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Have you ever wondered why the tires on your Tesla don’t last?
Odds are the tires were not taken care of properly. But that is why I have used over 9 years of knowledge in the tire industry to provide a simple guide on 10 Tesla tire care tips.
You will learn how to maximize the amount of life you receive and how to keep your rubber performing in tip-top shape.
Let’s get started!
1. Regularly Check the Tread and Tire Wall for Deformation (bulge), Foreign Objects, Cuts, and Wear
The biggest factor in how your tires will perform will be how much tread is left. Using the penny trick is easy to determine if your tires have a safe depth remaining.
All you need to do is grab a penny and put it in the tread channel with President Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of his head, replace your tires.
Tesla tires are low profile, making them prone to easy sidewall damage. Monthly inspections of the sidewalls will ensure you do not have any surprise blowouts.
2. Perform Frequent Tire Rotations
The point of rotating your tires is to ensure an even wear pattern. Teslas that are not All-Wheel Drive (AWD) will have much faster treadwear on the axle that supplies the power.
Even if you have the Dual Motor AWD, you should rotate them because of the increased shoulder wear on the front tires.
It is recommended to perform tire rotations every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. And not rotating them can result in cutting the life of your rubber in half.
3. It’s Recommended To Change Tires Every 6 Years, Even Without a Patch
Tire manufacturers design the rubber compound to stay pliable and soft for 6 years. Once the tire’s age reaches this mark, it will become prone to blowouts.
Since the compound will be brittle and dried out, the belt packaging will likely erupt.
If you want to check the age of your tire, all you need to do is look at the DOT number. The last four digits in the series of ten plus numbers will be the age. The first two numbers will be the week, and the second two will be the year.
4. Avoid Frequent Hard Acceleration or Sudden and Sharp Braking
An excellent way to wear your tires out prematurely will be to drive like you’re in a NASCAR race.
Teslas have a significant amount of torque output. And slamming on the accelerator cause more friction which leads to the tread burning up faster. The same goes for sudden sharp stops.
5. Make Sure the Tires are Running at Normal Tire Pressure
When a tire is under or overinflated, it will cause uneven wear.
Overinflation will cause the center tread to wear out quicker because all the vehicle’s weight rests in the middle.
Underinflation has the opposite effect. The tread’s outer portions will wear faster because more weight is displaced on the shoulders.
It is recommended to check the tire pressure at least once a month to avoid both scenarios.
Note: If the tire pressure is too low, the screen will display the yellow tire pressure indicator light.
6. When Replacing Tires, It’s also Recommended to Replace Both Tires on the Axle
Replacing a single tire on an axle has repercussions no one thinks of. A new tire on one side of the axle will have a shorter life because it is taller.
Replacing tires in pairs ensures long-lasting, even treadwear and saves you money in the long run.
Note: If the other tire is also relatively new, it may not need to be replaced.
7. Keep the Tires Balanced
The purpose of tire balancing is not only to prevent irritating road vibrations. Ensuring all four wheels are balanced will can prevent uneven wear patterns from setting in.
Improper balance causes an excess of movement in the wheel assembly. When there is bouncing, it makes the tire have irregular contact with the road, which starts the process of patchy treadwear.
I recommend having the balanced check any time you perform a tire rotation.
8. Have the Wheel Alignment Checked Annually
Wheel alignment that is out of spec makes the tire sit at an angle. If your tire cannot have proper contact with the pavement, it will cause certain portions of the tread to wear out much faster.
I have seen tires wear out in less than 15,000 miles on a Tesla with improper wheel alignment.
To avoid burning rubber, Tesla recommends performing this service once a year.
9. Make Sure Tire Punctures are Repaired Properly
Believe it or not, there is a specific type of repair that tire manufacturers require to be used.
If you have a tire that suffers from a puncture, the repair that needs to be done will be a patch and plug combination.
The Rubber Manufacturing Association(RMA) has set these guidelines in place for several reasons. With the most important being your safety.
Repairs that only use a patch allow water inside the steel belts, leading to corrosion and eventual tire failure. And there is no seal to prevent air from leaking out when only a plug is in place.
The RMA lists other factors that allow for proper tire repair. I recommend asking the repair facility if their repair standards follow RMA best practices. This will ensure your tire won’t suffer from a premature demise.
10. Avoid the Tires Sitting in the Sun
We all know how harmful UV rays can be on our skin but often forget how damaging they can be to other things.
Rubber sitting in the sun all day can lead to dry rot.
Dry rot is when the oils in the tire become burnt up. Without these essential oil compounds in the tire, unfortunately, it leads to cracking in the tread and sidewall.
Parking your Tesla in the shade is a great way to keep the cabin cool and prevent your rubber from cracking up.
Our Verdict
Now that I have given you all the tips on keeping your Tesla tires last long and perform better. It’s time to put these tips into action.
Don’t get caught off guard the next time you walk into a tire shop, and they tell you, “It’s time to replace your tires.”