2004 Ford Explorer Tire Size & Bolt Pattern

Q: Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2004 Ford Explorer?

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
245/65R17 OEM	R17	5x114.3	N/A	N/A	N/A
235/70R16 OEM	7x16	5x114.3	44mm	N/A	N/A
245/70R16	7x16	5x114.3	44mm	N/A	N/A
245/65R17	7.5x17	5x114.3	44mm	N/A	N/A
255/60R18	8x18	5x114.3	40mm	N/A	N/A
235/70R16 OEM	R16	5x114.3	N/A	N/A	N/A
255/70R16 OEM	R16	5x114.3	N/A	N/A	N/A

2004 Ford explorer wheel bolt pattern & specs

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

The 2004 Ford Explorer 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

Michelin

CrossClimate 2

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

Compatible alternative sizes for 245/65R17

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
`215/80R16`	0.01%	winter narrower	Safe
`265/60R17`	-0.07%	wider	Safe
`225/65R18`	-0.08%	plus 1	Safe
`265/65R16`	0.08%	alternative	Safe
`245/70R16`	-0.12%	alternative	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 245/65R17 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 245/65R17 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 225/65R18; one rim size up, -0.08% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 245/55R19; two rim sizes up, 0.24% 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 2004 ford explorer

The 2004 Ford Explorer ships from the factory on 245/65R17 tires mounted on R17 wheels. 5 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 comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), 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 2004 Ford Explorer 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 2004 Ford Explorer, 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 2004 ford explorer

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Most reported: Tires (General) (14) · TPMS (3) · Tread / Belt (2)

Reported across: 2004 – 2004 (1 year)

What owners described

Tread or belt separation is the most common description, in 20% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 2,774 reports covering every model year of the Ford Explorer 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
Tread or belt separation	20%	13%	1.5×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	16%	8%	1.9×
Blowout or sudden deflation	15%	20%	0.8×
Cracking or dry rot	13%	9%	1.4×
Sidewall failure	10%	15%	0.7×
Bubble or bulge in the tire	3%	6%	0.5×

Mileage at failure

459 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 27,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 5,000 and 74,960 miles.

In owners' own words

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

THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH WINSTON WIN WINNER AT TIRES, SIZE: 255/70R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS LEAKING AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WAS 170,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 1013400 · 1997 vehicle

APRIL, 1996 I, MY EX WIFE, AND MY DAUGHTER WERE COMING BACK FROM PALMDALE, LA COUNTY, TRAVELING EAST ON 138 HIGHWAY BACK TO ONTARIO, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, WHERE I USED TO RESIDE. WHILE I WAS PASSING SLOW TRUCK IN TWO HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES EXPLODED I LOST CONTROL OF THE 1994 FORD EXPLORER GOT ON THE DIRT THE CAR WAS AIRBORNE LANDED TURN GOD KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES AND LANDED ON THE SIDE.

NHTSA complaint 1020903 · 1994 vehicle

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC II TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THERE WAS A BULGE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD A BULGE ON THE OUTSIDE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14T013000 (TIRES). THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000 AND APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 1175956 · 2004 vehicle

THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK, BUT DID REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V171000 (TIRES: SIDEWALL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. MA 08/11/15

NHTSA complaint 1184819 · 2002 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 2004 Ford Explorer?

The OEM tire size for the 2004 Ford Explorer is 245/65R17 mounted on R17 wheels.. 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 2004 Ford Explorer?

The 2004 Ford Explorer 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 2004 Ford Explorer?

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 2004 Ford Explorer?

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 2004 Ford Explorer?

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 2004 Ford Explorer?

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 2004 Ford Explorer?

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 is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2004 Ford Explorer.
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.