Our snow tired Tesla has had some snow adversity this winter, but has for the most part done better than any snow tired RWD car I've driven.
Ability to raise suspension height for snow drifts, heavy weight over the rear tires, and good traction control I think have helped.
However, a few days ago my wife's Tesla got stuck in the middle of the road. Not a ditch. Not spinning in its wheels. The wheels and tires just did NOT move.
After a small panic, she managed to get it going again by raising the suspension to high mode and limping to a parking lot.
After pulling over, she took a look at the car's wheel wells. They were JAM PACKED with SNOW + ICE. She spent 20 min clearing it out and no problems since.
Later that day, I spend another 20 min clearing the snow out of the wheel wells for her.
My other cars which were also driven through this polar vortex did not have the same problem, with some snow build up in the lower edge wheel wells, but nothing like our Tesla.
I recall someone else stating that this snow in the wheel well also affects the range.
No surprise, as there is very little room / clearance in there.
Once snow does buildup in the wheel wells, it creates friction and as we found out, can create enough friction to prevent the wheels from turning.
Just a caution for others that brave the snow in the Tesla.
ADDENDUM:
I guess I'm not the only who has found problems with snow and our wheel wells.
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_CA/forum/forums/snow
Sounds like the plastic in the wheel well does not shed snow like normal cars. This is besides our low clearance.
Won't stop us from driving in the snow, but I will be clearing the snow from the car wheel wells semi daily when its bad here.
Ability to raise suspension height for snow drifts, heavy weight over the rear tires, and good traction control I think have helped.
However, a few days ago my wife's Tesla got stuck in the middle of the road. Not a ditch. Not spinning in its wheels. The wheels and tires just did NOT move.
After a small panic, she managed to get it going again by raising the suspension to high mode and limping to a parking lot.
After pulling over, she took a look at the car's wheel wells. They were JAM PACKED with SNOW + ICE. She spent 20 min clearing it out and no problems since.
Later that day, I spend another 20 min clearing the snow out of the wheel wells for her.
My other cars which were also driven through this polar vortex did not have the same problem, with some snow build up in the lower edge wheel wells, but nothing like our Tesla.
I recall someone else stating that this snow in the wheel well also affects the range.
No surprise, as there is very little room / clearance in there.
Once snow does buildup in the wheel wells, it creates friction and as we found out, can create enough friction to prevent the wheels from turning.
Just a caution for others that brave the snow in the Tesla.
ADDENDUM:
I guess I'm not the only who has found problems with snow and our wheel wells.
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_CA/forum/forums/snow
Sounds like the plastic in the wheel well does not shed snow like normal cars. This is besides our low clearance.
Won't stop us from driving in the snow, but I will be clearing the snow from the car wheel wells semi daily when its bad here.
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