If you are shopping for tires for a 2016 Ford Explorer, fitment needs to come before brand, tread design, or price. Different Explorer trims and wheel packages can use different tire sizes, so a tire should not be treated as a direct replacement simply because it is marketed for SUVs.
From the products originally supplied for this guide, the Delinte DS8 255/50R20 109Y is the tire that clearly matches a common 20-inch 2016 Ford Explorer tire size. If your Explorer has 18-inch wheels or a different tire specification, do not order this tire based on the model year alone.
Fitment note: Check the tire-size label on the driver-side door jamb and the size printed on your current tires before buying. Match the required tire size and make sure the replacement also satisfies the vehicle’s load and speed requirements. Common factory configurations include 245/60R18 and 255/50R20, depending on trim and wheel package.
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Quick Verdict
Matching 20-inch option from the supplied list: The Delinte DS8 255/50R20 109Y is an all-season tire worth considering if the tire placard on your 2016 Explorer specifies 255/50R20 and its load and speed requirements are satisfied.
Do not buy by model year alone. Owners with 18-inch wheels or another factory-approved specification need a tire in the size shown on their own vehicle’s tire label.
| Delinte DS8 P255/50R20 109Y |  | For Matching 20-Inch Fitment | Size: 255/50R20 | Tread Type: Asymmetrical | Load Index: 109 | Check Product Details on Amazon | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Matching Pick
Delinte DS8 P255/50R20 109Y
If your 2016 Ford Explorer’s tire placard specifies 255/50R20, the Delinte DS8 is the strongest match among the products supplied for this guide. It is an all-season tire with a 109 load index, a Y speed rating, and an asymmetrical tread design.
The tread uses grooves and angled channels intended to move water away from the contact area, making this model more appropriate for everyday wet and dry road use than for specialized severe-winter driving. It is an all-season tire rather than a dedicated winter tire.
Why you’ll like it: It combines the 255/50R20 dimensions used on certain 2016 Explorer configurations with an all-season design suitable for normal daily driving.
Who should buy this: Drivers whose Explorer tire placard specifically calls for 255/50R20 and whose required load and speed specifications are compatible with the 109Y service description.
Who should avoid this: Owners whose Explorer uses 18-inch wheels, a different tire size, or different load/speed requirements. It is also not the right choice if you specifically need a severe-snow-rated winter tire.
- Size:255/50R20
- Tread Type:Asymmetrical
- Load Index:109
- Speed Rating:Y
- Construction Type:Radial
- Performance Type:All-Season
- UTQG:500 A A
- Warranty:50,000-mile limited treadwear warranty
- Best For:2016 Explorer configurations requiring compatible 255/50R20 tires
Before You Buy a Tire for a 2016 Ford Explorer
A tire can have excellent reviews and still be wrong for your Explorer. Use this checklist before ordering:
- Read the driver-door tire placard. Use the size and inflation specifications provided for your actual vehicle.
- Confirm wheel diameter. A 20-inch tire cannot be installed on an 18-inch wheel.
- Match the full tire size. Width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter all matter. For example, 255/50R20 and 255/55R20 are not the same size.
- Check load requirements. The replacement tire should meet the load specification required by your vehicle.
- Check the speed rating. Do not reduce the required rating without guidance from a qualified tire professional or the vehicle manufacturer.
- Keep tires appropriately matched. Differences in size, construction, or significant tread wear can affect handling and may be particularly important on four-wheel-drive vehicles.
- Confirm seller fitment before checkout. Use the vehicle-fitment tool where available, but treat your vehicle’s tire placard as the primary reference.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Tires for a 2016 Ford Explorer
Tire Size and Trim Fitment
There is no single tire size that should be assumed for every 2016 Ford Explorer. Common configurations include 245/60R18 and 255/50R20, depending on trim and wheel package. The safest method is to read the label on your Explorer and buy the exact compatible specification rather than relying only on the year, make, and model.
The three numbers in a size such as 255/50R20 all matter. Changing the aspect ratio or wheel diameter changes the tire’s overall dimensions and can affect clearance, gearing, speedometer behavior, and vehicle handling.
Load Index and Speed Rating
After confirming size, compare the replacement tire’s load index and speed rating with the requirements for your vehicle. These values are more useful than choosing a tire simply because it is labeled for an SUV.
A higher numerical load index represents a greater rated load capacity, but that does not mean you should select an arbitrary rating. The important goal is to meet the specification required for your Explorer.
Weather Performance Requirements
Think about the weather you regularly drive in. An all-season tire can be a practical choice for everyday wet and dry conditions and moderate seasonal changes. Drivers who regularly encounter severe snow, persistent ice, or very cold winter conditions may be better served by appropriately sized dedicated winter tires or severe-snow-rated tires.
Do not treat the words “all-season” as a guarantee of equal performance in every winter condition.
Tread Design
Tire tread can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or directional. Each layout is designed around different compromises involving wet-road evacuation, handling, noise, rotation flexibility, and wear.
The retained Delinte DS8 uses an asymmetrical tread design. Regardless of design, correct installation, alignment, inflation, and rotation are important for getting predictable performance from the tire.
Ride Comfort and Road Noise
If your Explorer spends most of its time commuting or traveling on highways, comfort and noise may matter more to you than aggressive off-road traction. Tire construction, tread pattern, inflation, wheel size, road surface, and wear can all influence how quiet or firm a tire feels.
Wet-Road Performance
Grooves and tread channels help move water away from the contact patch, but no tread design eliminates hydroplaning risk. Proper tread depth, correct inflation, sensible speed, and replacing worn tires remain important in heavy rain.
Rolling Resistance and Fuel Economy
Tires can influence fuel economy through rolling resistance, but fitment and safety requirements come first. Maintaining the inflation pressure specified on the vehicle’s tire label is one of the simplest ways to avoid unnecessary rolling resistance caused by underinflation.
Do not inflate a tire to the maximum pressure printed on its sidewall simply to try to improve fuel economy. The sidewall maximum is not the same thing as the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended operating pressure.
Treadwear and UTQG
UTQG ratings can provide additional comparison information about treadwear, traction, and temperature performance, but they should not be used as a vehicle-fitment specification. Correct size, load capability, speed rating, and intended use should be checked first.
Tire Safety and Maintenance
Safety note: Use the recommended cold-tire inflation pressure printed on your Explorer’s tire label or Safety Compliance Certification Label. Do not substitute a generic PSI number from an online article.
Inspect your tires regularly for low pressure, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, embedded objects, and unusual vibration. If wear is uneven, have the alignment, balance, suspension, and tire condition inspected rather than assuming rotation alone will solve the problem.
Rotation can help promote more even wear when performed according to the vehicle and tire manufacturer’s recommendations. After rotation, make sure tire pressures are checked and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Tire Size Does a 2016 Ford Explorer Use?
The size depends on trim and wheel package. Common factory configurations include 245/60R18 and 255/50R20. Check the driver-side door-jamb tire label and your current tire size before ordering because the model year alone is not enough to confirm fitment.
Will 255/50R20 Tires Fit a 2016 Ford Explorer?
255/50R20 is a factory-size configuration used on certain 2016 Explorer trims and wheel packages. That does not mean every 2016 Explorer uses it. Confirm that 255/50R20 appears on your vehicle’s applicable fitment information before buying.
Can I Install 255/55R20 Instead of 255/50R20?
Do not assume the two sizes are interchangeable. Although both fit a 20-inch wheel, changing from a 50-series to a 55-series sidewall changes the tire’s overall diameter. Use a size approved for your specific Explorer or consult a qualified tire professional before changing from the factory specification.
What Tire Pressure Should I Use?
Use the cold-tire inflation pressure printed on your Explorer’s tire label or Safety Compliance Certification Label near the driver’s seating position. Avoid relying on a generic PSI range, and do not use the tire sidewall’s maximum-pressure number as your normal inflation target.
How Often Should I Rotate My Tires?
Follow the interval in your Ford scheduled maintenance information and any applicable tire-manufacturer guidance. Rotation helps promote more even wear, but unusual wear should also be checked for alignment, balance, or mechanical problems.
Can I Use Winter Tires Year-Round?
Dedicated winter tires are optimized for cold conditions and generally are not the best year-round choice in warm weather. Use tires appropriate for your climate and switch seasonal tires according to their manufacturer’s temperature and usage guidance.
Should I Replace Two Tires or All Four?
That depends on the condition of your existing tires and your drivetrain. Significant differences in tire size, tread depth, or construction can affect handling and may create additional concerns on four-wheel-drive systems. When replacing fewer than four tires, have a qualified tire professional confirm that the combination is appropriate for your Explorer.
Can I Install Larger Tires on a 2016 Ford Explorer?
Possibly, but a larger tire should not be treated as a direct replacement simply because it mounts on the same wheel diameter. Changes can affect clearance, speedometer accuracy, handling, gearing, and other vehicle systems. Use a Ford-approved specification or have the proposed wheel-and-tire combination professionally checked before installation.
Conclusion
Choosing a tire for a 2016 Ford Explorer starts with the tire placard on your specific vehicle. Common Explorer configurations use different wheel and tire sizes, so matching the full specification is more important than choosing a tire based on brand recognition or generic SUV compatibility.
Among the products supplied for this guide, the Delinte DS8 255/50R20 109Y is the relevant option for Explorer configurations that require a compatible 255/50R20 tire. It offers an all-season design, asymmetrical tread, and a 109 load index.
If your Explorer’s tire label shows a different size, choose a tire that matches that specification instead. Correct fitment, suitable load and speed ratings, proper inflation, and regular maintenance will do more for safe, predictable performance than forcing an otherwise good tire onto the wrong wheel-and-vehicle combination.
Final Recommendation
Have 255/50R20 listed for your Explorer? The Delinte DS8 255/50R20 109Y is the matching product from the supplied list worth comparing with your required load and speed specifications.
Check Product Details on Amazon
Have another tire size? Do not buy this tire. Use the size shown on your vehicle’s tire placard and select a properly rated replacement for that specification.
