Replacing Tires And Wheels - Tesla MODEL S Operating Manual

Punctured Tires
A puncture eventually causes the tire to lose
pressure, which is why it is important to check
tire pressures frequently. Permanently repair
or replace punctured or damaged tires as
soon as possible.
Your tubeless tires may not leak when
penetrated, provided the object remains in the
tire. If, however, you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or you suspect
a tire is damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive slowly, while avoiding heavy
braking or sharp steering and, when safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Arrange to have Model S
transported to a Tesla Service Center, or to a
nearby tire repair center.
Note: In some cases, you can temporarily
repair small tire punctures (under 1/4" (6
mm)) using an optional tire repair kit available
from Tesla. This allows you to slowly drive
Model S to Tesla or to a nearby tire repair
facility.
Warning: Do not drive with a punctured
tire that has not been repaired, even if the
puncture has not caused the tire to
deflate. A punctured tire can deflate
suddenly at any time.
Flat Spots
If Model S is stationary for a long period, tires
can form flat spots. When Model S is driven,
these flat spots cause a vibration which
gradually disappears as the tires warm up and
regain their original shape.
To minimize flat spots during storage, inflate
tires to the maximum pressure indicated on
the tire wall. Then, before driving, release air
to adjust tire pressure to the recommended
levels.
Improving Tire Mileage
To improve the mileage you get from your
tires, maintain tires at the recommended tire
pressures, observe speed limits and advisory
speeds, and avoid:
• Pulling away quickly, or hard acceleration.
• Fast turns and heavy braking.
• Potholes and objects in the road.
• Hitting curbs when parking.
• Contaminating tires with fluids that can
cause damage.
Maintenance
Tire Care and Maintenance

Replacing Tires and Wheels

Tires degrade over time due to the effects of
ultraviolet light, extreme temperatures, high
loads, and environmental conditions. It is
recommended that tires are replaced every six
years, or sooner if required, even if tread
depth is above the minimum.
Wheel and tires are matched to suit the
handling characteristics of the vehicle.
Replacement tires must comply with the
original specification. If tires other than those
specified are used, ensure that the load and
speed ratings marked on the tire (see
Understanding Tire Markings
equal or exceed those of the original
specification.
Ideally, you should replace all four tires at the
same time. If this is not possible, replace the
tires in pairs, placing the new tires on the rear.
Always balance the wheel and tire after
replacing a tire.
If you replace a wheel, the TPMS (Tire Pressure
Monitoring System) sensors need to be reset
to ensure they provide accurate warnings
when tires are under- or over-inflated (see
Resetting the TPMS Sensors
For the specification of the original wheels
and tires installed on Model S, see
Tires on page 197.
Warning: For your safety, use only tires
and wheels that match the original
specification. Tires that do not match the
original specification can affect the
operation of the TPMS.
Warning: Never exceed the speed rating
of your vehicle's tires. The speed rating is
shown on the sidewall of your tires (see
Understanding Tire Markings
199).
Asymmetric Tires
Model S tires are asymmetric and must be
mounted on the wheel with the correct
sidewall facing outward. The sidewall of the
tire is marked with the word OUTSIDE. When
new tires are installed, make sure that the tires
are correctly mounted on the wheels.
on page 199)
on page 176).
Wheels and
on page
175