• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Winter wheels and tires

GTB1

Member
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
#1
New to the forum and love my new ST. I have a ‘21 with 21s black wheels. I live in a very cold weather snowy state and have a decent commute. For winter I’d like to put on some snow tires. I actually already have michelin x ice 245 50 R20s from a prior vehicle (MKT) with one season on them. What are some good wheel choices. Like the idea of black steelies.
 

OP
G

GTB1

Member
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #2
:alien:]
 

Messages
208
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Arden Hills, MN, USA
#3
Here are several discussions on the subject of wheels and tires. Remember the search function is your friend and has a wealth of information at your finger tips.
 

OP
G
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #4
Here are several discussions on the subject of wheels and tires. Remember the search function is your friend and has a wealth of information at your finger tips.
Sorry. my question is whether this tire would be good on the ST.
 

Messages
208
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Arden Hills, MN, USA
#5
The tires are fine but as has been discussed in other threads any Explorer based rim prior to 2020 will not fit on the new Explorer due the hub diameter being larger. Steel rims from Ford that fit 20-21 Explorer based vehicle are about $550 apiece and are 18". Your speedo might be off a little also with those tires. In other threads it is discussed the proper rim offset if you go aftermarket rims.
 

Last edited:
OP
G
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #6
Cool thx. What is a rim offset?
 

Messages
208
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Arden Hills, MN, USA
#7
Rim offset

Offset refers to how your car's or truck's wheels and tires are mounted and sit in the wheel wells. ... Positive wheel offset is when the hub mounting surface is in front (more toward the street side) of the centerline of the wheel. Most wheels on front-wheel drive cars and newer rear-drive vehicles have positive offset.

https://www.explorerst.org/search/81813/?q=rim+offset&o=date
 

OP
G
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #8
Thanks. Both Discount and Bell Tire are telling me that I cannot put a 245 50 R 20 on this vehicle even with new 20 rims That was my question. Actually one said I could but it wasn't recommended and the other said they could not because it wouldn't handle the weight. I don't know anything about tires and was not sure if they were just trying to upsell me. The tires were on a MKT which I'm guessing weighed as much or more than my explorer as that is not a small vehicle. Thank you!
 

Messages
208
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Arden Hills, MN, USA
#9
The tire size is okay but the load rating for that set of tires must be for a lighter vehicle which is strange a MKT is about 5000 lbs and the Explorer ST is about 4700 lbs. Something is not right they should easily handle the weight.
 

OP
G
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #10
Yep. Thx.
 

Stinger

Member
Active Duty U.S. Navy
Messages
193
Reactions
76
Points
27
Location
Madison, WI, USA
#11
New to the forum and love my new ST. I have a ‘21 with 21s black wheels. I live in a very cold weather snowy state and have a decent commute. For winter I’d like to put on some snow tires. I actually already have michelin x ice 245 50 R20s from a prior vehicle (MKT) with one season on them. What are some good wheel choices. Like the idea of black steelies.
I’ve had good luck with x ice on a rwd 740i in Wisconsin.

Cast Alloys are relatively cheap. Not sure why you’d want steel. But to each their own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Messages
210
Reactions
91
Points
27
Location
Waupun, WI, USA
#12
I've got a set of 2020 regular explorer take offs with Blizzak's that I'm going to be running this winter in WI. Last winter wasn't horrible with the stock Pirelli's but there were some definite pucker moments.
 

OP
G
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #13
Yeah great tires but can I put the 245 50 R20s on with appropriate wheels? I have the stock 21s for summer
 

Messages
136
Reactions
66
Points
27
Location
Grimsby, ON, Canada
#14
I was in the market for new Pliers but wasn’t expecting to find them this way!

Anyone in Ontario Canada parting with their stock 21” Pirelli’s?
 

Attachments

OP
G
Messages
39
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
Thread Starter #15
Yikes.
 

Messages
52
Reactions
16
Points
7
Location
Calgary, AB, Canada
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
#16
Purchased winter tires & rims. Nokian R3's and Fast FC04 in 20". Wheels have been ceramic coated, just waiting for temps to drop and snow to come to put on the ST.

73065E55-E54E-4A50-B4C8-E8CBC4F46740.jpeg
 

Last edited:
Messages
48
Reactions
24
Points
2
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada
#18
I got these for mine. Ruffino Wheels - Reactor - Gloss Black - 19", 5x114.3 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta HKR3SUV - 255/55R19.

Post 1.jpg Post 2.jpg
 

Messages
97
Reactions
47
Points
17
Location
WI
#19
I've got a set of 2020 regular explorer take offs with Blizzak's that I'm going to be running this winter in WI. Last winter wasn't horrible with the stock Pirelli's but there were some definite pucker moments.
The OE all seasons actually did pretty well for me last winter, but coming from a tuned RWD Lincoln LS for the past 10 winters, anything is an improvement. My plan is to use the OE 21" wheels as my winter wheels and just put winter tires on them, and get wider forged wheels for the summer.
 

Messages
358
Reactions
194
Points
37
Location
Ashburn, VA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#20
Is there any way to get a Canadian delivery address like a UPS store or similar? The 18" steel wheels are soo inexpensive up there - ~$80 USD each! - 2020 Ford Spare Wheel LB5Z-1015-B | The Truck Lot
I would love 4 of these for winter tires! make it 5 while I am at it for a spare :) I'll drive the ~8 hours and spend a weekend in Toronto to pick them up!
 



Top