2025 model year · Sixth generation (U625, 2020-)

Ford Explorer tire size

Largest standard tire, 2025255/65R18

Maker31.1 in tall, nominal

The 2025 Ford Explorer comes on 255/65R18, 255/55R20 or 275/45R21 tires as standard, by trim, per the 2025 Ford Explorer Technical Specifications.

255/65R18: Active.

255/55R20: ST-Line; Platinum.

275/45R21: ST.

2025 Ford Explorer Technical Specifications

Standard sizes: 3
Wheels: 18–21 in

2025 Platinum 2.3L EcoBoost I4 RWD, drawn to scale from its published dimensions.

01 / Stock

Tires and wheels on every 2025 Explorer

The size each configuration leaves the factory on, and the one an option package swaps in.

2025 Ford Explorer

MakerEstimate ±

Stock tire and wheel sizes of the 2025 Ford Explorer by configuration
Configuration	Tire	Tall in, nominal	Wheel	Type
Active	P255/65R18	31.1	18 in five-spoke Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum	All-season
ST-Line	P255/55R20	31.0	20 in Ebony machined-painted aluminum	All-season
ST	P275/45R21	30.7	21 in Magnetite-painted aluminum	All-season
Platinum	P255/55R20	31.0	20 in Luster Nickel-painted aluminum	All-season

Tire, wheel and fitment figures are the maker’s. “Tall” is worked out from the size code (dashed); a real tire measures a little differently. —: not in the documents we hold yet.

SourceMakerEvery figure above is Ford’s, from this document.

2025 Ford Explorer Technical Specifications · Ford Motor Company

Documents last checked Oct 12, 2026. How we read them and what the marks mean: how we source the numbers. A figure doesn’t match its document? Report a wrong number.

02 / Bigger tires

What the next sizes up change

From each stock size, the common larger sizes on the same wheel: how much taller, how far the axles rise, what the speedometer shows and how the axle ratio behaves. Whether one fits your Explorer depends on lift, wheel offset and trim; these figures don’t say.

From 255/65R18Stock on the Active · 31.1 in tall

What larger tires change compared with the stock 255/65R18
Size	Tall in	Axles rise in	At an indicated 60 true mph	Axle ratio acts like	Compare
255/65R18stock	31.1	0.0	60.0	3.58	Baseline
265/70R18+1.6 in taller	32.632.1 to 33.1	+0.8+0.5 to +1.0	63.062.1 to 64.0	3.413.36 to 3.46	Compare →
275/70R18+2.1 in taller	33.232.7 to 33.7	+1.1+0.8 to +1.3	64.163.1 to 65.0	3.353.30 to 3.40	Compare →
295/70R18+3.2 in taller	34.333.7 to 34.8	+1.6+1.3 to +1.9	66.265.2 to 67.2	3.243.20 to 3.29	Compare →
285/75R18+3.8 in taller	34.834.3 to 35.4	+1.9+1.6 to +2.2	67.366.3 to 68.3	3.193.14 to 3.24	Compare →
35x12.50R18+3.9 in taller	35.034.5 to 35.5	+2.0+1.7 to +2.2	67.666.6 to 68.6	3.183.13 to 3.22	Compare →

Estimate ±Worked out from the nominal sizes; the small line is the range for real tires within 1.5% of nominal.

From 255/55R20Stock on the ST-Line; Platinum · 31.0 in tall

What larger tires change compared with the stock 255/55R20
Size	Tall in	Axles rise in	At an indicated 60 true mph	Axle ratio acts like	Compare
255/55R20stock	31.0	0.0	60.0	3.31 3.58	Baseline
275/55R20+0.9 in taller	31.931.4 to 32.4	+0.4+0.2 to +0.7	61.760.7 to 62.6	3.223.17 to 3.27 3.483.43 to 3.54	Compare →
275/60R20+1.9 in taller	33.032.5 to 33.5	+1.0+0.7 to +1.2	63.862.8 to 64.7	3.113.07 to 3.16 3.373.32 to 3.42	Compare →
275/65R20+3.0 in taller	34.133.6 to 34.6	+1.5+1.3 to +1.8	65.964.9 to 66.8	3.022.97 to 3.06 3.263.21 to 3.31	Compare →
35x12.50R20+4.0 in taller	35.034.5 to 35.5	+2.0+1.7 to +2.2	67.666.6 to 68.7	2.942.89 to 2.98 3.183.13 to 3.22	Compare →

Estimate ±Worked out from the nominal sizes; the small line is the range for real tires within 1.5% of nominal.

From 275/45R21Stock on the ST · 30.7 in tall

No larger size on 21-inch wheels in the list we compare against. Try a size in the tire size calculator.

Estimate ±Worked out from the nominal sizes; the small line is the range for real tires within 1.5% of nominal.

Assumption, not data

Heights come from the size code. A real tire of a size measures within about 1.5% of it, depending on brand, tread, wheel width and pressure, so each figure carries that range. The axles rise by half the change in height; the body only rises with a lift.

03 / By year

Explorer stock tires by model year

Stock tire sizes of the Ford Explorer by model year
Year	Stock sizes
2025	255/65R18 Active 255/55R20 ST-Line; Platinum 275/45R21 ST
2024	265/65R18 Timberline
2023	265/65R18 Timberline
2022	265/65R18 Timberline
2020	255/55R20 Limited
2018	245/55R18 Police Interceptor Utility 245/60R18 XLT 255/50R20 Sport
2017	245/55R18 Police Interceptor Utility 245/60R18 XLT 255/50R20 Sport
2016	245/55R18 Police Interceptor Utility 255/50R20 Sport
2015	245/55R18 Police Interceptor Utility
2014	245/55R18 Police Interceptor Utility

The 2025 Explorer belongs to the generation below; their pages have each configuration’s clearance, angles and weights.

Ford Explorer U625 (2020–present): full specs

04 / Next

Try a size on your rig

Tire size calculatorPut 255/65R18 next to 265/70R18 or any size you’re eyeing, with this Explorer’s gearing.Compare sizes Explorer specsClearance, angles and weights, and the rig builder to see a lift and bigger tires on it.Open the spec plate Explorer towingTowing, payload, GCWR and tongue weight for every configuration.See towing Tire sizes by vehicleEvery stock size on the trucks and SUVs we cover, by wheel diameter.Browse sizes

05 / FAQ

Questions people ask

How far off is the 2025 Explorer’s speedometer with bigger tires?

Set for the stock 255/55R20, with 275/55R20s it reads about 2.7% low: 61.7 mph at an indicated 60 (60.7 to 62.6, by brand) and with 35x12.50R20s it reads about 11.3% low: 67.6 mph at an indicated 60 (66.6 to 68.7, by brand). Worked out from the nominal sizes.

What size wheels does the 2025 Explorer have?

18 in five-spoke Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum: Active. 20 in Ebony machined-painted aluminum: ST-Line. 21 in Magnetite-painted aluminum: ST. 20 in Luster Nickel-painted aluminum: Platinum.

What is the biggest tire the 2025 Explorer comes on?

As built, the 255/65R18, about 31.1 in tall (nominal), on the Active.

Did the Ford Explorer’s tire sizes change by year?

2025: 255/65R18, 255/55R20, 275/45R21. 2024: 265/65R18. 2023: 265/65R18. 2022: 265/65R18. 2020: 255/55R20. 2018: 245/55R18, 245/60R18, 255/50R20. 2017: 245/55R18, 245/60R18, 255/50R20. 2016: 245/55R18, 255/50R20. 2015: 245/55R18. 2014: 245/55R18.