Tire Pressure Monitoring - Tesla S Owner's Manual

Tire Pressure Monitoring

Each tire should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the recommended
pressures that are printed on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on the
driver's door pillar (see
Pressures on page 129). If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that displays a tire pressure
telltale (Tire Pressure Warning) on the
instrument panel when one or more of your
tires is significantly under- or over-inflated.
Accordingly, when the Tire Pressure indicator
light displays on the instrument panel to alert
you about tire pressure, stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure (see
Pressures on page 129). Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-
inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability.
If Model S detects a fault with the
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), this indicator flashes for one
minute whenever you power on
Model S.
Note: Installing accessories that are not
approved by Tesla can interfere with the
TPMS.
Warning: The TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, including
manually checking tire pressures and
regularly inspecting the condition of tires.
It is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under- or
over-inflation has not reached the level
for the TPMS to trigger the Tire Pressure
Warning on the instrument panel.
Resetting the TPMS Sensors
After replacing one or more wheels, the TPMS
sensors must be reset to ensure tire pressure
warnings are accurate. However, note that the
TPMS sensors do not need to be reset after
replacing a tire or rotating wheels.
Note: When changing to 21" wheels, the TPMS
may generate false tire pressure warnings.
Maintenance
Maintaining Tire
Maintaining Tire
Tire Care and Maintenance
Bring Model S to a Tesla service center for
further adjustment.
Note: Do not reset the TPMS sensors in an
attempt to clear tire pressure warnings.
To reset TPMS sensors:
1. Inflate all tires to their recommended
pressures, as indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on the
driver's door pillar.
2. Get ready to drive for ten minutes, then,
on the Model S touchscreen, touch
Controls > Settings > Service & Reset >
Tire Pressure Monitor > Reset Sensors.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.
Caution: Selecting the incorrect wheel
size may result in false tire pressure
warnings displaying on the
instrument panel. If a tire pressure
warning displays, exit the vehicle,
close the rear trunk and all doors,
wait for the touchscreen to go black,
then re-enter the vehicle and ensure
that the correct wheel size is selected
before touching Reset.
Replacing a Tire Sensor
If the Tire Pressure warning indicator displays
frequently, contact Tesla to determine if a tire
sensor needs to be replaced. Tire sensors must
be replaced by a Tesla service technician who
can perform a brief setup procedure. If a non-
Tesla service center repairs or replaces a tire,
the tire sensor will not work until Tesla
performs the setup procedure.
TPMS Malfunction
Model S has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the tire pressure
indicator light. When the system
detects a malfunction, the indicator
flashes for approximately one minute
after Model S powers on, and then
remains continuously lit. This
sequence continues upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the
TPMS malfunction indicator is on, the
system might not be able to detect
or signal under- and over-inflated
tires as intended.
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