We’ve written extensively about Ford and numerous questions you can have about these cars. Today, we will talk about the information you need to have to select the correct new tires or rims for your Taurus.
So what is the exact bolt pattern of a Ford Taurus, for each generation?
Ford Taurus made between 1986 – 2007 and 2019 – present have a bolt pattern of 5×4.25 inches (5x108mm), a center bore of 63.4mm, and five lug nuts with a thread size of M12 x 1.5 that need to be tightened with 100 lb-ft (135Nm) of force. Ford Taurus made between 2008 – 2018 have a bolt pattern of 5×4.5 inches (5×114.3mm) whereas all other specifications remain the same.
However, that certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. While we’ve discussed the bolt pattern of all Ford models before, this time we’ve outlined the bolt pattern of the Ford Taurus in more detail for each generation.
We also discuss what lugs/bolts are used precisely, the exact diameter of the center bore hub, and the torque specifications of the bolts. Finally, we also have information about each engine type’s exact tire size and rim size. You should know precisely what you can and cannot buy this way. Read on!
Wheel Fitment Specifications Per Generation
To fit a wheel properly on your Taurus, you’ll need to know more aspects than just the bolt pattern. Below we’ve outlined all the factors you should be aware of for each generation of the Taurus. These include: center bore diameter, wheel tightening torque, whether lug nuts or bolts are used, and the thread size of the bolts.
We also want to clarify that the below-listed specifications are the same for all models within that generation. The Taurus, of course, comes in different trim levels and engine options. However, these bolt patterns, lugs used, and torque specifications do not change for other models within a generation.
Furthermore, we also listed the exact tire and rim size used with each engine option to give you a precise idea of what tires you can and cannot buy.
1986 – 1991
- Ford Taurus with a 2.5i I4, 3.0i V6 or 3.8i V6 engine has a standard tire size of 205/70R14 or 205/65R15 and a standard rim size of 5.5Jx14 ET42 or 6Jx15 ET42.
1992 – 1995
- Ford Taurus with a 3.0i V6 or 3.8i V6 engine has a standard tire size of 205/70R14 or 205/65R15 and a standard rim size of 5.5Jx14 ET42 or 6Jx15 ET42.
1996 – 1999
- Ford Taurus with a 3.0i V6 or 3.0i DOHC V6 engine has a standard tire size of 205/65R15 and a standard rim size of 6Jx15 ET42.
2000 – 2004
- Ford Taurus with a 3.0i V6 or 3.0i DOHC V6 engine has a standard tire size of 215/60R16 and a standard rim size of 6Jx16 ET42.
2005 – 2007
- Ford Taurus with a 3.0i V6 or 3.0i DOHC V6 engine has a standard tire size of 215/60R16 and a standard rim size of 6Jx16 ET42.
2008 – 2009
- Ford Taurus with a 3.5i V6 engine has a standard tire size of 215/60R17 or 225/55R18 and a standard rim size of 7Jx17 ET52 or 7.5Jx18 ET52.
2010 – 2012
- Ford Taurus with a 3.5i V6 engine has a standard tire size of 235/60R17, 235/55R18 or 255/45R19 and a standard rim size of 7.5Jx17 ET39, 7.5Jx18 ET39 or 8Jx19 ET44.
2013 – 2019
- Ford Taurus with a 2.0 EcoBoost I4 or 3.5Ti V6 engine has a standard tire size of 235/60R17 or 235/55R18 and a standard rim size of 7.5Jx17 ET39 or 8Jx18 ET39.
2020 – 2022
- Ford Taurus with a 2.0 EcoBoost I4 engine has a standard tire size of 245/50R18 or 245/45ZR19 and a standard rim size of 8Jx18 ET55 or 8Jx19 ET55.
Retightening The Bolts
As said before, most generations of the Taurus that we discussed have five lug nuts. These need to be secured in a specific way when you mount the wheel to the car again.
This information is stated in the owner’s manual, but we’ve gone through the effort of instructing you here. Ford advises you to bolt these nuts in the way that’s shown below. You have to follow a crisscross pattern.
You do this by tightening all the nuts with a wheel wrench first. Please make sure only to tighten them halfway; otherwise, you’ll run into problems.
In the second round, you tighten them with the wheel wrench to the appropriate lbs-ft or Nm that we’ve stated earlier. Please note that the current generation of the Taurus needs to have the bolt tightened to 100 ft-lb.
It’s expected that your wheel also have a center cap or cover. These need to be secured in the same pattern. Please tighten them first-hand snug with your hands. Then, use the wheel wrench to tighten them another one-quarter turn.
It’s also important to check if the lug nuts are still secured after 30 miles (48 kilometers). Please make sure they are all in place and still tightened with the proper force. If not, tighten them again and recheck. If this keeps happening, you’ll need to replace the wheel.
When Or Why To Rotate/Change Tires
Suppose you’re changing your tire. You also need to know when to change or rotate it precisely. Let’s first talk about changing your tires. Tires usually last around 60,000 – 75,000 miles or 4-5 years. After this period they need to be replaced.
Sometimes this happens earlier, and therefore, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the tread wear indicators. These are shown in the image below. These indicators show when the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or less tread remaining.
Another occasion when you’ll need to take off your tires is when you’re rotating them. In the owner’s manual of the Taurus, it’s said that this needs to happen every 7,500 miles or 12,000 kilometers.
It’s advised you rotate the tires in the exact way that’s shown below. The front tires are moved to the back, and the front tires move crisscross to the front.
Closing Thoughts
And there we have it, folks – we’ve steered to the end of our journey through the bolt pattern world of the Ford Taurus. But, let’s not forget – understanding your vehicle isn’t just a numbers game. You’ve got to dive under the hood, peek into all the corners, and get to know your ride inside out.
And speaking of understanding your Taurus better, have you noticed anything peculiar about its performance lately? If you’ve experienced some hiccups, you may want to know the common problems that you may face as a Ford Taurus owner.
Perhaps you want to know more about the Ford Taurus transmission, how reliable it is, and what issues you may face along the way.
For all of you Ford fanatics out there, or anyone looking to expand their car knowledge, we’ve got plenty more where this came from. Until next time, keep your engines purring, your tires spinning, and continue exploring the fascinating world of automotive tech. Keep driving!
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
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