2012 TESLA MODEL S ESP

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR MODEL S IS AVAILABLE AT:
www.teslamotors.com/mytesla
To contact Tesla call 1-877-79TESLA (1-877-798-3752)
For Roadside Assistance call 1-866-99TESLA (1-866-998-3752)© 2012 TESLA MOTORS INC. All rights reserved.
All information in this manual and all MODEL S™ software is subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights of Tesla Motors, Inc. and its licensors. This material may not be
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Motors, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks contained in this manual are the property of their respective owners and their use herein does not imply
sponsorship or endorsement of their products or services. The unauthorized use of any trademark displayed in this manual or on the vehicle is strictly prohibited.

3OWNER SAFETY INFORMATION
LOCATION OF AIRBAGSAirbags are located in the approximate areas shown on the following
illustration. Airbag warning information is printed on the sun visors.Inflation of airbags depends on the rate at which your vehicle cabin
changes speed in a collision. The rate of deceleration determines whether
airbags inflate.
Airbags inflate instantly with considerable force accompanied by a loud
noise. The inflated bag, together with the seat belts, limits movement of
occupants, reducing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Front airbags are not ordinarily designed to inflate in the event of rear
collisions, rollovers, minor front or side collisions, heavy braking, or driving
over bumps and potholes. Therefore, significant superficial damage can
occur to the vehicle without the front airbags inflating or, conversely, a
relatively small amount of structural damage can cause airbags to inflate.
TYPES OF AIRBAGSAdvanced front
airbagsThe front airbags on the Model S are advanced
airbags designed to reduce airbag related injuries
to children or small adults who ride in front. On
the driver’s side, the front airbag works with a
seat position sensor that adjusts the inflation
level based on the size of the occupant. On
the passenger’s side, the airbag responds to
a sensing system in the seat that determines
whether or not the passenger side front airbag
inflates, and adjusts the inflation level based on
the size of the occupant (see page 4).
Knee airbags Knee airbags and the front airbags work together.
The knee airbags limit the forward motion of the
front seat occupants by restricting leg movement,
thereby positioning the occupants so that the front
airbags work more effectively.
Side airbags Side airbags protect the thorax region of the torso
and pelvis and will inflate only if a severe side
impact occurs. The airbags on the non-impacted
side will not inflate.
Curtain airbags Curtain airbags help to protect the head and
ordinarily inflate only if a severe side impact
occurs or if the vehicle rolls over. The airbags on
the non-impacted side will not inflate.
AIRBAGS

8OWNER SAFETY INFORMATIONCHILD SAFETY SEATS
ABOUT CHILD SAFETY SEATSYour Model S seat belts in the front and second row seats are designed
for adults and larger children. You must restrain infants and small children
in the second row seats only and you must use a suitable child safety
seat appropriate for the child’s age, weight, and size. Carefully follow the
instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child safety seat. Never
use child safety seats in the front row passenger seat.
If your Model S is equipped with rear facing child seats, these seats are
child safety seats and are designed only for children within a specific
height and weight range (see page 12).
CHOOSE A SUITABLE CHILD SAFETY SEATAll children age 12 and under should ride in the rear seats. Always use a
child safety seat suitable for a young child’s age and weight:
Infants Toddlers Young Children
AgeBirth to 1 year Over 1 year 4 and older
(unless over 57” tall)
WeightUp to at least 20
lbs.Over 20 lbs (minimum)
Over 40 lbs
(recommended) Over 40 lbs
Type of
seatRear facing (or
convertible) infant
seatForward facing (or
convertible)Belt retained
booster seat
Seat
positionRear facing only* Forward facing Forward facing
* Many child safety seats currently available allow children to ride rear facing using the child
safety seat’s integrated 5 point harness for a longer period of time. Using these systems for as
long as possible is strongly recommended.
WARNINGS:
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.
To ensure children are safely seated, follow all instructions provided in
this document and provided by the manufacturer of the child safety seat.
Failure to do so increases the risk of death or serious injury.
Do not allow an infant to be held on a lap. To reduce the risk of injury, a
child must be restrained in an appropriate child safety seat.
CAUTION: Laws that governs how and where children should be carried
when travelling in a vehicle are subject to change. It is the driver’s
responsibility to comply with all current regulations.

17OWNER SAFETY INFORMATION
MAINTAIN PROPER TIRE PRESSURESCheck tire pressures monthly when tires are cold and Model S has been parked
for over three hours. Inflate tires to the Tesla recommended inflation pressures,
printed on the Tire and Loading Information Label (see page 16). These
recommended pressures provide optimum ride and handling characteristics.
WARNINGS:Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failures and can cause a tire
to overheat, resulting in severe tire cracking, tread separation, or “blowout”,
which causes unexpected loss of vehicle control and increased risk of injury.
Under-inflation also reduces Battery range and tire tread life.
Check tire pressures using an accurate pressure gauge when tires are
cold. It takes only one mile of driving to warm up the tires sufficiently to
affect tire pressures. Parking the vehicle in direct sunlight or in high ambient
temperatures can also affect tire pressures. If you must check warm tires,
expect increased pressures. Don’t let air out of warm tires in an attempt
to match recommended cold tire pressures. A hot tire at or below the
recommended cold tire inflation pressure is dangerously under-inflated.
To check and adjust tire pressures1. Remove the valve cap, then firmly press the tire gauge onto the valve.
2. If required, add air to reach the recommended pressure.
3. Re-check pressure by removing and re-attaching the tire gauge.
4. If you added too much air, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the
center of the valve. Re-check and adjust if necessary.
5. Screw the valve cap back on to prevent dirt from entering (periodically
inspect the valve cap for damage such as cracking).TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)Each tire should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-iinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressures, even if under-
inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator light
to indicate when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator light is combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the sytem detects a malfunction, the telltale flashes for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator light is illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one
or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.
The tire pressure warning on the instrument panel alerts you
if one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Stop
and check tire pressures as soon as possible, and inflate to
the recommended pressures
.
NOTE: The warning light does not turn off immediately after you adjust tire
pressures. It turns off when you drive Model S above 25 mph (40 km/h) for
more than 10 minutes with tires at the recommended pressures.
TIRE PRESSURES

21OWNER SAFETY INFORMATION
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. Tires
that have deep tread, and winter tires, are exempt from these marking
requirements.Quality gradesWhere applicable, quality grades can be found on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example:TREADWEAR 180 TRACTION AA TEMPERATURE AIn addition to the marking requirements, passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements.TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government
test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half times better on
a government test course than a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends on the actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and differences in road characteristics and climate.TractionThe traction grades, from highest to lowest, are; AA, A, B, and C. These
grades represent a tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance.
WARNINGS:
Defective tires are dangerous. Do not drive if a tire is damaged, excessively
worn, or is inflated to an incorrect pressure. The safety of the vehicle and
occupants will be adversely affected. Check tires regularly for wear and to
ensure there are no cuts, bulges or exposure of the ply/cord structure.
The traction grade assigned to the tire is based on straight-ahead braking
tests, and doesn’t include: acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak
traction characteristics.
TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure.
The grade C corresponds to the minimum level of performance that all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel that exceed the minimum requirements.
Tire performance decreases at low ambient temperatures, resulting in
reduced grip and increased susceptibility to damage from impacts. In
temperatures below 15° F (-10° C), winter tires are recommended. Contact
Tesla for recommended winter tire specifications.
WARNING: A tire’s temperature grade is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-inflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
TIRE QUALITY GRADING

23OWNER SAFETY INFORMATION
VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT
WARNINGS:
Overloading the vehicle will have an adverse effect on braking and
handling, which could compromise your safety or damage Model S.
Therefore you must understand how much weight your Model S can
safely carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and includes
the weight of all occupants, cargo and any additional equipment fitted to
Model S since it was manufactured.
Always ensure tires are inflated to their recommended levels. Doing so is
especially important when carrying heavy loads.
To calculate load limit1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s TIRE AND
LOADING INFORMATION label (illustrated on page 16).
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
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs,
and there will be five 150 lb (68 kg) passengers in the vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and luggage capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
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.
Example load limit calculationHow much cargo you can carry in Model S depends on the number and
weight of passengers. The following are typical examples of calculated
load limits. These examples assume passengers weighing 150 lbs (68 kg).
If the passengers weigh more or less, the available cargo and luggage
load capacity will decrease or increase respectively.
Example 1: Driver and one passengerDescription Total
Vehicle Capacity Weight 954 lbs
Subtract Occupant Weight (2 x 150 lbs) 300 lbs
Available Cargo Weight 654 lbsExample 2: Driver and four passengersDescription Total
Vehicle Capacity Weight 954 lbs
Subtract Occupant Weight (5 x 150 lbs) 750 lbs
Available Cargo Weight 204 lbsThe available cargo or luggage weight should then be distributed between
the front trunk and the trunk.
CAUTION: Never load more than 300 lbs (136 kg) into the front trunk.
VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT