Winter wheels/tires packages for Model S

[harry]

Got an email today from Tesla listing new tire and wheel packages for purchase. Here's a quote:

Tesla Motors has released new information on wheel/tire pricing. If you have not seen it already, here it is:

19” Winter Wheel/Tire Package with Pirelli Winter Tires
o $2400

19” Winter Studded Wheel/Tire Package with Nokian studded winter tires
o $2800

19” Wheel Package -- set of 4 19” wheels
o $1000

19 “ Wheel (single)
o $275

21” Wheel/Tire Package -- set of 4 21” Silver Wheels with Performance Tires
o $5,200

21” Wheel (single)
o $950

End quote.

The items which do not say "tires" are for rims only. Sorry about the awkward formatting, but that is pretty much the way it came.

[jerry33]

That is cheaper than a Prius wheel ($280.14 for the 15" and $303.19 for the 16") from the less-than MSRP online parts store.

[mikevbf]

I wonder if they will/can tune the traction control to the specific tires they offer? I am not sure this is even possible. So go ahead and correct me if the question is total BS. Would be cool if we optimize suspension and traction control for tire choice. FYI nothing other than chains beats studs on steep up hill ice. If you have that kind of driveway, you know what I am talking about. Ever done a 180 with a trailer trying to get to your house before? That said studded will be overkill for most.

[Odenator]

I wonder if they will/can tune the traction control to the specific tires they offer? I am not sure this is even possible. So go ahead and correct me if the question is total BS. Would be cool if we optimize suspension and traction control for tire choice. FYI nothing other than chains beats studs on steep up hill ice. If you have that kind of driveway, you know what I am talking about. Ever done a 180 with a trailer trying to get to your house before? That said studded will be overkill for most.

GOOD studded snow tires like the Nokian's will beat cheap chains all the time. I used to ski race and coach up on Mt Hood, OR and I have seen too many cars with the ladder and cable chains slide sideways on Timberline road. The diamond, link and zig-zag styles of tire chains work great but if I'm spending 90+ days on the mountain, give me studs and their convenience.

[jerry33]

I wonder if they will/can tune the traction control to the specific tires they offer?

Traction control is based on sensing wheel slippage. It should be "self-tuning" as far as different tires are concerned.

FYI nothing other than chains beats studs on steep up hill ice.

Chains are designed to be used with summer tires. To be effective they need to "creep" around the tire. The lugs in snow tires stop the creeping and chains lose their effectiveness.

[Doug_G]

Traction control is based on sensing wheel slippage. It should be "self-tuning" as far as different tires are concerned.

Should be, although there might be some subtleties; for example, the Roadster 2.0/2.5 has a "new tires" function on the VDS. The purposes of it is to learn the diameter of the new tires, which helps the traction control function properly. It must also have some sort of long-term adaptive algorithm to account for tire wear.

[richkae]

+1 to all of Jerry's points about studded tires.

I have studless snow tires for the winter ( Bridgestone Blizzaks, Nokians were not in stock last time I needed a new set ). If you end up driving some of the time on wet road and some on snow and ice - the studded tires will be great on the ice but far more likely to get you killed on the wet roads where the studs are a huge liability.

[KBF]

Well, I suppose instead of 21" wheels I'll get the winter tire package, since it will basically be winter in Winnipeg by the time I get my car. Hopefully I can figure out my summer option later.

[teslasguy]

Interestingly they have omitted pricing for the 19" wheels with the standard all season tires that normally come with the car.
I'm getting 21" performance wheels. Our winters here aren't usually too bad so I should be ok with 19" and all season tires for my second winter set.

[mlascano]

Interestingly they have omitted pricing for the 19" wheels with the standard all season tires that normally come with the car.
I'm getting 21" performance wheels. Our winters here aren't usually too bad so I should be ok with 19" and all season tires for my second winter set.

I noticed that too.
Knowing that they are charging $3500 for the upgrade from 19" all-seasons to 21" performance and that the 21" performance extra set is $5200, that would put the 19" all-season set at ~$1700 (not bad at all if they DO offer it).