2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Tire Size & Bolt Pattern

Q: Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Yes — the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

Approved fitments

Tire size	Rim size	PCD (bolt pattern)	Offset	Load index	Speed rating
235/70R16 OEM	7x16	5x114.3	44mm	104	S
245/65R17 OEM	7.5x17	5x114.3	44mm	105	T
235/65R18	7.5x18	5x114.3	44mm	104	S
255/50R20	8x20	5x114.3	35mm	104	T

2007 Ford explorer sport trac wheel bolt pattern & specs

Bolt pattern (PCD)	5x114.3
Center bore	70.5 mm
Source	bolt-pattern.com

The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac uses a 5x114.3 bolt pattern, and a 70.5 mm center bore. Bolt pattern and hub specs are stable across a model generation; always confirm against your vehicle's existing wheel before buying aftermarket wheels, spacers, or adapters. Source: community wheel-fitment reference data.

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

BFGoodrich

All-Terrain T/A KO2

all-season touring, 50,000-mi warranty

Best budget

Michelin

Defender LTX M/S

Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 800

Best quiet

Pirelli

Scorpion all terrain plus

73 dB cabin noise (EU label); quietest in this size

Compatible alternative sizes for 235/70R16

Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.

Alternative size	%Δ OD	Category	Verdict
`205/80R16`	-0.14%	winter narrower	Safe
`215/65R18`	0.18%	plus 2	Safe
`235/65R17`	0.26%	plus 1	Safe
`235/75R15`	-0.26%	alternative	Safe
`255/55R18`	0.31%	plus 2	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 235/70R16 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.

Check a different size against this vehicle

Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 235/70R16 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 235/65R17; one rim size up, 0.26% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 215/65R18; two rim sizes up, 0.18% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.

Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.

How to choose tires for the 2007 ford explorer sport trac

The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac ships from the factory on 235/70R16 tires mounted on 7x16 wheels, with a load index of 104 and a speed rating of S. 4 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.

Tire choice on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number, in this case 104), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard, here S), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.

For 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.

Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.

NHTSA-reported issues for 2007 ford explorer sport trac

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Most reported: Tires (General) (8) · TPMS (2)

Reported across: 2007 – 2007 (1 year)

What owners described

Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 19% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 26 reports covering every model year of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.

Reported problem	This subject	All tire complaints	Relative
Blowout or sudden deflation	19%	20%	1.0×
Sidewall failure	12%	15%	0.8×
Cracking or dry rot	8%	9%	0.8×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	8%	8%	0.9×
Premature or uneven wear	4%	1%	3.0×

Mileage at failure

6 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 19,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 2,000 and 106,250 miles.

In owners' own words

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.

I HAD UNEVEN WEAR ON MY TIRES THAT WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FROM THE FACTORY. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE SPECS AND BRAND WERE NOT THE IDEAL TYPE FOR THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE GIVEN. I DID BUY MICHELIN AT OWL AND THEY HAVE HELD UP TO PRESENT 2014 AT 106250 MILES.

NHTSA complaint 1100524 · 2004 vehicle

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT. DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

NHTSA complaint 526743 · 2003 vehicle

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS OR DEBRIS. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED ALONG THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL AREA. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 01T016000, REGARDING THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A/T P235/75R15.

NHTSA complaint 595814 · 2001 vehicle

IN LATE AUGUST, 2008, I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ALONG INTERSTATE 64 BETWEEN RICHMOND AND CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA DUE TO SUDDEN LOSE OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF MY 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND SAFELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING OTHER VEHICLES OR INJURING ANYONE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER IN LOUISA, VA. AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE SPARE TIRE, I RETURNED IT TO WILLIAMSBURG FORD, THE ORIGINAL DEALER. THE TIRE AND THE AIR PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $365.58. ON OCTOBER 20, 2008, THE AIR PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT INDICATED ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH TIRE PRESSURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WILLIAMSBURG FORD. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE STEM IN THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $15.00.

NHTSA complaint 693380 · 2007 vehicle

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What size tires fit a 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

The OEM tire size for the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is 235/70R16 mounted on 7x16 wheels. Load index 104, speed rating S. Trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment; confirm against your specific vehicle's driver-door placard before purchase.

What is the bolt pattern of a 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with a 70.5 mm center bore. Bolt pattern is consistent across the model generation; confirm against your existing wheel before fitting aftermarket wheels or adapters.

Can I run a different tire size on my 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Plus-sizing (larger rim, lower aspect) is possible within ±3% of the OEM overall diameter per the ETRTO safe-fit standard. The Compatible alternative sizes table on this page lists every safe option for the OEM size. Always confirm with the manufacturer or a qualified tire shop before deviating from the placard.

Where can I buy tires for my 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Online tire retailers in our affiliate network carry every size documented for this vehicle. Use the Shop online buttons above to compare prices across them; variance of $20–$40 per tire is common between merchants. The <a href="/tools/tire-install-cost-calculator/">install cost calculator</a> estimates the out-the-door including mount, balance, TPMS, and disposal by state.

What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

The cold-inflation pressure is printed on the driver-door placard of your specific vehicle and varies by trim, tire size, and loaded vs unloaded condition. Typical OEM front and rear pressures fall between 30 and 36 psi for passenger trims and 32–40 psi for SUV/truck variants, but the placard is the authoritative source.

Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Yes; the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

How often should I rotate the tires on my 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Every 5,000–7,500 miles is the typical OEM recommendation for passenger vehicles. AWD vehicles and high-torque trucks benefit from the shorter interval. Documented rotation history is also a tire-warranty prerequisite; most manufacturer treadwear claims require rotation receipts at the warranty inspection.

For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.

Sources for this page

Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.