug pattern on the 2020 Ram 1500?
The 2020 Ram 1500 uses a 6×5.5 pattern. The first number refers to the number of bolts and the diameter measurement from bolt to bolt. So for the Ram 1500, there are 6 bolts, each spaced five and a half inches apart.
Now, if you’re not familiar with leg models, you probably still have some unanswered questions. This is never a good practice, especially when purchasing a vehicle. Fortunately, at the end of this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the Ram 1500 pod pattern.
Lug Models Explanation
The leg pattern works like this: The first number refers to the number of screws. So for a 6×5.5, that’s six screws. The second number refers to the diameter measurement from bolt to bolt, so five and a half inches.
Some wheels are labeled in millimeters instead of inches. That means you could order a 6×5.5 and get a 6×139.7. It’s the same wheel; they just label it differently. It’s like going to Canada and having to measure your trip in km instead of me.
Generally, the more torque you apply to the wheels, the larger the diameter and the more bolts you will need. But that’s not necessarily why a car or truck can have a 6×5.5. More on that below.
Please note that not all 6×5.5s are interchangeable. You should also make sure the wheels have the same hub size.
Why 6×5.5?
For years, the 5×5.5 was the Ram 1500’s signature wheel. Older Fords used 5×5.5, as did some Kias and Suzukis, but the vast majority of those wheels rolled in the 1500s. In 2019, Dodge switched to the 6 Configuration ×5.5.
The thing is, not all 1500s will require a six-bolt model. With a stock engine, 5×5.5 should be more than enough for a stable 1500 that you use for light towing. So why equip these trucks with the same wheels?
It depends on compatibility. The 5×5.5 has become less common on newer vehicles, and you don’t want to go to the store and find out you have to wait two weeks to get your replacement wheel because they only make them for the Ram 1500 now.
The 6×5.5 is a common wheel size that can keep up with even the toughest 1500s, and it makes more sense to over-spec the low-end 1500s than it does to under-spec the high-end 1500s.
In short, it is cheaper for you, and cheaper for the manufacturer to go with a common cleat pattern and make the largest one the standard size.
Photos: Stellantis
