Ford Explorer Quiz
Wheels and Tires

General Information

In this manual: Wheels and Tires
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~4min read

The recommended tire pressure is shown on the tire placard, located on the center pillar or the driver's door edge. This information can also be found on the safety compliance certification label, attached to either the door, the hinge pillar, the latch pillar, or the door edge that meets the latch pillar, near the driver's seat.

We strongly recommend that you maintain this tire pressure at all times. Failure to follow tire pressure recommendations can cause uneven tread wear, reduced fuel economy, and negatively affect your vehicle's handling.

If your vehicle has a spare tire, set the pressure to the maximum value specified for your vehicle and tire size combination.

Use only approved wheel and tire sizes; using other sizes may damage the vehicle.

If you change the diameter of the factory-installed tires, the speedometer may display an incorrect speed. This may affect the operation of the all-wheel drive system (if equipped). Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer to have the powertrain control system reprogrammed.

If you intend to change the factory-installed tire size, check suitability with an authorized dealer.

For additional information on the function and care of your tires, refer to Wheels and Tires. See Tire Care.

Notice to Owners of Trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles

Sport utility vehicles and trucks handle differently than passenger cars under the various driving conditions encountered on streets, highways, and off-road. Sport utility vehicles and trucks are not designed to corner at the speeds of passenger cars, any more than passenger cars are designed to perform satisfactorily off-road like sport utility vehicles.

Read the owner's manual and any supplements for specific information on vehicle equipment, safe driving instructions, and additional precautions to reduce the risk of accident or serious injury.

Four-Wheel Drive System (If Equipped)

A vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive can use all four wheels to propel itself. This increases traction, which may allow you to safely negotiate terrain and road conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. Power is delivered to all four wheels through the transfer case. Four-wheel drive vehicles allow you to select different modes as needed. You can find additional information on transfer case operation, drive mode selection, and transfer case maintenance in this manual. See Four-Wheel Drive. You must thoroughly familiarize yourself with this information before operating the vehicle.

Some limited 4WD traction may be available if the temporary spare tire is installed on one of the front wheels. If you are in driving conditions where 4WD traction is required, it is recommended that the temporary spare tire be installed on the front axle while it is installed.

On four-wheel drive vehicles, a spare tire of a different size than the supplied tire must never be used. Using a spare of a different size, or a large tire of a different size located between the front and rear axles, may cause the four-wheel drive system to stop functioning and default to rear-wheel drive.

On four-wheel drive vehicles, the size of the spare tire relative to the remaining tires can affect the 4WD system. If there is a significant difference between the size of the spare tire and the other tires, four-wheel drive functionality will be disabled and the vehicle will default to rear-wheel drive only.

How Your Vehicle Differs from Other Vehicles

Sport utility vehicles and trucks may differ from some other vehicles in several noticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:

  • Higher - to provide greater ground clearance and allow it to travel over rough terrain without becoming stuck or damaging underbody components.
  • Shorter - to allow approach and departure angles on slopes and crest a hill without becoming stuck or damaging underbody components. All else being equal, a shorter wheelbase may make your vehicle respond to steering faster than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.
  • Narrower - to provide greater maneuverability in confined spaces, especially off-road.

As a result of the above size differences, sport utility vehicles and trucks often have a higher center of gravity and a larger change in center of gravity between loaded and unloaded conditions. These differences make your vehicle versatile, but it handles differently than a conventional passenger car.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.