Wheels Revealed: 18" Base, 20" Base, and Premium Wheel

[tmeyer3]

Which one better for weekend Home Depoit/Lowes runs?

And yearly trip to dump with "trash trailer"

Asking for a friend.

Honestly, anything offroad will benefit from more sidewall. Tire weighs more than wheel, however. So larger wheels will offer marginally better energy efficiency during acceleration and decceleration. A difference of 18" vs 20" wheels with an overall 35" tire will not be signifcantly different on highway/freeway driving.

edit: This is an engineer's take, i completely forgot that "looks" is a thing.... can't comment on that as it's subjective.

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[Dman_CT]

I remember when Chevy went to 16” rims in the late eighties, and my ‘93 Land Cruiser had 16’s … some guys were grinding the brake calipers to fit 15’s, because 16” tires were only available in limited sizes at high cost. And now 18” is considered small. FWIW I’ve never owned a vehicle with larger than 16” wheels and I own two late model trucks.

 

[tmeyer3]

I remember when Chevy went to 16” rims in the late eighties, and my ‘93 Land Cruiser had 16’s … some guys were grinding the brake calipers to fit 15’s, because 16” tires were only available in limited sizes at high cost. And now 18” is considered small. FWIW I’ve never owned a vehicle with larger than 16” wheels and I own two late model trucks.

Yeah, Jeep Wrangler models moved to standard 18" with the JK. It was weird, but I guess it was to accommodate for larger brake calipers. I'm sure the CT will not be able to fit anything smaller than 18" for the same reason.

*Sigh* 15" steels, good times.

 

[Beyond]

I thought the larger rim might look better... is there a disadvantage ?

In general small rim size with higher profile tires provide greater range, better ride, less chance of wheel damage and better traction in winter. Larger rim size with lower profile tires provide a bit better traction in extreme turns on dry pavement and some people "think they look better". If you have Tesla insurance you avoid fast turns anyway. As far as I'm concerned smaller rim size wins every time.

 

[JBee]

Honestly, anything offroad will benefit from more sidewall. Tire weighs more than wheel, however. So larger wheels will offer marginally better energy efficiency during acceleration and decceleration. A difference of 18" vs 20" wheels with an overall 35" tire will not be signifcantly different on highway/freeway driving.

edit: This is an engineer's take, i completely forgot that "looks" is a thing.... can't comment on that as it's subjective.

I'd just like to add to this that the CT wheels have much higher tyre sidewall sections in comparison to other Tesla vehicles that are "low profile".

So although in other Teslas generally suffer from a range decrease with larger wheel sizes and low profile tyres, in the case of the CT tyres, the higher aspect ratio and width, mean they are not going to be as different as the low profile ones on a M3 etc.

Simply the sidewalls on the CT are much higher overall because the tyre is also a much larger diameter than a passenger car tyre. (In this case some 8" taller, meaning 4" extra sidewall height)

This is the 235/35 20R on the M3P, compared to the 20" and 18" on the CTs.

 

[cvalue13]

These are not wheels!

Tesla has got to know this....

Tesla does, it’s the interpretation here that ms off

there is a premium wheel set, and it comes with aero cover (A)

there is a base wheel set, and it comes with aero cover (B)

So, showing the premium vs base “wheel” is tied to hip ow showing them associated with their respective aero covers.

and no, the base wheel/tire/aero doesn’t look as good. That’s why it’s the base and not the premium.


I’m now separately convinced the reference to an 18” wheel is some artifact of old code, etc., as I don’t think there’s any way Tesla fits an 18” wheel around the brake rotors. And I also think it is unlikely, and too unlike Tesla, to have an entirely separate set of rotors/brakes in order to offer an 18” rim

But meanwhile, *if* Tesla were to offer an 18” wheel, I would doubt it would be in order to offer it with a 35” tire. If anything, they would do it to offer a diameter tire smaller than 35”, like a 32”

 

[JBee]

Tesla does, it’s the interpretation here that ms off

there is a premium wheel set, and it comes with aero cover (A)

there is a base wheel set, and it comes with aero cover (B)

So, showing the premium vs base “wheel” is tied to hip ow showing them associated with their respective aero covers.

and no, the base wheel/tire/aero doesn’t look as good. That’s why it’s the base and not the premium.


I’m now separately convinced the reference to an 18” wheel is some artifact of old code, etc., as I don’t think there’s any way Tesla fits an 18” wheel around the brake rotors. And I also think it is unlikely, and too unlike Tesla, to have an entirely separate set of rotors/brakes in order to offer an 18” rim

But meanwhile, *if* Tesla were to offer an 18” wheel, I would doubt it would be in order to offer it with a 35” tire. If anything, they would do it to offer a diameter tire smaller than 35”, like a 32”

I also am hesitant to believe that Tesla would have two brake caliper/rotor combinations so they can fit 18" rims. I also think the 18" are disproportionately biased for offroad, and will have poor on-road performance, especially for a fast truck.

I'd much rather have the 20" and then a bead locker so I can air all the way down. Solves the no spare storage problem as well, and give me effectively "4 spares" for less cost, and no inconvenience, albeit a bit heavier wheel.

 

[charliemagpie]

I also am hesitant to believe that Tesla would have two brake caliper/rotor combinations so they can fit 18" rims. I also think the 18" are disproportionately biased for offroad, and will have poor on-road performance, especially for a fast truck.

I'd much rather have the 20" and then a bead locker so I can air all the way down. Solves the no spare storage problem as well, and give me effectively "4 spares" for less cost, and no inconvenience, albeit a bit heavier wheel.

I dont quite get it, but when the time comes I will do what you do lol

 

[scottf200]

I also am hesitant to believe that Tesla would have two brake caliper/rotor combinations so they can fit 18" rims. I also think the 18" are disproportionately biased for offroad, and will have poor on-road performance, especially for a fast truck.

I'd much rather have the 20" and then a bead locker so I can air all the way down. Solves the no spare storage problem as well, and give me effectively "4 spares" for less cost, and no inconvenience, albeit a bit heavier wheel.

I dont quite get it, but when the time comes I will do what you do lol

I think the bead locking make sure your tire doesn't pop off the rim. If the tires are air down a lot and you are doing serious off-roading or just want them to take up less space when not in use (ie. circumference can be compressed some)..

 

[HaulingAss]

18" Base wheel

Premium Wheel

The source is TeslaAppUpdates?

It doesn't seem like they are affiliated with Tesla in any way. Who are they?

 

[CyberAlex_1986]

Acoording to this picture, the base Wheels seems to be 20 inch as well, look closely at the tire!

 

[Nidavellir]

I also am hesitant to believe that Tesla would have two brake caliper/rotor combinations so they can fit 18" rims. I also think the 18" are disproportionately biased for offroad, and will have poor on-road performance, especially for a fast truck.

I'd much rather have the 20" and then a bead locker so I can air all the way down. Solves the no spare storage problem as well, and give me effectively "4 spares" for less cost, and no inconvenience, albeit a bit heavier wheel.

I believe bead lock rims are not street legal and it is difficult to find a shop that will balance tires with bead locks

 

[cvalue13]

I believe bead lock rims are not street legal and it is difficult to find a shop that will balance tires with bead locks

they are street legal

they are offered as an OEM option on the F150 Raptor, Bronco Raptor (and will also be offered on the Ranger Raptor)

EDIT TO ADD: suppose i should say, "at least in the U.S."

 

[JBee]

I believe bead lock rims are not street legal and it is difficult to find a shop that will balance tires with bead locks

They aren't actually bead lockers rims, rather inflatable bead-lock that is like a small inner tube, that also gives you run flat capability.

Write up here:

https://www.coyoteents.com/beadlock-tests-and-features/

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