Ford Explorer: Wheels and Tires / General Information

The recommended tire inflation pressures are found on the Tire Label which is located on the B-pillar or the edge of the driver door. This information can also be found on the Safety Compliance Certification Label, affixed to either the door hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the door edge that meets the door-latch post, next to the driver’s seating position.

We strongly recommend maintaining these tire pressures at all times. Failure to follow the tire pressure recommendations can cause uneven treadwear patterns, reduced fuel economy, and adversely affect the way your vehicle handles.

Note: Check and set the tire pressure at the ambient temperature in which you are intending to drive your vehicle and when the tires are cold.

Note: Check your tire pressures at least once per month.

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

Use only approved wheels and tire sizes; using other sizes could damage your vehicle.

If you change the diameter of the factory installed tires, the speedometer could display the incorrect speed. This could effect the functionality of the 4WD system (if equipped). Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer and have the engine management system reprogrammed.

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

Additional information related to the functionality and maintenance of your tires can be found in the Wheels and Tire section. See Tire Care.

Notice to utility vehicle and truck owners

WARNING: Vehicles with a higher center of gravity (utility and four-wheel drive vehicles) handle differently than vehicles with a lower center of gravity (passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt steering in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously increases the risk of losing control of your vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.

WARNING: In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seatbelt.

Utility vehicles and trucks handle differently than passenger cars in the various driving conditions that are encountered on streets, highways and off-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are not designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions.

Study your owner's manual and any supplements for specific information about equipment features, instructions for safe driving and additional precautions to reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.

Four-Wheel Drive system (if equipped)

WARNING: Do not become overconfident in the ability of four-wheel drive vehicles. Although a four-wheel drive vehicle may accelerate better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction situations, it won't stop any faster than two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive at a safe speed.

A vehicle equipped with Four-Wheel Drive has the ability to use all four wheels to power itself. This increases traction which may enable you to safely drive over terrain and road conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. Power is supplied to all four wheels through a transfer case. Four-wheel drive vehicles allow you to select different modes as necessary. You can find more information on transfer case operation, drive mode selection, and transfer case maintenance in this manual. See Four-Wheel Drive. You should become thoroughly familiar with this information before you operate your vehicle.

Some limited 4WD traction may be provided if a temporary spare is installed on one of the front wheels. If you are in driving conditions where limited 4WD traction needed while a temporary wheel is installed, it is recommended the temporary spare be installed on the front axle.

For four-wheel drive vehicles, a spare tire of a different size other than the tire provided should never be used. A dissimilar spare tire size; other than the spare tire provided or major dissimilar tire sized between the front and rear axles could cause the all-wheel-drive system to stop functioning and default to rear-wheel drive.

In four-wheel drive vehicles, the size of the spare tire relative to the remaining tires can have an effect on the 4WD system. If there is a significant difference between the size of spare and the remaining tires, four-wheel drive functionality will be shut down and default to rear wheel drive only.

How your vehicle differs from other vehicles

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

• Higher - to allow higher load carrying capacity and to allow it to travel over rough terrain without getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
• Shorter - to give it the capability to approach inclines and drive over the crest of a hill without getting hung up or damaging underbody components. All other things held equal, a shorter wheelbase may make your vehicle quicker to respond to steering inputs than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.
• Narrower - to provide greater maneuverability in tight spaces, particularly in off-road use.

As a result of the above dimensional differences, sport utility vehicles and trucks often have a higher center of gravity and a greater difference in center of gravity between the loaded and unloaded condition. These differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle differently than an ordinary passenger car.