Forza Horizon 5 PlayStation: Tank Balloon Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Tank Balloons in Forza Horizon 5 are the 20 floating Hot Wheels tanks hovering above the tracks, islands, and canyon edges of the Horizon Hot Wheels Park — the DLC's signature collectible and the target of the "Gotta Pop 'Em All" Bronze trophy (a deliberate nod to Pokémon's "Gotta Catch 'Em All").


Every single balloon requires getting airborne to reach — ground-level collection is impossible since all 20 float above the terrain.


All Balloon locations with full approach instructions are included and can be tracked on our FH5 Horizon Hot Wheels Park interactive map.


Rank-Gated: Legend Rank Required to See All 20


Tank Balloons don't all appear on the map from the start. They unlock progressively as Hot Wheels Academy ranks advance through the Exhibition Events Qualifier system — a small number visible at Rookie Rank, more at Pro, Expert, and Elite, with all 20 only appearing on the map at Legend Rank.


The practical approach: complete the Qualifier chain first, reach Legend Rank, then do one systematic balloon sweep across all four biomes.


Every Balloon Needs a Ramp, a Jump, or an Air Track


Not one of the 20 Tank Balloons can be reached without leaving the ground. The majority require:


  • Off-track ramps — wooden ramps built into the biome terrain beside the balloon's position. Entry speed requirements vary: 75 MPH for the water ramp in Forest Falls, 100 MPH for the ramp west of the Nexus balloon, 120 MPH for the north canyon ramp.


  • Driving off the orange track edge — several balloons sit just below track level, collected by leaving the track at speed and falling into the balloon while descending.


  • Cliff and hill launches — drive to a cliff edge or hill near the balloon and use terrain height to clear the gap.


  • Danger Sign ramps — four balloons share their ramp with a Danger Sign: Canyon Fire (Canyon Fire Danger Sign), Ice Crash (Ice Crash Danger Sign), Forest Leap (Forest Leap Danger Sign), and Forest Escape (Forest Escape Danger Sign). Attempting the Danger Sign simultaneously pops the adjacent balloon.


Critical precision note: Tank Balloons have a narrow hitbox — arriving at the correct height but slightly offset will miss the balloon. Align the car with the balloon's exact horizontal position before the ramp and hold the line through the air.


One Automatic: No Effort Required


One balloon (Ice Cauldron biome) is smashed automatically during a Hot Wheels Academy Major Mission — it appears in the flight path of the mission objective and pops as part of the race without any deviation needed.


Completing this mission means one balloon is already done before any deliberate sweep begins.


Distribution Across Four Biomes


  • Forest Falls (north)7 balloons, the densest single area. Mix of off-track ramps and track-edge drops through the forest canopy and waterfalls.
  • Ice Cauldron (southwest)7 balloons, including the automatic mission balloon and several requiring cliffside launches toward the lava lake below.
  • Giant's Canyon (southeast)4 balloons using canyon-edge hills and the Canyon's Drop Hazard Sprint starting area as launch points.
  • Horizon Nexus (centre)2 balloons under and around the central track hub, including one under the red tracks accessible via a concrete arch approach from Forest Falls.


Two Linked Trophies: Balloons and Boards


  • "Gotta Pop 'Em All" (Bronze) — smash all 20 Tank Balloons.
  • "Soared and Board" (Bronze) — smash all XP Boards in Hot Wheels Park. These are entirely separate collectibles — 25 XP Boards on the track vs 20 floating Tanks off the track — with separate trophies. Both are needed for full Hot Wheels DLC completion.
Name Details
Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Close to a suspended red track. While driving at high speed, leave the track, and you’ll smash it while falling.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

This floating Baloon is smashed automatically while playing a Major Mission. You can also pop it later by jumping on the ramp in the middle of the track.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Jump from the racing track while driving upwards. The Balloon is close to the red track.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

The Balloon can be smashed by jumping on the wooden ramp west of it in the water. To pop the floating robot, you must hit the ramp at around 75 MPH.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

For this Tank Balloon, you’ll have to complete the Canyon Fire Danger Sign. You don’t need 3 Stars to pop the collectible, but you’ll have to use the ramp at this location.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

This Balloon is smashed by using the ramp for the Ice Crash Danger Sign.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Found outside the map and under the red tracks. You can exit the racing tracks via the dotted line northwest of the collectible and then follow the canyon. At the edge of the map, you’ll find the ramp you can use to jump and pop the Balloon.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

The ramp is north of the floating Tank Balloon, and you’ll have to hit it at around 120 MPH to reach the collectible.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Although close to the Canyon Jump Danger Sign, for this Tank Balloon, you’ll have to drive to the Canyon’s Drop Hazard Sprint starting point. From there, leave the racing tracks, drive east, and use the hill at the canyon’s edge as a ramp to jump and hit the collectible.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

To smash or pop this Balloon, exit the racing track using the exit point northwest (orange dotted line), then drive east and jump from the cliff nearby towards the lave lake. 

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Outside the tracks. The ramp is west of the Balloon, and you need to hit it at 100 MPH to smash the floating Tank.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Between two hills, and you can smash it by jumping off the hill southeast.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

For this Balloon, use the exit point (dotted line) on the western side of the area, then drive east, looking for a wooden ramp in the snow. You should see it southwest of the collectible, and it will help you smash the Balloon.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

North of the Nexus, under the racing track and above a concrete-sustaining pillar. To smash it, consider using the exit point (orange road on your map) found northwest, in Forest Falls, at the edge of the green area. From there, drive south and drop on the concrete arch (gray color), then continue towards the ramp where the last Tank Balloon awaits.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

To smash it, check the map, and northeast, you’ll see a dotted line (orange). While on the dotted road, look for a wooden ramp and jump on it to pop the collectible.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

You’ll smash it while working on completing the Forest Leap Danger Sign. Follow the western road and drive east. When you hit the ramp, you’ll smash the Tank Balloon.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

You can get it while completing the Forest Escape Danger Sign. You’ll have to drive from east to west to jump on the ramp.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Exit the tracks via the exit point marked by the dotted line west of the collectible. Now, northeast of the Tank Balloon, look for a hill, and on top of it is the wooden ramp.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Drive on the track west of the Balloon, then leave the racing track when close to the collectible. Simply jump to the ground smashing it while falling.

Tank BalloonHorizon Hot Wheels Park

Exit the tracks via the exit point marked by the dotted line west of the collectible, then drive east at high speed. Use the hill west of the collectible to launch yourself into the air and pop the Balloon.

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