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Winter Tire Options

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Winter driving is just around the corner as I await delivery of my model S (Sept. 30th fingers crossed).
Sorry to discover that the Tesla winter tire package jumped from $2400 to $4000 last night. The Pirelli tires in that kit seem to get mediocre ratings so I am wondering what other Canadian drivers might be considering for the season ahead?
 
That's really annoying!
I just confirmed my order for a model S on Aug 31. I was talking to the people in Toronto about the winter tire package. I also checked through different options and was willing to live with the Pirelli tires to get the Tesla package. If they won't honour the $2,400 price, I'll just order winter tires and rims elsewhere. A 66% price increase is ridiculous!
 
KR1... I will likely do the same thing.
Tesla Service also told me that they will not service the non OEM tires (beyond calibrating the tire pressure monitors). We will have to swap tires each season at a non-Tesla shop and then drive to Tesla to have the TPMs re-set.
 
I just heard back that they won't honour the old price and didn't know about the increase until my e-mail. This is not a good start to Tesla ownership. I would have expected a warning of a pending increase.

I am surprised that the TPMS is that big an issue. I would think that could be reset by the owner without having to go in to the service centre? I live in Ottawa so that would be a big undertaking just to do that. I didn't have any problem doing something similar with my Audi.

I'll start looking into winter tire options again...

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Just as a market set point, not a recommendation, Tire Rack has a recommended winter tire package for the Tesla Model S at the following link:

http://www.tirerack.com/snow/preferredpackages.jsp

They also have recommended TPMS sensors compatible with the Tesla. When I went through the whole ordering process including selecting a local installer (Robson Racing in Ottawa, who I used once before for a Tire rack order), the final price came out to US$2736. This supposedly includes mounting and balancing (reg. $40/tire). TPMS service was listed by the installer as $10.

So $2,400 from Tesla seems like a good price, but $4,000 not so much.
 
I put Michelin Pilot PA3's on my car back in February. Got them from tirerack. Them seem ok. I did have trouble climbing my very icy inclined driveway for a couple days last winter though. (Started to go sideways, slid backwards with the brakes on etc.)

A lot of the people on these forums all seem to want to buy Nokian R2's.
 
I have been looking on Tire Rack at options. I put in an earlier reply which hasn't been posted yet.

The Nokians don't seem to come up as an option for the Tesla on their site and neither do the Michelin PA3s. They have:

Performance Winter Tires
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 $259 each
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D $230
Pirelli Sotto Zero Serie II $269

Studless Ice & Snow
Dunlop Winter Maxx $183
Michelin X-Ice $240

They also list the Blizzak LM-60 but have a warning about tire pressure mismatch

I wonder if it is related to the weight of the car. I had that issue with my Audi S6 that only some tires were suitable.
 
Winter driving is just around the corner as I await delivery of my model S (Sept. 30th fingers crossed).
Sorry to discover that the Tesla winter tire package jumped from $2400 to $4000 last night. The Pirelli tires in that kit seem to get mediocre ratings so I am wondering what other Canadian drivers might be considering for the season ahead?

First of all, if it really was last night call Tesla right away and request the old price. If they raised the price without warning when you were about to buy, they ought to give you the benefit of the doubt.

You're south of Toronto so you get wimpy winters. The Pirellis, which are "sport snow tires" are probably okay for the most part. If you were in Ottawa or Montreal I would strongly advise getting real snow tires.
 
I had a chat with a tire specialist at Tire Rack about which tires are suitable for the model S:

Thank you for choosing Tire Rack. A product specialist will be with you shortly.
You are now chatting with 'Nick'
Nick: Hi Carey!
Carey: Hi,
Nick: how can I help you?
Carey: I am chatting with some Tesla owners on a forum about winter tires and have a question. Does the Tesla Model S require XL load range tires?
Nick: One moment while I double check, but I'm almost positive that's correct.
Nick: Yes that's correct, but it's more to do with the max psi rating on the tires than the actual load capacity of the tires.
Nick: Tesla lists the recommended psi for that car at 45psi and the standard load tires in the 245/45r19 size max out at 44psi, only the XL rated tires have psi rated high enough to meet Tesla's psi requirements
Carey: Some owners are talking about using SL load range tires: Nokian R2s and Michelin PA2s. They don't show up on the tire selector chart. If they used those at a rated PSI for the tire, would that be workable?
Nick: technically you can still use the standard loads since they meet the load/weight requirements for that car in 245/45r19, but you would have to be ok with running them below the recommended psi Tesla puts in their owner's manual
Carey: What impact do you think that would have?
Nick: we don't sell the Nokians and the Michelins you're mentioning aren't available in that 19" size unless you're looking at a different size than the 245/45r19 I was assuming
Carey: I will go with a recommended tire but am thinking of the other owners.
Nick: they're still ok if they're using the SL tires and we're actually ok selling them as well, but it was pointed out to us by others that the 44psi tires weren't good for them since Tesla recommends 45psi for the tires on that car...they just need to keep the tires at 44psi if at all possible to meet the proper weight capacity for that heavy battery powered car
Carey: Thanks Nick
Nick: you're welcome
Nick: If you order online, please reference "Nick" on the order as a previous contact

For me, I am going to go with an XL rated tire but the advice for an SL rated tire is to try to keep the pressure as close to 45 PSI as possible without going over the max rating of the tire (presumably 44PSI).


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I called the Tesla service centre in Toronto and the fellow I talked to confirmed that you can't place an order at the old price. In actual fact, you can't place an order at all since they are sold out. He said they may be available in December.
 
First of all, if it really was last night call Tesla right away and request the old price. If they raised the price without warning when you were about to buy, they ought to give you the benefit of the doubt.

You're south of Toronto so you get wimpy winters. The Pirellis, which are "sport snow tires" are probably okay for the most part. If you were in Ottawa or Montreal I would strongly advise getting real snow tires.

It really was last night. Their web has said out of stock for some time so it was likely not possible to even place an order (although I didn't try). Talked with someone at the Toronto service center who told me they were getting a shipment in shortly. I confirmed with him yesterday that the price on the web was correct at $2,400. This morning it was $4,000.

I've lived in Ottawa and know about your winters. Wouldn't exactly call ours wimpy. A bad snow day is a bad snow day... especially with a commute that has me driving up and then down the Niagara escarpment.
 
Super annoying. I don't get my MS until March 2014, so I've got some time to let everyone else be guinea pigs for me. :)

Originally I was going to order the 19" wheels, but I love the way the 21" wheels look, so I just went with those. I figured I'd pick up the $2400 winter wheel package - which seemed like a suspiciously good deal - at time of delivery (pre-ordered, of course). There goes that idea. I doubt I can get away with taking delivery on the summer tires that come with it, so I'll have to be ready with something. I can't imagine risking driving in March in Toronto on those 21's.

At least I got my order in before the August price hikes (by 1 day). Elon is certainly making his margins as promised!

FWIW I used to have Nokian Hakkapeliitta NRW's on my Audi TT and they were *incredible* tires. Best winter tires I've ever had - in the snow. I have the Pirelli 210 Sottozero's on my current car and they aren't horrible, but no, they do not come close to the Hakka's in snow. Dry, though, quite nice. Quiet and grippy. I'm guessing those who hate them are in much worse weather than I am.

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Discount Tire Direct (www.discounttiredirect.com)have two options different than Tire Rack (and they are XL):

- Hankook I*Cept Evo W310: $228
- Yokohama W.drive: $279
 
You're right, I keep forgetting that my car wears 255/45/R19's for the winter. Load index is 100 (well above other tires Tesla sells), and max inflation pressure is 51psi.

If I was really concerned about winter conditions I'd get the X-Ice. "performance" winter tires are all going to get beaten out by the non performance variety in icy/snowy conditions.

I have been looking on Tire Rack at options. I put in an earlier reply which hasn't been posted yet.

The Nokians don't seem to come up as an option for the Tesla on their site and neither do the Michelin PA3s. They have:

Performance Winter Tires
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 $259 each
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D $230
Pirelli Sotto Zero Serie II $269

Studless Ice & Snow
Dunlop Winter Maxx $183
Michelin X-Ice $240

They also list the Blizzak LM-60 but have a warning about tire pressure mismatch

I wonder if it is related to the weight of the car. I had that issue with my Audi S6 that only some tires were suitable.
 
Carey: I am chatting with some Tesla owners on a forum about winter tires and have a question. Does the Tesla Model S require XL load range tires?
Nick: One moment while I double check, but I'm almost positive that's correct.
Nick: Yes that's correct, but it's more to do with the max psi rating on the tires than the actual load capacity of the tires.
Nick: Tesla lists the recommended psi for that car at 45psi and the standard load tires in the 245/45r19 size max out at 44psi, only the XL rated tires have psi rated high enough to meet Tesla's psi requirements

Well, crap. I hadn't thought about the load range issue as it relates to the PSI requirements. May have to re-think my Nokian winters...
 
The OEM 19" goodyears are SL (with a max inflation pressure of 51psi)

Okay, thanks. I was going to check that. I was assuming they must be XL too. I can't seem to find the max PSI rating for the Nokian Hakka R2's on their site. It is blank next to the PSI rating on the spec sheet... They are listed as SL rated. Guess I'll call my tire guy back.
 
> Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 $259 each [KR1]

I ran LM-60s last winter so was curious about the difference (price was identical). LM-32 has 40 pounds greater load capacity thus thicker sidewall & slightly different center-tread pattern according to Bridgestone. 6612 lb total more than enough for me as 45 lb dog is only passenger normally, but MS comes up 'no match' on Bridegestone's LM-60 webpage which assumes lots of passengers.

Excellent winter tire in every way. Fits in Frunk!!
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