Some 2015-2018 Explorer vehicles equipped with Hankook brand tires may exhibit tread wear that is not the result of vehicle alignment concerns. For customer satisfaction, Hankook is offering pro-rated tire replacement for vehicles with less than 36,000 Miles. This program is managed by Hankook Tire America Corp. and not claimed under Ford new vehicle limited warranty. If the tire side wall is marked as: 255/50R20 105H Ventus S1 Noble 2, contact Hankook Technical Service for possible pro-rated tire replacement. Refer to FMCDealer.com Tire Page for details and Hankook contact information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford Explorer tires problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Ford Explorer have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the tires, typically surfacing around 20,000 miles at roughly $150 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
| Model year | tires complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Explorer | 4 |
| 2016 Explorer | 12 |
| 2017 Explorer (this page) | 21 |
| 2018 Explorer | 9 |
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Ford Explorer we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 21.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2015-2018 Explorer vehicles equipped with Hankook brand tires may exhibit chipping, cutting and/or unusual or even accelerated tread wear. If the tire side wall is marked as: 255/50R20 105H Ventus S1 Noble 2 contact Hankook Technical Service for possible pro-rated tire replacement. This may not be the result of improper alignment. For Hankook contact information refer to the Tire Warranty information located on FMCDealer.com.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SETTING THE CORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE PRE-DELIVERY PROCESS AND DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. RECENT CUSTOMER CLINICS REVEALED THAT MOST EVERY VEHICLE IN THE CLINICS HAD THE TIRE PRESSURES SET INCORRECTLY. TIRE PRESSURES FROM THE FACTORY ARE NOT SET TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. MAINTAINING THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE IS KEY TO THE RIDE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE AND AFFECTS RIDE QUALITY, HANDLING, LOAD CAPACITY AND TIRE WEAR. THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE SETTINGS CAN BE FOUND ON THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR JAM. DO NOT USE THE TIRE PRESSURES LISTED ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. MAINTAINING THE TIRE PRESSURE IS PART OF NORM
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Ford Explorer comes equipped with Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2 tires (size 255/50R20), and owners report consistent, premature failure across multiple vehicles. The dominant complaint is tread wear so severe that tires need replacement between 12,000 and 25,000 miles—well before normal tire life. Wear concentrates on the outer edges and inner sidewalls, even on vehicles with regular tire rotation and correct inflation. Owners also describe chunks and flakes of rubber peeling away from the tread, creating visible holes and gaps in the tire surface. One owner reported tread separation while driving.
A secondary complaint is hydroplaning at reduced speeds before tread reaches legal minimum depth, indicating loss of grip and water channeling capacity. A few owners cite high road force variance (18–20 lbs imbalance) and vibration at highway speeds, pointing to internal structural defect.
Hankook has denied warranty claims on several vehicles, citing mileage over limit or requiring tread wear to drop to 4/32 or less—a threshold owners find unreasonable given the safety risk. Ford dealers have offered little assistance. One complaint mentioned an older set of Nokian tires that also experienced tread separation. Owners note Ford Service Bulletin SSM 46905 references the Hankook tire issue, suggesting the problem is known within Ford's dealer network.
Same Ford Explorer tires reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Tread separation and chunking
Rubber tread separates, chunks, and peels away from the tire carcass, creating visible gaps and damage. One owner reported tread separation while in motion. Occurs on multiple tires simultaneously in many cases.
When: 12,200 to 40,000 miles; most common between 16,000–28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible chunks or pieces of rubber detached from tire; Tread ripping or peeling away from itself; Holes appearing in the tire surface; Tread separation while driving (one case reported)
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required. One owner paid for all four tires out-of-pocket after Hankook denied warranty at 6/32 tread depth (manufacturer required ≤4/32 for coverage). Another received 60% coverage at 12,200 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15T024000 (tires); Hankook refused warranty coverage on multiple vehicles citing mileage over manufacturer limit or insufficient tread wear; Ford offered no assistance in several cases. Some owners report referrals to contact Hankook directly.
Premature and uneven tread wear
Tires wear down to unsafe levels far below normal expected service life. Wear is concentrated on outer edges and inner sidewalls rather than uniform across the tread. Multiple owners replaced tires between 12,000–25,000 miles with tires already worn 60–65%.
When: 12,200 to 25,000 miles on 2017 Explorers purchased with OEM tires
Symptoms owners cite: Tread depth in unsafe range at 15,000–25,000 miles; Concentrated wear on outer edges of all four tires; Inner and outer edge wear on front tires; Chipping and cracking on tire sidewalls
Repairs/costs cited: Complete tire replacement at 12,200–25,000 miles. One owner noted tires were five years old at purchase (DOT date 2012 on 2017 model).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; dealers advised tire replacement; some owners attempted Hankook contact without success.
Hydroplaning at reduced speeds
Vehicle begins to hydroplane at significantly lower speeds than when new, indicating loss of tread grip and water evacuation. Occurs with OEM Hankook tires even when tread depth is not yet at legal minimum.
When: Before 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hydroplaning at lower speeds than normal; Tread ripping visible internally at 6/32 depth
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced all four tires. Two other 2017 Explorers at same dealership had identical Hankook tire failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hankook denied warranty claim, citing 6/32 tread depth (manufacturer threshold 4/32 or less).
High tire load variance and vibration
Tires develop abnormally high road force variance, causing vehicle vibration at highway speed. Road force imbalance indicates internal tire structure defect.
When: 5,015 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle vibration at 60 mph; Road force variance of 18–20 lbs per rear tire
Repairs/costs cited: Road analyzer and NVH diagnostics performed; tires balanced within 1/4 oz; diagnosis was to replace tires due to excessive road force.
Tread separation on aftermarket Nokian tires
Driver-side rear tire tread separated completely while vehicle was in motion. Tire was installed new in February 2021. Owner noted historical issues with Nokian tread separation dating to 2016.
When: Incident occurred May 2021; tires installed February 2021 (timing unclear but likely under 6 months of use)
Symptoms owners cite: Tread separation from tire carcass; Blowout while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Local tire shop (Direct Discount Tire, Stillwater OK) unaware of any recalls; offered to replace tire.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer inspection performed; owner unable to identify tire manufacturer; Direct Discount Tire recommended Nokian brand for police units but unaware of recall status.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had tires trouble with your 2017 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 16,000 and 28,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 28,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.