1997 Ford Explorer — XL
The 1997 Ford Explorer XL shipped with 2 different factory tire sizes, depending on the wheel package it left the factory with (this can also reflect a staggered front/rear setup). Check your tire sidewall or door placard to confirm which one applies to your vehicle.
This trim shipped with more than one tire size (staggered fitment, front/rear, or optional wheel package). Confirm which one matches your vehicle by checking your tire sidewall or door placard.
225/70R15
| Section width | 225 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 70% (157.5 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 15" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~27.4" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~736 |
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235/75R15
| Section width | 235 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 75% (176.3 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 15" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~28.9" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~698 |
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What this size means for your Ford Explorer
On the 1997 Ford Explorer XL, the factory 225/70R15 measures about 27.4″ in overall diameter with a 157.5 mm (6.2″) sidewall, and completes roughly 736 revolutions per mile. Its 70-series aspect ratio gives a tall sidewall of the kind used on trucks, SUVs, and older passenger cars, built for cushioning and load. In tire terms it is a passenger (P-metric / Euro-metric) size.
The 225/70R15 and 235/75R15 differ in both width and overall diameter (1.5″, 5.5%), which usually means a staggered front/rear setup — the two sizes are not interchangeable side to side, so match each to its correct axle.
On a vehicle of this age, the Ford Explorer may have been refitted with a slightly different replacement size somewhere in its life, so check the current sidewall — not just the factory spec — before buying.
Other 1997 Ford Explorer trims
- Eddie Bauer 235/75R15 / 255/70R16
- Limited 235/75R15
- Sport 235/75R15 / 255/70R16
- XL 2-door 225/70R15 / 235/75R15
- XLT 225/70R15 / 235/75R15
Ford Explorer tire sizes by year
- 2026 Ford Explorer 255/65R18 / 255/55R20
- 2025 Ford Explorer 255/65R18 / 255/55R20
- 2024 Ford Explorer 255/65R18
- 2023 Ford Explorer 255/65R18
- 2022 Ford Explorer 255/65R18
- 2021 Ford Explorer 255/65R18
- 2020 Ford Explorer 255/65R18
- 2019 Ford Explorer 245/60R18
- 2018 Ford Explorer 245/60R18
- 2017 Ford Explorer 245/60R18
How to read a tire size
A tire size like 225/45R17 breaks down into three parts:
the first number is the section width in millimeters
(the tire's width from sidewall to sidewall), the second is the
aspect ratio — the sidewall's height as a percentage of
that width — and the number after the "R" is the rim
diameter in inches. A letter prefix (P or LT) indicates
Passenger or Light Truck construction; its absence usually means
Euro-metric sizing.
Some trucks and off-road tires instead use "flotation" sizing, like
37X12.50R17 — here the numbers are the tire's overall
diameter and width in inches directly, with the rim diameter last.
Always verify against the tire information placard on your driver's-side door jamb or your owner's manual before purchasing — tire size can vary by factory option package even within the same trim.