New Explorer Features Puncture-Fighting Tires

Ford offers Michelin Selfseal tires able to withstand common nail and screw punctures on the all-new Explorer SUV.

If a nail or screw punctures a Selfseal tire and remains in place, a natural rubber sealant surrounds the object to help seal the puncture, Ford says in a news release. If the object punctures the tire and comes back out, the sealant is designed to fill 90% of tread punctures up to 0.25 in. (6 mm) and slows the loss of air pressure to less than 15 psi per week, the automaker says, citing results of internal Michelin testing.

The sealant is designed to avoid loss of control while enabling drivers to continue their journey uninterrupted without making side-of-the-road stops. But the tire should be inspected and repaired by a professional if a tread puncture or low pressure is detected, Ford says.

Explorer is the first SUV to offer the environmentally friendly Michelin Selfseal tires, which are standard on Explorer Platinum and Explorer Limited Hybrid 4-wheel-drive models, and optional on Explorer Limited 2-wheel- and 4-wheel-drive models. Tire size for all models is 255/55R-20. All Explorer models are equipped with a spare tire.

“The all-new Explorer is designed to help our customers feel unstoppable and worry-free,” says Craig Patterson, Explorer marketing manager. “The availability of these new Michelin Selfseal tires is another great example of that.”