Driving basics6-4
Driving your vehicle
•Drive with the top on and the windows up
to minimize aerodynamic drag.
• Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
• Remove unnecessary belongings from
the trunk.
• Minimize the use of resources such as
heating and air conditioning. Using seat
heaters to keep warm is more efficient
than heating the cabin.
In addition to driv ing habits, energy
consumption is also increased based on
environmental conditions, such as cold
weather and hilly roads.
The Touch Screen’s Energy screen displays
precise real-time feedback on the amount of
energy you’re using. Energy feedback is also
displayed on the LCD display on the
instrument panel. Deep waterDo not drive through flooded areas, water of
unknown depth, or deep puddles. When
driving through even a relatively shallow
puddle, drive slowly to prevent water from
entering the vehicle. Carrying items in cabin areaThe trunk is the preferred place to carry
objects. In an accident, during hard braking,
or sudden maneuvers, loose items carried in
the vehicle’s cabin area can be thrown
around, and cause injury to occupants unless
securely fastened.Roadster OHB.book Page 4 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Instruments
6-13
Driving your vehicle
Charge indicator. Flashes amber when
the vehicle is charging.
Charge indicator. Illuminates red when
the charging port door is open and
the vehicle is not charging.
Caution: Never run the vehicle until the
Battery is fully depleted. If the Battery
is fully depleted, all electrical systems on the
vehicle are inoperable and the vehicle can not
be driven.
Tire pressure indicator. Illuminates
when the pressure of a tire is out of
range. If a fault with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) is detected, the
warning indicator flas hes. Check the Touch
Screen for more information.
Seat belt warning. Illuminates
whenever the driver’s seat belt is
unbuckled and the starter switch is in the ON
position. Also, an audible sound will be heard
for six seconds if the starter switch is turned
to the ON position and the drivers seat belt is
unbuckled. If the car is driven more than a
tenth of a mile with the driver’s seat belt
unbuckled, you’ll hear a warning tone.
Airbag warning. Illu minates during the
system check that occurs when the
starter switch is turned to the ON position.
This indicator should extinguish within
approximately six seconds. If the light fails to
illuminate, or fails to extinguish after six
seconds, a fault has occurred and you must
contact Tesla Motors. Warning: If the airbag indicator is
illuminated, the airbag system will be
deactivated. Contact Tesla Motors
immediately. In the event of an accident the
airbags may not inflate.
S
Non-critical fault. Illuminates yellow
when a non-critical fault is detected.
For example, when power is reduced due to
high temperature. Bring the vehicle to Tesla
Motors for servicing as soon as possible.
Critical fault. Illuminates red when a
critical fault is detected. This is usually
accompanied by the inability to drive the
vehicle and a shutdown of all electrical
systems. Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so, and contact Tesla Motors.
Traction control. Illuminates when the
traction control has been manually
deactivated and will il luminate briefly in
situations where traction control is in use.
Cruise control. Illuminates when the
cruise control system is operating.
Frost warning. Illuminates when the
temperature outside the vehicle falls
below 37º F (3º C). Extinguishes when the
temperature raises again to
exceed 41º F (5º C).
Gear position indicatorsWhen the starter switch is turned to the ON
position, the gear po sition indicators
sequentially (and briefly) illuminate red and then green. When the start-up sequence is
complete, the indicator corresponding to the
currently selected gear (
N) remains
illuminated green. For more information, see
Selecting gears, page 6-3 .FAULTFAULTTCCRUISEPRND
Roadster OHB.book Page 13 Thursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Tire repair10-4
Roadside emergencies
Tire repairTire sealantYour vehicle has no spare tire. Instead, a tire
sealant is provided. This aerosol is located in
the trunk.
You must repair or replace a damaged tire as
soon as possible. Use of the aerosol is
temporary and is designed only to allow you
to drive the vehicle to the nearest repair
facility. The aerosol repairs only small
punctures in the tread. If damage is more
severe (such as punctures larger than 5 mm,
ripped tires, or tires that have separated from
t h e r i m ) , c a l l R o a d s i d e A s s i s t a n c e t o h a ve t h e
vehicle transported to a tire repair facility.
The tire sealant contains liquid latex and a
propellant. When injected into the tire
through the valve, the liquid latex penetrates
the puncture site and cures to form a
temporary repair. At the same time the propellant inflates the tire, allowing you to
drive the vehicle at low speed (less than 30
mph) to reach a tire repair facility.
Caution: Do not drive on a deflated tire
as this can seriously damage the wheel
and the vehicle.
Safety precautions
WARNING: Never exceed 30 mph (45
km/h) when driving with a repaired
tire. SWARNING: Never drive with a deflated
tire, vehicle handling and braking will
be compromised.
S
WARNING: Always read the directions
and warnings on the tire sealant before
starting a repair. Follow the directions on the
aerosol exactly and pay attention to the
following precautions.
S
WARNING: Always keep the tire sealant
out of the reach of children.
S
WARNING: The tire sealant contains
components which are harmful if
consumed or inhaled:
• If swallowed, do not induce vomiting.
Seek medical assistance immediately.
• If inhaled, breathe fresh air. If breathing is
affected, seek medical assistance
immediately.
• If the sealant comes into contact with the
eyes, immediately flush the eyes with
water. If irritation persists, seek medical
assistance. •
Do not breathe gas, fumes, vapor or spray
that may be emitted from the tire sealant.
Inhalation can cause drowsiness and
dizziness.
S
WARNING: Store the tire sealant in its
correct location in the trunk.
Temperatures in other locations may exceed
safe storage conditions. Never carry the tire
aerosol in the vehicle’s cabin area.
S
Repairing a tireIf possible, stop in a safe place away from
traffic. Always ask a passenger to wait in a
safe area away from traffic. Switch on the
hazard warning lights to alert other road
users, then follow these steps:
1. Inspect the deflated tire for cause of puncture. If possible, remove foreign
material (such as screws or nails) from the
tread.
2. Remove the tire sealant from the trunk.
TR0168
TR0167
Roadster OHB.book Page 4 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Tire repair
10-5
Roadside emergencies
Note: In cold conditions, use the vehicle’s
heater to warm the aerosol.
3. Position the wheel (if possible) so that the puncture is at the bottom.
4. Remove the valve cap and clean the valve thread.
5. Vigorously shake the tire sealant for approximately 30 seconds.
6. Screw the filler tube onto the tire valve and break the safety seal.
7. Hold the tire sealant upright and turn the knob one-quarter turn clockwise. If you
need to stop the process, simply turn the
knob back to the ‘OFF’ position.
8. Empty the entire contents of the tire sealant into the tire. When the sealant
stops flowing through the filler tube, turn
the knob to the ‘OFF’ position and
unscrew the filler tube from the tire valve.
Note: If tire sealant comes into contact
with the vehicle’s paint, immediately
wash the area with water to avoid
permanent damage.
9. If the wheel rim has lifted from the ground, drive immediately for 6 to 12
miles (10 to 20 km) to distribute the
sealant evenly inside the tire. Then drive
gently and do not exceed 30 mph
(45 km/h).
WARNING: If the wheel rim has not
lifted from the ground, call
Roadside Assistance to have the vehicle
transported to a repair facility.
S
10. Drive to the nearest service station and inflate the tire to the correct pressure (see
Specifications and tire pressures,
page 11-4 .) If the required pressure
cannot be reached, then the tire is too
severely damaged and you should have
the vehicle transported to a tire repair
facility. Do not drive!
Note: When adjusting tire pressures, you
can display tire pressure values on the
Touch Screen’s tire pressure screen.
However, the values displayed by the
Touch Screen will not be updated until
you place the car in drive long enough for
the tire pressure monitoring sensors to
take new readings. For details, refer to the
Touch Screen Users Manual provided in
your owners package.
11. If the correct tire pressure was achieved, continue driving. Drive carefully and do
not exceed 30 mph (45 km/h). At the
earliest opportunity, have the tire
repaired or replaced and replace the used
tire sealant.
WARNING: Always inform the tire
repairer that tire sealant has been
used. If the tire is to be subsequently
deflated, only do so in a well ventilated
area. The aerosol sealant can damage the
wheel sensor that measures tire pressure.
Therefore, the wheel sensor must be
replaced.
S
Replacing the tire sealantAlways replace the used tire sealant with one
of the same type and capacity (400 ml). Tire
sealants are available through most reputable
automotive retailers.
Roadster OHB.book Page 5 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Wheels and tires11-4
Technical specifications
Wheels and tiresSpecifications and tire
pressuresWheel type
Location
Size
Forged light alloy - directional Front 6J x 16 Rear7.5J x 17
Tire type
Location
Size
Yokohama Neova AD07 LTS - directional Front 175/55 R16 Rear225/45 R17
Road wheel bolt torque 77 lbf.ft 105 Nm
Note: For details on where to position a jack to lift the vehicle, see Vehicle jacking points, page 10-11.Tire
Tire Pressure
Recommended
Comfort setting
Front 30 PSI (207 kPa)25 PSI (172 kPa)
Rear 40 PSI (276 kPa)36 PSI (248 KPa)
Note: The recommended tire pressures have been calculated to provide the best combination of vehicle range, tire life, ride comfort a nd road
handling.
Driving the vehicle with the tires inflated to the comfort setti ng will improve ride comfort and road handling, but will decrea se vehicle range (the
number of miles you can travel on a charge) and Battery life (see the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, provided in your owners pac kage, for details
on expected range of the Battery).
Roadster OHB.book Page 4 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Wheels and tires
11-5
Technical specifications
TR0057
225/45 R17/91 MADE IN JAPAN AD07 19444-2 STEEL BELTED RADIAL TUBELESS G4 0224943-S DOT FDH8 NWA1706
SAFETY WARNING DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING. ONLY SPECIALLY TRAINED PERSONS SHOU LD MOUNT TIRES
SERIOUS INJURY MAY RESULT FROM TIRE FAILURE DUE TO UNDERINFLATION/OVERLOADING - FOLLOW OWNER’S MAUAL OR TIRE FLAGARD
DANGER: DO NOT MOUNT ON 17 RIM. NEVER INFLATE BEYOND 275kPa (40psi) TO SEAT BEAD
TREADWARE 180 TRACTION AA TEMPERATURE A
ADVAN AD07 LTS
225/45R17 91W YOKOHAMA
1
12 2
3
4 5
6 7
8
9
10
11
Tire markings1, Tire widthThis three digit number gives the width in
millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to
sidewall edge.2, Aspect ratioThis two digit number, known as the aspect
ratio or profile, gives the sidewall height as a
percentage of the tread width. So, if the tread
width is 205 mm, and the aspect ratio is 50,
the sidewall height will be 102 mm.3, Tire constructionR indicates that the tire is of Radial ply
construction.4, Wheel diameterThis two digit number is the diameter of the
wheel rim in inches.5, Load indexThis two or three digit number is the tire's load
index. It is a measurement of how much
weight each tire can support. This number is
not always shown.6, Speed ratingThe speed rating, when stated, denotes the
maximum speed at which the tire should be
used for extended periods. The ratings range
from 99 mph to 186 mph. These ratings are
listed in the following table.
Roadster OHB.book Page 5 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Wheels and tires11-6Technical specifications7, U.S DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN)This begins with the letters DOT and
indicates that the tire meets all federal
standards. The next two numbers or letters
are the plant code where it was
manufactured, and the last four numbers
represent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, the numbers 1706 means
the 17th week of 2006. The other numbers
are marketing codes used at the
manufacturer's discretion. This information
can be used to contact consumers if a tire
defect requires a recall.8, Maximum permissible inflation
pressureThe maximum inflation pressure for the tire.
This pressure should not be used for normal
driving.
9, Treadwear gradeThis number indicates the tire's wear rate.
The higher the treadwear number is, the
longer it should take for the tread to wear
down. A tire rated at 400 for example, will
last twice as long as a tire rated at 200.10, Traction gradeThis letter indicates a tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement. A higher graded tire should
allow you to stop your vehicle on wet roads in
a shorter distance than a tire with a lower
grade.
Traction is graded from highest to lowest as
AA, A, B, and C.11, Temperature gradeHeat resistance grading. The tires resistance
to heat is grade A, B, or C, with A indicating
the greatest resistance to heat. This grading
is provided for a correctly inflated tire, which
is being used within its speed and loading
limits.12, Tire composition and materialsThe number of plies in both the tread area,
and the sidewall area, indicates how many
l aye rs o f ru bb e r co ate d m ate ri al m ake u p t h e
structure of the tire. Information is also
provided on the type of materials used.
Rating
Speed (mph)
Q99 R106S 112
T 118
U124
H130 V149
W168 Y186
Roadster OHB.book Page 6 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Wheels and tires
11-7
Technical specifications
Tire placard/labelThe tire information label on the pillar behind
the driver’s door contains the following
information:
• The maximum number of occupants for
the vehicle.
• The vehicle capacity weight, which
includes the weight of the driver,
passengers and cargo.
• The size of the tires with which the
vehicle was originally equipped.
• Cold inflation pressures for the front and
rear tires.
Note: The label must not be changed, even if
different wheels are fitted at a later stage.Steps for determining correct load
limit
WARNING: Do not exceed the vehicle
capacity weight (the total weight of
driver, passenger and cargo) given.
S
WARNING: Overloading the vehicle will
have an adverse affect on braking and
handling characteristics, which could
compromise your safety.
S
1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should
neve r exce e d 2 50 kg or 5 51 l bs ” as s h ow n
on your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from 250 kg or 551
lbs (weight given on placard).
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if there will be two
150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 251 lbs: (551 - 300 (2 x
150) = 251 lbs).
TR0091
TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATIONSEATING CAPACITY TOTAL 2 FRONT2 REAR 0
SEE OWNERSMANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 250 kg or 551lbs
ORIGINAL TIRE SIZE
COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
175/55R16
225/45R17 FRONT
REAR
207kPa, 30PSI
275kPa, 40PSI
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. Your vehicle should never be used to tow a trailer.
The number and weight of passengers will
affect the cargo and luggage load capacity. In
the example above, the cargo and luggage
load capacity is 251 lbs. However, if only one
occupant is in the vehicle, the luggage load
capacity will increase. If the vehicle carries
one 150 lb person, the luggage load capacity
will increase to 401 lbs (551 - 150 = 401 lbs).
Note: If the passengers weigh more, the
luggage load capacity will decrease.Uniform tire quality gradingThe following information relates to the tire
grading system developed by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) which will grade tires by tread wear,
traction and temperature performance.
Note: Tires that have deep tread, and winter
tires, are exempt from these marking
requirements.
Quality grades, where applicable, can be
found on the tire sidewall between the tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:TREADWEAR 180
TRACTION AA
TEMPERATURE A
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