New: Tesla Winter Tires & Wheel Package, Core Wheels Covers

[Crissa]

I can't find any research that shows three peak rated all-season tires are on average, worse than winter tires.

I'm sure there's some winter tires that are better, but they have to meet the same standard?

-Crissa

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[Giskard]

installation?

They don't ship these to your home - they get shipped to a Tesla service center of your choice and you have to make an appointment for installation. Kind of annoying as I'm perfectly capable of swapping my own wheels and I live almost 300 miles north of the nearest US service center (I suppose I could have gone to Winnipeg which is about half that). They did automatically add the recalls when I made my appointment, though, so it will be good to get those taken care of before winter sets in.

 

[65SoYoLO]

They don't ship these to your home - they get shipped to a Tesla service center of your choice and you have to make an appointment for installation.

That doesn't make sense. If I cannot pick them up and bring them home to install WHEN I NEED THEM, they are useless to me.

 

[Giskard]

I can't find any research that shows three peak rated all-season tires are on average, worse than winter tires.

I'm sure there's some winter tires that are better, but they have to meet the same standard?

-Crissa

See link below to an article by TireRack explaining what the three peak stamp means (in particular the last point noting they cannot match dedicated snow tires).

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-is-the-threepeak-mountain-snowflake-symbol

I don't have a link to an actual side-by-side test handy, but the consensus I've heard is that dedicated winter tires have a softer tread compound and will grip ice and snow better than any all terrain or all season tire (even if they have the three peak rating). Anecdotally, I've found that to be the case as I've run both options on prior vehicles. There's just nothing as grippy when it gets really cold/icy as a set of Blizzaks, Nokian Hakkas, or any other dedicated winter tire.

That being said, some three peak all terrain tires can be very good, even with their harder rubber. And you don't have to worry about wearing them down if you travel to a warmer area of the country during the winter (something I have to do on occasion). I don't have experience with the Wrangler Duratrac Tesla selected here, but I've had very good luck running Falken Wildpeaks during the winter on my last couple of tow vehicles (including the Model Y I traded in on my Cybertruck).

One caveat - it's pretty flat where I live here in the upper midwest, so keep that in mind.

 

[Giskard]

That doesn't make sense. If I cannot pick them up and bring them home to install WHEN I NEED THEM, they are useless to me.

I presume they'll bolt on the new ones and put my existing wheels in the bed for me to take home. I agree with you - I'll be quite annoyed with them if they expect to store my current wheels and force me to come back when I need to swap again in the spring. I presume we'll know for sure soon as my appointment is only a couple weeks away.

 

[Crissa]

See link below to an article by TireRack explaining what the three peak stamp means (in particular the last point noting they cannot match dedicated snow tires).

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-is-the-threepeak-mountain-snowflake-symbol

I don't have a link to an actual side-by-side test handy, but the consensus I've heard is that dedicated winter tires have a softer tread compound and will grip ice and snow better than any all terrain or all season tire (even if they have the three peak rating). Anecdotally, I've found that to be the case as I've run both options on prior vehicles. There's just nothing as grippy when it gets really cold/icy as a set of Blizzaks, Nokian Hakkas, or any other dedicated winter tire.

That being said, some three peak all terrain tires can be very good, even with their harder rubber. And you don't have to worry about wearing them down if you travel to a warmer area of the country during the winter (something I have to do on occasion). I don't have experience with the Wrangler Duratrac Tesla selected here, but I've had very good luck running Falken Wildpeaks during the winter on my last couple of tow vehicles (including the Model Y I traded in on my Cybertruck).

One caveat - it's pretty flat where I live here in the upper midwest, so keep that in mind.

I need numbers, tho, not feelings.

-Crissa

 

[Travis64]

I presume they'll bolt on the new ones and put my existing wheels in the bed for me to take home. I agree with you - I'll be quite annoyed with them if they expect to store my current wheels and force me to come back when I need to swap again in the spring. I presume we'll know for sure soon as my appointment is only a couple weeks away.

They are definitely not storing everyones tires lol

 

[65SoYoLO]

I presume they'll bolt on the new ones and put my existing wheels in the bed for me to take home. I agree with you - I'll be quite annoyed with them if they expect to store my current wheels and force me to come back when I need to swap again in the spring. I presume we'll know for sure soon as my appointment is only a couple weeks away.

I am not saying they are going to store them but if I bought the tires, I would take them home to install them when and IF i need them, not when they have an open appointment. I can change my own tires.

 

[carsly]

I had a Model S Plaid winter wheel and tire set I purchased from Tesla. The price includes mounting, balancing and the first installation. After that, do whatever you want and you will be taking your tires home with you - they don't store them.

BTW, I sold the S Plaid so if anyone has a 2021+ Model S and is looking for a set used for one season and maybe 2,000 miles let me know, sitting stored in Tesla tire totes!

Just didn't expect the Cybertruck to be available so quickly, thought I had another year or two.

 

[jf64k]

I am not saying they are going to store them but if I bought the tires, I would take them home to install them when and IF i need them, not when they have an open appointment. I can change my own tires.

Right.

You’d tell them “I’ll just take them home” and the SC will be glad to not have to take the time to swap wheels, haha!!

It’s just that they’re saying “installation included” for those who don’t have the equipment or time or inclination to swap them themselves.

 

[Obecalb]

is this the same wheel i already have ?

These are wrangler Dirac, not the wrangler territory that the truck came with. Duracs are supposed to perform really well in snow and ice. Never owned them before, but I ordered a set so I will find out how they do this winter. My Goodyear tire center said there are no dedicated winter tires that will fit

 

[joesdayjob]

I guess what I am trying to justify is why do I need a new WHEEL ?

I would buy winter tires but why do I need a second set of wheels ?

 

[Sasmania]

I guess what I am trying to justify is why do I need a new WHEEL ?

I would buy winter tires but why do I need a second set of wheels ?

Here's how I'm possibly justifying it (but still weighing options):

1) It does make swapping out actual winter tires easier if you plan on doing that. I for example will be plowing snow with mine, so I'll have a true winter set with Hakkas for 4 months of the year then a 3 peak rated AT for the rest of the year.
2) Having 4 more wheels also allows you to bring 1 or 2 along if you ever go off-roading and want to have a backup.

 

[joesdayjob]

is this set of wheel the same wheel i already own ?

 

[HaulingAss]

Except those of us that have free supercharging. I got 3 years of free supercharging with my 2023 X. I did the math and it saved me $700 the first year of just using the free supercharging over charging @ home from my Wall Connector. When my free Supercharging ends I'll be plugging in at home whenever possible.

I have a Performance Model 3 with Lifetime Free Supercharging (for over six years). I drove it right by the local Supercharger 20 miles from my house every week for six years (now I'm in my Cybertruck) but what am I going to do, plan it out so it's run down to 20% when I go by and then sit there for 20 minutes while I charge it to 70% just to save $3.50 on my homes electrical bill?

Anyone who does this has to ask themselves how much their time and convenience is worth. Too much planning to get it run down enough, I was generally over 50% when I was in the area, and I had other things I was doing, so I would never stop. I do save $50-$80 in Supercharger fees whenever I take a trip to Montana, which is nice, but I don't even do that every year. It might be a little more or less than that because I've never calculated it out exactly, but I know it's not much and I would be stopping to charge anyway.

Free Supercharging isn't as good as newbies think, unless they have a really, really long daily commute (much longer than the real range of their car) or they like to take really long road trips multiple times per year. What makes an EV so compelling over an ICE vehicle is the convenience of charging at home and always having a full tank. If you have to let it run down so you can go out to charge it, your life just got a lot worse.

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