Tesla vehicles are known for dictating the pace of advancements in the electric vehicles niche. However, they aren’t immune to criticism. The tires on some models have come under fire in recent times, but does that mean that Teslas have tire problems?
Teslas don’t have tire problems. They are radial tires with thicker sidewalls designed to handle the high torque of the electric engine. They also feature the highest quality rubber to maximize durability. The driving behavior of the owner determines the longevity of the tires on a Tesla vehicle.
The rest of the article will cover all you need to know about Tesla tires and their longevity. I’ll also cover what to do when your Tesla has a flat tire and more.
Tesla tires aren’t problematic. The brand doesn’t make its own tires, but they choose the best possible tire options for specific models in the production stage. With good driving habits, the installed tires can last as long as any other in the market.
When choosing a tire for any model, Tesla makes sure to only go with an option that’s a perfect fit for the instant torque available on standard Tesla vehicles. The tires are typically radial, and sidewalls are thicker to accommodate the weight of a typical Tesla vehicle.
The YouTube video below shows the important features that make radial tires a good fit on most Tesla vehicles:
Tesla tires aren’t different from conventional car tires. However, the company only chooses the premium version of tires to ensure better performance over tens of thousands of miles.
All tires used on Tesla vehicles aren’t made for the models exclusively. The brand chooses tires that are more capable of delivering instant torque. Such tires always have synthetic rubber or durable rubber construction, thicker sidewalls, and radial orientation. Tesla vehicles don’t have bias-ply tires because the technical specifications of such tires are too obsolete for the Tesla style.
Tesla tires are repairable depending on the part of the tire that’s damaged, the severity of the problem, and the overall state of the specific tire.
If you’re still within the warranty window and your Tesla tires need repairs, you can request roadside assistance from your app. If you’re outside the window or too far away for a Tesla repair personnel to reach you, consider contacting other car repair companies in the area. If they’ve ever repaired any tires in the past, they can repair your Tesla tires.
Tesla tires can be patched if they have minimal damage. Mechanics carefully remove the object responsible for the puncture if still lodged in, scrape away the damaged area, and then complete the patch.
It was difficult to patch Legacy Tesla tires in the past because the tires were modified and fitted with a heavy foam layer lining to deliver a quiet ride. The foam layer made small punctures difficult to repair. Today, most mechanics can patch Tesla tires punctured by nails or other sharp objects. However, if the tire was slashed badly, you’d need a replacement—as is the case with any other vehicle.
If you’d like to find out How To Display Tire Pressure on Tesla Model 3 and All Models check out this helpful article that we wrote.
Tesla tires can be plugged if the puncture is not extreme. If the puncture hole can take a plug without obstructing the tire’s movement, you can temporarily tackle a leak until you can get a repair done.
You can plug a tire if the following situations apply in your situation:
If a small nail or broken glass pierced through the tire, the puncture will meet all of the criteria above. Otherwise, you may need a full patch quickly.
Tesla tires are expensive because they’re always the premium version of standard tires on combustion engine vehicles. The tires on electric cars are designed with torque in mind.
You can expect Tesla tires (and other electric vehicle tires) to cost a few hundred dollars more than your standard tires because only the premium versions of these tires are installed on Teslas. Michelin is the chief manufacturer of Tesla tires, and they often make the “sport” model of different tires for Teslas.
How To Reset Tesla Tire Pressure – We resolved some common questions people have. Check it out!
Tesla tires wear out faster than standard tires because all electric motors have 100% access to their torque at all times. The faster acceleration, in addition to the larger weight of the overall chassis, means excessive friction on the tires and more wear. EV’s also weigh a lot more.
The effect of friction on Tesla tires means that most repair shops expect to replace Tesla tires up to 10,000 miles sooner than combustion engine vehicles. This fact may sound counterintuitive, seeing how EVs are marketed to be super-efficient in every area. However, the reality is that the combination of aggressive acceleration, chassis weight, and regenerative braking will always make Tesla (and all other EV) tires wear out faster.
However, going by the conversation between Tesla Model 3 owners, you can expect your Tesla tires to reach up to 50,000 miles before wearing out if you drive gently and only on good roads and highways. If you always hit the floor with the accelerator after braking and generally apply spirited driving, you can expect your Tesla tires to wear out well under 30,000 miles.
| Type of Driver | Projected Tire Lifespan (miles) |
| Regular driver | 25,000-35,000 |
| Gentle driver | >40,000 |
| Enthusiastic driver | <25,000 |
If you have a flat tire on a standard vehicle, you most likely have a spare to change and move on. However, with a Tesla, the conversation is different as the car doesn’t have any space for spares.
Adding a tire to the trunk will be more drain for the EV battery, so it’s no surprise that Tesla doesn’t give you any spare tires with your purchase. So, when you have a flat, you’ll likely be in a bit of a bother. Here’s what you should do:
If you can get cell coverage on your phone, call Tesla to see if they can send out some maintenance guys to change your tires. Unless you’re in a busy city center, this is more or less a Hail Mary.
First, you need to ensure you’re still under warranty, and then you have to hope that they have someone in the area. Otherwise, you’d have to wait more than a few hours. However, if they have a repair center close by, you can be on your way in less than an hour.
Is Tesla Roadside Assistance Free? Find out from this article that we wrote and see what they cover and more.
You can call your insurance company to send you a mechanic to repair or swap out your tires when you have a flat. Of course, you need to ensure your plan covers this scenario to avoid wasting your time. You can relax and wait for the repair guy to arrive if it does.
While you wait, keep an eye on your surroundings and take the necessary safety precautions to ensure your car isn’t a danger to other drivers.
Most Tesla tires cost a bit more than standard variants because they are designed to meet the needs of EV driving. Otherwise, there isn’t much difference between a Tesla tire and your Toyota’s tires.
