Winter wheels/tires packages for Model S

[driver_EV]

I'd like a set of 20" Turbine wheels. At 20" you have gobs of choices in all categories and price ranges. At 21" you have 1 or 2 super high priced summer only tires.

If anyone finds a set of 20's styled like the 21's that will fit the S please post!

Me too on the 20" wheels. I would like the slight increase in tire size, as I suspect the 21" configuration may be a little too damage prone for me. If roads were not so horrible in places, then I wouldn't worry about it.

[agileone]

I'd like a set of 20" Turbine wheels. At 20" you have gobs of choices in all categories and price ranges. At 21" you have 1 or 2 super high priced summer only tires.

If anyone finds a set of 20's styled like the 21's that will fit the S please post!

These were discussed in another thread a while back, but the wheel pattern was thought to be Mercedes compatible at the time, i.e 5x112.

I am expecting delivery in dec-jan, in Canada, so it should be delivered on winter tires.
Hopefully, I will be able to get JUST the 19"+Winter Pirellis set, and buy another set of 20" and summer tires later on...

Will I pay for just the difference between the summer and winter set (something like 700$, as inferred from above calculations/assumptions)

Will it be another case of " no refund for the wheels" case ?

[KBF]

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.

Hmm:
$5200 (21" package) - $2400 (Pirelli winter tire package) - ~$1700 (standard 19" package estimate) = ~$1100
Since I'm a Signature I can downgrade for "free" (since 21's are highly not recommended for Manitoba roads, and I'm not spending time on the racetrack); it would reduce the sting of the $3500 "non-credit" if Tesla chose to provide us with a set of 19"s for summer and the Pirelli set for winter as a free "downgrade", and they would still be up $1100. I've passed this idea on to Tesla, and if you're in the same boat as me or think it's a good idea, I'd appreciate more customers suggesting this. I think it would show some goodwill and both sides make a bit of a compromise. What do you think, TMC?

[CarlE_P439]

Any thoughts on the Model S's relatively new technology and the fact that this rear-wheel drive car has an unusually low center of gravity due to the battery pack? I doubt we know how well this car will handle in the snow until there are some more real-world experiences. So perhaps 19" all-season tires may suffice in the winter?!?!

[jerry33]

Any thoughts on the Model S's relatively new technology and the fact that this rear-wheel drive car has an unusually low center of gravity due to the battery pack? I doubt we know how well this car will handle in the snow until there are some more real-world experiences. So perhaps 19" all-season tires may suffice in the winter?!?!

Winter performance in modern cars is a combination of tires, traction control, ABS, and vehicle stability control*. Rear wheel, front wheel, or all wheel drive make much less of a difference than they did a few years ago (despite all the claims the contrary). Whether all-season tires will suffice depends on the particular all-seasons (many are "Texas" all-seasons) and the conditions in your area. If there is a real winter where you drive, then a set of winter wheels and four studless snow tires from a first tier tire manufacturer are what you should use. There are severe-service all-seasons that are almost as good but the odd sized tires that Tesla has chosen for the Model S means that your tire choices are very limited.

Any car that doesn't have all three systems should be a non-starter.

[CarlE_P439]

Winter performance in modern cars is a combination of tires, traction control, ABS, and vehicle stability control*. Rear wheel, front wheel, or all wheel drive make much less of a difference than they did a few years ago (despite all the claims the contrary). Whether all-season tires will suffice depends on the particular all-seasons (many are "Texas" all-seasons) and the conditions in your area. If there is a real winter where you drive, then a set of winter wheels and four studless snow tires from a first tier tire manufacturer are what you should use. There are severe-service all-seasons that are almost as good but the odd sized tires that Tesla has chosen for the Model S means that your tire choices are very limited.

Any car that doesn't have all three systems should be a non-starter.

I agree with all that you said. However, there is NO car on the road with such even weight distribution and low center of gravity. All other cars (rear-wheel drive or otherwise) have most of their weight distributed mainly in the front due to their engines. How can we possibly say how the Model S will handle in the snow until we drive it? As a famous philosopher said, "To know is to know that you do not know."

[jerry33]

I agree with all that you said. However, there is NO car on the road with such even weight distribution and low center of gravity. All other cars (rear-wheel drive or otherwise) have most of their weight distributed mainly in the front due to their engines. How can we possibly say how the Model S will handle in the snow until we drive it? As a famous philosopher said, "To know is to know that you do not know."

Generally cars get into trouble because the weight isn't even on all four corners so one end or the other has a tendency to slip. Long ago, before all the electronics, you put sand bags in the trunk to make the weight even. Tesla's been nice enough to do this for us.

[pilotSteve]

jerry33 -- +1, even for the 60kWh and 40kWh battery packs....

[Cottonwood]

I agree with all that you said. However, there is NO car on the road with such even weight distribution and low center of gravity. All other cars (rear-wheel drive or otherwise) have most of their weight distributed mainly in the front due to their engines. How can we possibly say how the Model S will handle in the snow until we drive it? As a famous philosopher said, "To know is to know that you do not know."

I am getting the winter studded snow tires and giving my Model S a test this winter. This is my Pagosa Springs Driveway in the winter. We will see.

[Brian H]

I am getting the winter studded snow tires and giving my Model S a test this winter. This is my Pagosa Springs Driveway in the winter. We will see.

Hah! The MS would handle that with slicks!