Best Tires For Ford Explorer
The right choice of tires can enhance your driving experience. As tires are the only part of the car that contacts the road surface. They can greatly impact the mileage, performance, ride comfort, and safety levels. You might be able to use single pair of tires for the entire season but you would do it at cost of the car’s performance. So, you must get a good sense of the requirements of your car and what tires will best suit your needs.
Ford Explorer is a premium-grade mid-sized SUV that comes jam-packed with high-end features. The car offers smooth and controlled rides on its own. But the correct choice of tires can amplify your pleasure.
In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best tires for Ford Explorer. You can choose whichever tire best fits your requirements.
Best Touring Tires for Ford Explorer:
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II is an excellent all-around performer. These tires have been specially designed for cross-over, pick-up trucks, and sports utility vehicles. It is produced by an environmentally conscious manufacturing process.
These eco-friendly tires are the best option for high-performance in all seasons. The tread design on these tires has been modified from previous versions. The grooves on sidewalls and tread have been aligned as such to allow the smooth exit of trapped water particles. This has improved the wet traction of Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II to a great extent. Though the wet traction is improved, the snow performance of these tires is still at par with other competitors in this category.
The only drawback of these tires is the considerable road noise. It is reported that Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II produces noticeable road noise after 20,000 miles.
Warranty: Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II comes with an unlimited time and 65,000 miles warranty. The manufacturer also offers a special 30-day trial period. But it is only valid if you purchase a set of 4 tires.
Recommended: 8.6 out of 10
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Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus
Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus are all-weather and all-season touring tires. They have high durability and a longer life span. The wider tread design helps in providing excellent traction on dry roads. However, due to this wider design snow and ice traction is compromised.
The internal body of Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus has been supported by a spiral wound nylon ring in addition to twin steel cords. These tires have a decent loading capacity of approximately 2000 lbs as well.
Warranty: Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus comes with a 5 year time and 80,000 miles warranty. The manufacturer offers free replacement for the first 3 years but it comes with certain limitations on tire tread depth.
Recommended: 7.7 out of 10
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Best Winter Tires for Ford Explorer:
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 has been developed as a specialized winter tire. Its tread has been designed to provide extra grip on roads with slush, snow, and ice. A single Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 tire can cost around $211.01.
Ice-traction and braking are the two most stand-out features of this winter tire. The enhanced capability of Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is by the virtue of its tread design. It has wide lateral and circumferential grooves that allow the removal of trapped water particles. In addition to this, the tire has been built using hydrophilic compounds that are natural repellents of water. Therefore the excellent road grip and handling during wet conditions.
The compounds used in manufacturing Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 have the in-built capability to stay soft and flexible in ice-cold temperatures as well.
Warranty: Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 cover no warranty period for tread life. However, a workmanship and material warranty is provided for 5 years, provided that the depth of tread is more than 1.58 mm.
Recommended: 9.3 out of 10
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Firestone Winterforce 2 UV
Firestone Winterforce 2 UV can handle the cold like no other. It can steer your way through extremely icy and snowy roads. This is a premium quality winter season tire that comes on a budget. The lowest prices for a single Firestone Winterforce 2 UV tire can get as low as $148.
It is loved by many for its stability and decent riding quality during extreme winter. The hydroplaning resistance is aided by the intricate design of the tread. The radial pattern on the tread helps in channeling slush and water droplets out of it.
Warranty: A workmanship and materials warranty for 5 years has been provided for Firestone Winterforce 2 UV. However, no road hazard and tread-life warranty are covered by the manufacturer.
Recommended: 8.8 out of 10
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Best Summer Tires for Ford Explorer:
Sumitomo Encounter HT
Sumitomo Encounter HT is claimed to be an all-weather tire by the company but it was never meant to provide high performance in the winter season. Sumitomo Encounter HT is known to perform poorly in cold seasons.
But these tires are on our list for the best ford explorer tires due to their remarkable performance in the summer season. These are the best fit for Ford explorer in every regard. The symmetric tread design of Sumitomo Encounter HT enables uniform wear in each direction due to which it has a longer life span.
Warranty: Sumitomo has offered an impressive warranty period of 5 years or 60,000 miles for Encounter HT. The company also guarantees free replacement of tires for up to 6 years in case of a material failure. But replacement is offered only if at least 1.58 mm of tread rubber is left on the tire.
Recommended: 7.5 out of 10
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Firestone Destination LE3
Firestone Destination LE3 is the best match for all trims and models of ford explorer. It has excellent all-weather performance. Just off-roading can be tougher on these tires. Other than that there is no reason not to buy Firestone Destination LE3.
The Firestone Destination LE3 comes with a special full-depth tread feature. This feature enables the user to drive tires till the very end. It means that even with time passing by the wear on Firestone Destination LE3 will be uniform and less damaging.
Warranty: Firestone Destination LE3 offers an extended warranty period as compared to its competitors. It comes with 5 years of material warranty and a tread life warranty of 70,000 miles or 5 years as well. A special buy and try offer of 90 days has been initiated by the manufacturer.
Recommended: 9.0 out of 10
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Best All-Terrain Tires for Ford Explorer:
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is an excellent option to choose if you are looking to use your ford explorer for off-road driving. The ford explorer itself has an impressive engine to aid during off-road driving. Having good tires can only enhance its off-road capability.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 exhibits a clawing action due to additional traction offered by serrated shoulder design. It can be purchased at a fairly competitive price of $196.
Warranty: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 carries an impressive tread life warranty of 6 years or 50,000 miles. It also covers the material warranty for 6 years. However, free replacement is only available during the first year of use. A special 60-day satisfaction guarantee has been approved by the manufacturer as well.
Recommended: 8.0 out of 10
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Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure is embedded with Kevlar. It offers a mix of versatility and innovation. Goodyear could’ve done a lot better with this innovative product. Still, it managed a tire with decent road and on-road performance.
The rankings and rating of Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure don’t do justice with the performance of this tire. We concede that it lacks in certain areas like mud and wet driving. But people with the first-hand experience of Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure are convinced that it is a good tire for Ford Explorer.
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure offers good braking capability. The layer of Kevlar helps in providing extra grip and sporty handling.
Warranty: A generous warranty of 6 years or 60,000 miles has been offered by the manufacturer. Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure covers a uniformity warranty for 12 months. In addition to that, a 6-year material warranty is also provided by Goodyear.
Recommended: 5.5 out of 10
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Best Highway Tires for Ford Explorer:
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Michelin Defender LTX M/S can be a good match for your Ford Explorer if you have a traveler gene and you mostly travel via highways. The tire is specially designed to cater to the driving needs of the highway.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S offers a highly functional tread pattern that has improved its wear life and longevity to considerable levels. A special compound by the name of Evertread has been used in its construction. The high density of this compound ensures adequate traction during all seasons.
The three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol is missing from the advertisement of Michelin Defender LTX M/S as it isn’t a specialized winter or snow traction tire.
Warranty: A 6-year or 70,000 miles warranty is covered for T & H-speed rated tires and a 6-year or 50,000 miles warranty is covered for R-speed rated tires. The best part about purchasing the Michelin Defender LTX M/S is its free flat tire change offer for 3 years. In addition to that, a 60-day satisfaction guarantee is also offered by the manufacturer.
Recommended: 8.5 out of 10
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Continental Terrain Contact H/T
Continental Terrain Contact H/T has everything you can ask for in a highway tire. The building compound of this tire is mixed with special purpose additives. They provide enhanced traction, long life, and confident highway driving.
The Continental Terrain Contact H/T uses active noise blockers to reduce noise while driving on highways. The groovy tread design helps the exit of trapped water droplets. This boosts the wet traction and hydroplaning resistance.
Warranty: Continental has offered similar warranty coverage as its competitor Michelin. They have also tried to please their customers by offering the free change of flat tires for 3 years. In addition to that, a 6-year or 70,000 miles tread-life warranty is also covered by Continental.
Recommended: 8.9 out of 10
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Best Tires for Ford Explorer: Buying Guide
These Summer Tires Might be The Best Tires For Ford Explorer
Let’s get one thing straight, there is no such thing as an all-season tire. The companies make bold claims about their tires performing well in all conditions. But it is not true. As you cannot achieve higher performance with a similar tread design in summers as well as winters. However, what you can do is weigh your requirements carefully.
In my opinion, summer tires are the best option for Ford explorer. No one can deny the importance of all-season touring tires. But these summer tires are an even better match. A pair of tires like Firestone Destination LE3 is a complete package for a car like Ford Explorer.
These tires offer the best dry road traction, which is the most important factor to consider. Due to this enhanced traction, the ride quality cannot get any better with these tires. The full-depth tread features not only allow for uniformity in wear but also aid in lowering the tire noise while driving on highways.
But these aren’t the only reasons why we picked these tires to be the best pick for Ford Explorer above all others. The prime reason for choosing Firestone Destination LE3 as the top match was its remarkable wet road traction and considerable performance in winter as well.
If a tire is offering you safety and adequate traction on wet roads and snowy tracks, then you should not hesitate to buy it. In addition to that if you’re getting it as a sidekick along with full-time summer functionality, then there is nothing better.
Well, not to miss the above-average off-road performance of these tires. So, in my opinion, you should seal the deal with tires that offer such versatility and wide usage.
All-Terrain Tires Are Not For Muddy & Rocky Off-Road Tracks Only
All of us keep wondering that why tire manufacturers offer all-terrain tires with only limited features. Well, not anymore now all-terrain tires can be used as full-time vehicle tires as well. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is our top choice for the off-road category.
Obviously, these tires can do the job they are built for. But they can add purpose to your driving with their excellent cornering stability and swift steering response. The 3-ply polyester design of tread can boost the performance of these tires during winters. A wide pattern helps in channeling water droplets and snow out of the tread.
What good would a sporty vehicle do if you cannot take it for an off-road ride? Ford Explorer itself has an excellent hybrid powertrain to support off-road rides. So, these tires can make an excellent combination with your Ford Explorer.
