Bolton completed the signing of Ream on January 26, 2012, on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
He canceled his honeymoon so that he could sign for Bolton.
He was given the number 32 shirt and made his debut for the club in Bolton's 2–0 FA Cup win at Millwall on February 18.
He made his Premier League debut the following weekend in Bolton's 3–0 defeat at Chelsea.
On March 10, 2012, he assisted Darren Pratley's opening goal in a 2–1 win over Queens Park Rangers.
He went on to appear ten games straight towards the end of the season, but was unable to help the club survive relegation in the Premier League.

For the start of the 2012–13 season, Ream was given the number 5 shirt, previously worn by Gary Cahill.
He was given his first start of the 2012–13 season in a 2–0 loss against Burnley.
However, he was sidelined from the first team, due to losing his starting place and was relegated to the substitutes bench.
Despite this, Ream went on to make fifteen appearances.

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Ream was linked with a move to Middlesbrough, a move that was denied by the club and Ream.
After appearing the first three matches as an unused substitute, he started as defensive midfielder for four matches in September.
In early February 2014, he was forced to wear a protective mask in Wanderers games after a collision with Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin.
Throughout the 2013–14 season, Ream played at left back and center back, where he established his partnership with Matt Mills and redeemed himself in the first team making 42 appearances.
At the end of that season, he was voted the fans' player of the year and the club’s player of the year.

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, on July 6, 2014, Ream signed a new three-year contract with Bolton that lasts until the summer of 2017.
Over the course of the season, he made a total of 44 appearances, missing two matches, one as an unused substitute against Derby County on September 27, 2014 and one through injury.
For the second season in a row, he was named as Bolton's player of the year.

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Ream was linked with a move to Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, who made a bid for him.
However, the bid was rejected.
Bolton completed the signing of Ream on January 26, 2012, on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He canceled his honeymoon so that he could sign for Bolton. He was given the number 32 shirt and made his debut for the club in Bolton's 2–0 FA Cup win at Millwall on February 18. He made his Premier League debut the following weekend in Bolton's 3–0 defeat at Chelsea. On March 10, 2012, he assisted Darren Pratley's opening goal in a 2–1 win over Queens Park Rangers. He went on to appear ten games straight towards the end of the season, but was unable to help the club survive relegation in the Premier League.
For the start of the 2012–13 season, Ream was given the number 5 shirt, previously worn by Gary Cahill. He was given his first start of the 2012–13 season in a 2–0 loss against Burnley. However, he was sidelined from the first team, due to losing his starting place and was relegated to the substitutes bench. Despite this, Ream went on to make fifteen appearances.
Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Ream was linked with a move to Middlesbrough, a move that was denied by the club and Ream. After appearing the first three matches as an unused substitute, he started as defensive midfielder for four matches in September. In early February 2014, he was forced to wear a protective mask in Wanderers games after a collision with Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin. Throughout the 2013–14 season, Ream played at left back and center back, where he established his partnership with Matt Mills and redeemed himself in the first team making 42 appearances. At the end of that season, he was voted the fans' player of the year and the club’s player of the year.
Ahead of the 2014–15 season, on July 6, 2014, Ream signed a new three-year contract with Bolton that lasts until the summer of 2017. Over the course of the season, he made a total of 44 appearances, missing two matches, one as an unused substitute against Derby County on September 27, 2014 and one through injury. For the second season in a row, he was named as Bolton's player of the year.
Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Ream was linked with a move to Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, who made a bid for him. However, the bid was rejected.
Tim Ream