If you think batteries are the most expensive part of a Tesla, think again. Yes, you’ll be spending about $7000 to replace the battery. But if you analyze costs per mile, then a Tesla owner could sink more money into tires than batteries, which will last 300,000 miles (480,000 km).
Tesla uses expensive tires for its vehicles, and the tires have a reputation for wearing out quickly. You might be tempted to buy cheaper tires, but you won’t save money in the long run. Instead, adjust your driving habits and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines.
Tires can be a touchy subject with Tesla owners, who weren’t expecting the costs associated with them. Use our guide to help you navigate the world of Tesla tires.
Tesla does not make its own tires and they are not vertically integrated. Instead, the tires that come standard with a Tesla are either Goodyear or B.F. Goodrich. A few manufacturers sell after-market tires, including Pirelli.
Car manufacturers rely on third parties to build the parts that go into their cars, but Tesla takes the opposite approach. Nearly everything in a Tesla car is built by Tesla, with batteries and tires being two exceptions.
Electrek reports that Tesla plans to eventually replace the Panasonic and CATL batteries with those produced at their Gigafactories. In addition, according to Rebellion Research, there are some signs that Tesla might consider acquiring a tire manufacturer, like Goodyear or Cooper Tire and Rubber. Driving down the cost of tires could help Tesla accomplish the goal of building a car that can profitably be sold for under $30k.
Pro Tip:
If you go into your Car Menu > Service > Wheel Configuration, you can select the wheels that have on your car. This could also potentially adjust the algorithm on your range if you consider the less efficient wheel configuration. With this method you can change and see the car (on your screen) how it actually looks.
If Tesla had control of a tire manufacturer, the company could design tires that have money-saving and better performance features, such as
This technology is still a few years off, but Tesla could speed it up and use at-cost tires to bring their cost down.
How long Tesla tires will last depends on who you ask. The manufacturer and Tesla claim that the tires will last 30,000 miles (48, 280 km). Drivers often report that they wear out sooner. Driving habits and improper maintenance are two reasons for the excessive wear on the tires.
Driving habits are partially to blame for tire wear. It’s tempting to take off quickly, especially in a car with instant 100% available for acceleration. A habit of braking hard also contributes to tire wear.
But maintenance habits are also to blame. Tesla owners who don’t check air pressure, rotate, and align tires according to the schedule will have tires that wear out quickly. Tesla notes that the most common reason tires fail is under-inflation. It also points out that under-inflation shortens the life of a tire.
Tesla tires have a foam layer in them to cut down tire noise. In a gas-powered car, the sound of the engine is louder than most road noises. In a Tesla, however, the lack of an engine makes a driver aware of tire noise.
But a little tire noise shouldn’t make much of a difference, right?
According to Continental, which also manufactures foam silencing technology, these tires reduce sound by 9 dB. So for every 10 dB drop in sound level, we think the sound has been cut in half. For example, think of the difference between an everyday conversation (60 dB) and shouting (70 dB).
Although the road surface and your car’s speed impact the sound, tires with a layer of polyurethane foam make for a quieter ride.
By the way, unless you want to take your Tesla tire apart, check out this video:
Nothing is stopping you from using an appropriately sized replacement tire. However, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Although it is tempting to save a little money now, cheaper tires will cost you more over the long run.
In general, cheaper tires have poorer performance. And over the long term, they aren’t a money-saver either. A tire that costs less but needs to be replaced will eventually cost more.
A Michelin tire for a Tesla currently costs around $250. An inexpensive tire that costs half as much will wear out twice as fast (if you’re lucky). Factor in the price of mounting and balancing the tires, and the cheaper tires only cost less in the short term.
Check out the following article if you would like to learn more about The Best Tesla Repair Kits. We did some thorough research.
Consumer Reports compared some of China’s inexpensive tires with their counterparts from throughout the world. The survey revealed that neither of the tires measured up to brands with familiar names.
Many of the more expensive tires are also manufactured in China. But they need to meet the standards of well-known American brands like Goodyear or Michelin or lose the rights to manufacture them.
First, the good news: maintaining Tesla tires is the same as other tires. Check the air pressure, have them rotated and balanced periodically, and monitor tread wear. However, due to the performance and design of the car, the tires will need more maintenance.
According to Tesla, tires should be rotated approximately every 6,000 miles (9600 km) or if the tread depth difference is 2/32 inches (1/16 mm) or more. Beyond that, the company is vague on maintenance and suggests you consult the owner manual that comes with the tire.
Not exactly helpful of them.
Tesla wheels require alignment, but you might have difficulty finding a shop that will do the alignment. Some shops will tell you they can’t do the alignment and give you reasons like they don’t know the specs or don’t have the specialized tools.
Neither of those are valid reasons, but if a shop doesn’t want to work on your car, there’s no point in arguing with them. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience with a previous Tesla owner, or perhaps they don’t want to be bothered. Regardless of the reason, if they don’t want to work on your car, move on.
Unfortunately, finding a shop that will align the wheels depends on where you live, so in this case, Google is your best friend. Google something like “tesla wheel alignment near me.” Firestone tire centers have a reputation for being able to align with Tesla. Search the Tesla Motors Club site for forums focused on where you live.
Remember though, that Teslas have a reputation of being poorly aligned when they leave the factory. Since poor alignment wears out the tires, you should have them aligned as soon as you can. And if your car shifts to one side, your steering wheel is unbalanced or vibrates, or the tire wear is uneven, poor alignment could be the cause.
It is vital to maintain adequate tire pressure and Tesla expects that you check it occasionally. The recommended PSI for most Teslas is between 42 and 45 psi.
While the pressure on your tires can be manually checked using a tire gauge, one would expect a Tesla to have a built-in Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and it does.
However, the monitors have a reputation for being finicky, sometimes displaying a warning when the PSI drops by 1. This is nothing to worry about, especially in cold weather when the pressure will drop.
You will have better luck finding a place that will change your tires since it is a straightforward process. Therefore, you shouldn’t worry about using Costco, Walmart, or Discount Tires to change tires. Although Tesla Service centers have a reputation for being expensive, their rates for tire changes will be competitive.
There’s no way around it–Tesla tires often wear out earlier than the same tires on similar-sized sedans. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t extend their life cycle.
Most importantly, follow the recommended maintenance guidelines.
Speaking of ludicrous mode, this YouTube video gives you a bird’s eye view of the cockpit.
