2020 Ford Explorer will come with self-sealing tires
2020 Ford Explorer will come with self-sealing tires
Posted on March 22, 2019
Tires that self-seal after a puncture are nothing new but being adopted as standard tires on an SUV is. Ford announced that the 2020 Ford Explorer will offer this very feature.
The Explorer will use Michelin Selfseal tires on the Explorer Platinum and Limited Hybrid AWD drive models of the SUV as standard and as an option on the Explorer Limited. Usually, this type of tire was aftermarket only. Ford is the first manufacturer we know of to offer them for an SUV as standard equipment.
Self-sealing tires are nothing new but they are different to run-flats. They have previously been fitted mainly on luxury vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and military vehicles. While available for all cars and trucks, the price and altered driving characteristics meant few people bought them. Now they will come as standard on some Explorers.
Self-sealing tires
Self-sealing tires have harder sidewalls to maintain their shape during a flat. Those sidewalls are not as hard as run-flats but still change the characteristics of the tire. They also contain a special liquid compound that reacts to oxygen and hardens where it meets the air. This compound is what ‘heals’ the tire enough to get you home safely.
The combination of harder sidewall and limited air escape means you can suffer a puncture without losing control of the vehicle and without having to change for the spare or wait for recovery.
Self-sealing tires are not a get out of jail free card for any puncture. They only work on modest sized punctures and won’t help if the tire splits or you experience a full blowout. It will still help in this situation by holding its shape better than normal tires allowing you to maintain control and hopefully pull over safely.
Those harder sidewalls are what alters the ride characteristics. The ride can become less plush and a little harsher as the harder rubber doesn’t deform as much on a run-flat as it does on a normal tire. You soon get used to it and after a while, will forget all about it.
Ford has an advantage by offering them as standard equipment. It can alter the suspension to compensate for this characteristic to make it much less obvious.
As if you needed any more reason to check out a 2020 Ford Explorer! The inclusion of self-healing Michelin tires is a definite advantage and something worth considering when you’re in the market for a new SUV.
Visit Northway Ford Lincoln, 388 King George Road Brantford ON N3S 3N2 to see the 2020 Ford Explorer for yourself.