So today I got a dreaded flat tire on my MY. I just thought I’d post this so you can learn from my experience and hopefully not have the same issues.
Background. I was travelling to work (60 miles) and left at 6am. When I hit a dual carriageway I got a tyre pressure warning, I also got a Tesla App notification. The pressure went from 43 PSI to 4 very quickly. I pulled over into a small unlit lay-by and inspected the tyre. It had a small hole in and it looked as if there had been a screw or object in there which had then become dislodged. I took out my holts tyre spray and fired in the whole can and then drove c.20 mph to the nearest garage.
Issues
- The tyre spray did nothing, do not rely on it for a flat tyre!
- Driving slow on 1 flat tyre in a normal car is usually ok. In a Tesla it is not. The car is so heavy that the rim destroys the sidewall
- Tesla Roadside are very helpful except:
1. They will only recover you 50 miles max.
2. You must provide them with a destination before any recovery vehicle is dispatched.
- The big issue was availability of the tyres. No one had them in stock and I have had to order them to a Kwik Fit in 2 days time.
- As Tesla Roadside will only give you one recovery per incident, it means my car is now outside a Kwik Fit 15 miles away waiting until Wednesday.
- I am now without car and forced to WFH
- The cost of 1 tyre is £304.
Lessons
- If you have a flat tyre stop immediately when it is safe. Do not attempt to get to somewhere else even if it’s only two miles away. Your tyre may be repairable but that drive will certainly write it off.
- Holts Tyreweld makes you feel good when it’s in the back of the car and gives a false sense of security. It’s useless, even for a small hole. Even the recovery guy said it doesn't work well in the foam filled tyres.
- Most suppliers; Kwik Fit/ ATS don’t have the tyre in stock so you will be waiting for a few days.
- If you get recovered to your home address, you will either need to get a mobile tyre replacement company to come out and fit a new tyre or pay for the movement of yours to a garage as Tesla Roadside will only move the car once and it must be within 50 miles.
- Finally price! Astronomical prices from everywhere, except Black Circles but delivery is long.
Future
- Im going to buy a spare tyre from Black Circles and keep it at home when I’m doing short journeys and take it with me during longer one. That way I know I’ll be able to get it fitted in a timely fashion and won’t be stranded somewhere in the country.
Background. I was travelling to work (60 miles) and left at 6am. When I hit a dual carriageway I got a tyre pressure warning, I also got a Tesla App notification. The pressure went from 43 PSI to 4 very quickly. I pulled over into a small unlit lay-by and inspected the tyre. It had a small hole in and it looked as if there had been a screw or object in there which had then become dislodged. I took out my holts tyre spray and fired in the whole can and then drove c.20 mph to the nearest garage.
Issues
- The tyre spray did nothing, do not rely on it for a flat tyre!
- Driving slow on 1 flat tyre in a normal car is usually ok. In a Tesla it is not. The car is so heavy that the rim destroys the sidewall
- Tesla Roadside are very helpful except:
1. They will only recover you 50 miles max.
2. You must provide them with a destination before any recovery vehicle is dispatched.
- The big issue was availability of the tyres. No one had them in stock and I have had to order them to a Kwik Fit in 2 days time.
- As Tesla Roadside will only give you one recovery per incident, it means my car is now outside a Kwik Fit 15 miles away waiting until Wednesday.
- I am now without car and forced to WFH
- The cost of 1 tyre is £304.
Lessons
- If you have a flat tyre stop immediately when it is safe. Do not attempt to get to somewhere else even if it’s only two miles away. Your tyre may be repairable but that drive will certainly write it off.
- Holts Tyreweld makes you feel good when it’s in the back of the car and gives a false sense of security. It’s useless, even for a small hole. Even the recovery guy said it doesn't work well in the foam filled tyres.
- Most suppliers; Kwik Fit/ ATS don’t have the tyre in stock so you will be waiting for a few days.
- If you get recovered to your home address, you will either need to get a mobile tyre replacement company to come out and fit a new tyre or pay for the movement of yours to a garage as Tesla Roadside will only move the car once and it must be within 50 miles.
- Finally price! Astronomical prices from everywhere, except Black Circles but delivery is long.
Future
- Im going to buy a spare tyre from Black Circles and keep it at home when I’m doing short journeys and take it with me during longer one. That way I know I’ll be able to get it fitted in a timely fashion and won’t be stranded somewhere in the country.