The Ford Escape is the well-known automobile manufacturer’s compact crossover SUV, and it’s one of the most popular of its kind in America.
First introduced in 2000 for the 2001 model year, the Ford Escape is currently in its 4th-generation model, and Ford has changed a lot of its specifications since then.
One such specification is its bolt pattern, which would be the main focus of this specific article.
Apart from that, we’ve also included other accompanying bolt and wheel specifications to give you a better idea of what wheels you can fit on each Ford Escape generation.
What is the bolt pattern of a Ford Escape?
2013 to 2022 year models of the Ford Escape have a bolt pattern of 5×4.25 inches (5x108mm).
Ford Escape models manufactured between 2001 and 2012 were equipped with a bolt pattern of 5×4.5 inches (5×114.3mm).
Despite having four different generations, the Ford Escape was equipped with only two different bolt patterns to this day.
The newer models produced in the past decade had slightly smaller bolt patterns compared to the earlier ones.
Nevertheless, all of these generations use a 5-bolt (or 5-lug) pattern, denoted by the first number in their bolt patterns.
Now that you’ve got the bolt pattern down, it’s time to talk about the other specifications that you should also keep in mind when fitting new wheels on your Ford Escape.
Luckily, we’ve sought out all of the other bolt and wheel specifications of each Ford Escape generation to the best of our knowledge for you right here.
Wheel and Bolt Specifications of the Ford Escape
We have listed both the wheel and bolt specifications of the Ford Escape from the latest generation to the first one.
Its wheel specifications will include the various tire and rim sizes available from the factory. These two will be paired with the specific trim levels (engine options) of each generation.
As for the bolt specifications, these will include each Escape generation’s center bore diameter, type of wheel fastener, thread size, and torque tightening specification (torque spec).
As a general rule, all Ford Escape models under the same generation will have the same set of bolt specifications.
Also take note that some of the generations have facelift models, which will have their own separate trim levels and wheel specifications.
4th-Generation Ford Escape (2020 to 2022)
The 4th generation of the Ford Escape only just went into production in 2020, and customers have choices of four different trim levels.
It initially had only three until the 2.5-liter PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) trim was added the year after.
These trim levels, as we’ve established, all have the same set of bolt specifications throughout the entirety of the 4th generation’s production run.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.49 inches (63.4mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (135Nm)
The factory tire and rim sizes of the 4th-generation Ford Escape are dependent on each of the three trim levels.
There are two different EcoBoost trims, one Hybrid trim, and the PHEV trim we mentioned earlier. All of these had their own combination of wheel specifications.
The base 1.5-liter EcoBoost trim only had one pair of wheel specifications, while the bigger 2.0-liter EcoBoost variant had two.
Both the 2.5-liter Hybrid and PHEV trims, however, actually borrowed both of their pairs of wheel specifications from the other two trim levels.
But regardless of the trim level, they are similar in that they all use 225-millimeter tires and rims with 50-millimeter offsets (ET50).
They only differ in their tire aspect ratios (the second value on the tire size) and their rim diameters (the second value on the rim size).
3rd-Generation Ford Escape (2013 to 2019)
The 3rd-generation Ford Escape both had facelift and pre-facelift model production years, which were produced from 2017 to 2019 and 2013 to 2016, respectively.
Both of these production years actually have the same bolt specifications we’ve discussed for the 4th generation.
Still, these two production years had a slight difference in their trim levels, so we’ve made separate tables for them below to avoid confusion.
But whether or not it’s a facelift or a pre-facelift model, the 3rd-generation Ford Escape was only offered in a maximum of three trim levels at a time during its entire production run.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.49 inches (63.4mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (135Nm)
2017 to 2019 Production Years (Facelift)
Despite having three trim levels, the facelift model of the 3rd-generation Ford Escape only came with two tire sizes and rims sizes.
Both the 1.5 EcoBoost and 2.5i shared the exact same wheel specifications, while the 2.0-liter EcoBoost trim had its own separate tire size and rim size.
Even though all of them had 235-millimeter tires, the first two trims had 17-inch rims, while the 2.0-liter EcoBoost trim had 18-inch ones instead.
Both of these rim sizes came with a very specific offset of 52.5 millimeters.
2013 to 2016 Production Years (Pre-Facelift)
Apart from having slightly different exterior and interior features from each other, another difference between the facelift and pre-facelift models can be found in the base trim’s engine.
While the base trim level of the facelift model had the 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, the older pre-facelift ones had a slightly bigger 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine instead.
Other than that, the other trim levels as well as the wheel specifications remain exactly the same as the ones on the facelift models.
2nd-Generation Ford Escape (2008 to 2012)
The 2nd-generation Ford Escape was a lot boxier in its design, which actually fit right in with the other cars on the road during that time period.
Moving on to its bolt specifications, it had a slightly bigger center bore diameter of 2.64 inches (67.1mm) compared to the newer generations’ 2.49 inches (63.4mm).
Apart from that, the rest of its bolt specifications remain identical to the ones in the newer generations.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.64 inches (67.1mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (135Nm)
When the 2nd generation was first produced in 2008, it actually still kept the 1st generation facelift’s trim levels until they had their engines completely revamped the following year.
While it technically had 1st-generation trim levels for that year, it’s still a production model made for the 2nd generation.
But regardless if it came with the older engines or the revamped ones, the 3rd-generation Ford Escape only came with one tire size and rim size.
1st-Generation Ford Escape (2001 to 2007)
The 1st generation of the Ford Escape was first introduced in 2000 but was officially made for the 2001 model year.
Although it had a slightly more-rounded front end compared to the 2nd generation, it was still an overall boxy design compared to today’s standards.
The bolt specifications that we’ve discussed for the 2nd generation actually first started with the 1st-generation Ford Escape.
But since this generation also had a facelift and pre-facelift phase, its trim levels and wheel specifications had some amount of variation to them.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.64 inches (67.1mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nuts (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (135Nm)
2005 to 2007 Production Years (Facelift)
The 1st-generation Ford Escape underwent a facelift for the 2005 model year, changing almost all of its trim levels as a result.
When taking a closer look at the facelift model’s wheel specifications, it’s evident that they’re very similar to the ones used during the pre-facelift production years a bit further down.
All of the facelift model trims can be fitted with the same 235/70R16 tire size and 7Jx16 ET45 rim size.
The only difference is that the 2.3i specifically had an additional 225-millimeter tire size and 15-inch rim size.
2001 to 2004 Production Years (Pre-Facelift)
The pre-facelift production years from 2001 to 2004 marked the start of the Ford Escape’s nameplate, and it only came in two trim levels.
Both the 2.0i and 3.0i trims shared the same 225/70R15 tire size and 6.5Jx15 rim size, but the rim offset of the 3.0i was 50 millimeters (ET50) instead of 45 (ET45).
Additionally, the 3.0i had another set of wheel specifications that bumped the tire size up to 235 millimeters and the rim size to 7Jx16.
How to Tighten the Bolts on the Ford Escape
Whenever you remove and put the wheels back on your car again, it’s important to tighten the bolts in the correct order.
Simply tightening them in a clockwise or counterclockwise order can cause an unequal distribution of tightening force across the wheel’s surface, thus potentially loosening them.
Since we’ve mentioned that the Ford Escape has 5 bolts (or lug nuts), we’ll be presenting a specific tightening pattern that’s applicable to wheels with 5-bolt patterns.
You can clean the bolts and the wheel mating surfaces to lessen the chances of loosening occurring beforehand.
If you’ve ever seen our other bolt pattern article for the Malibu, then you’re probably already familiar with the star-shaped pattern above.
Both the Ford Escape and the Chevy Malibu utilize a 5-bolt pattern, so following the star-shaped pattern is the correct way to tighten either of the two’s bolts.
Make sure to only tighten them halfway or at least until they’re snug enough if the car is currently raised off the ground with jack stands.
If the car’s already sitting on the ground, you can then tighten them to the full torque specification of 100lb-ft (135Nm) with a torque wrench.
To see if the bolts will retain their tightness, drive the car for about 50 miles then check their torque values again after.
Retighten them if you notice any changes, but if they keep getting loose, you either need to recalibrate your torque wrench or replace your wheel entirely.
How and When to Change Tires on the Ford Escape
While we’re on the topic of keeping your wheels firmly on your Ford Escape, it also makes sense to talk about its tires.
After all, the tires are the ones keeping it planted on the road, so it’s very important to check how much tread life they have left.
Factory tires on the Ford Escape will last you around 60,000 to 75,000 miles (97,000 to 121,000km), assuming you’re not taking it to the dragstrip.
But if your tires are already over 5 years old, then you should still consider replacing them regardless of their tread depth.
As tires age throughout the years, their rubber compound gradually hardens and degrades, which significantly affects their grip levels even if they still have a lot of tread depth.
By the time your tires cross the 5-year mark, this deterioration process speeds up even further, and you would be taking a gamble with your tires’ handling capabilities at that point.
If you don’t have a clue just how many miles you’ve racked up on your tires already, then you can use either of the two ways we’ve listed below.
When it comes to measuring tread life, what you’re actually checking is the depth of the treads.
These can be measured by either looking for your tires’ “tread wear indicator bars”, or by doing the classic “penny test”.
The indicator bars, marked by the arrows in the photo above, will sit deep between new tires and will gradually appear closer to the surface as the tire treads wear out.
You’ll know that it’s time to change your tires when these bars are already at the same height as the tire treads.
There are some instances wherein tires don’t come manufactured with these bars, so this is where the penny test comes in.
Simply insert a penny upside down between the treads and check just how much of Lincoln’s head remains hidden from view.
New tires will hide half of his head, while bald tires that have less than 1/16 of an inch of tread left will expose his head entirely.
Since 1/16 of an inch is the legal tread depth limit, going past that means that it’s absolutely time to change your tires.
How and When to Rotate Tires on the Ford Escape
While tire changes are obviously meant to completely replace worn-out tires on your car, tire rotations are meant to prolong them long enough before that happens.
In this part, you’ll find out when would be the appropriate mileage to have your Ford Escape’s tires rotated.
And as with tightening its bolts, rotating its tires will also require specific patterns to be followed depending on the drivetrain and whether or not the tires are directional or non-directional.
As a general rule, directional tires (tires designed to rotate in one direction only) are simply rotated from front to back and vice versa, as seen in the diagram below.
But since directional tires are more commonly used for performance driving, we’ll assume that you’ve got non-directional tires on your Ford Escape as the average daily commuter car does.
The Ford Escape came with either a front-wheel drive (FWD) or an all-wheel drive (AWD) system, so we’ll be introducing two more tire rotation patterns.
FWD Ford Escape models will use the “forward-cross” pattern on the left diagram, while AWD Ford Escape models will use the “rearward-cross” pattern on the right diagram instead.
You may as well call them just complete opposites of each other, and you’d be right.
But to be more technical, whichever axle isn’t connected to the engine (otherwise known as free-rolling) will have its tires switch sides.
As for when you should be doing these patterns, it’s also going to depend on whether you have an FWD or AWD Ford Escape.
FWD Ford Escape models should have their tires rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles (8,000 to 12,000km) driven.
AWD Ford Escape models will have to get their tires rotated sooner at 3,000 to 5,000 miles (4,800 to 8,000km), and there’s a simple reason for this.
Unlike FWD cars that only have their front wheels receiving power from the engine, AWD cars have all four wheels receiving it, thus significantly increasing overall tire wear.
