Tire Care and MaintenanceTire Care and Maintenance
7.4MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
Inspecting and Maintaining Tires
Regularly inspect the tread and side walls for
any sign of distortion (bulges), cuts or wear.
WARNING: Do not drive Model S if a tire
is damaged, excessively worn, or inflated
to an incorrect pressure. Check tires regularly
for wear, and ensure there are no cuts, bulges or
exposure of the ply/cord structure.
Tire Wear
Model S is originally fitted with tires that have
wear indicators molded into the tread pattern.
When the tread has been worn down to 1.6 mm,
the indicators start to appear at the surface of
the tread pattern, producing the effect of a
continuous band of rubber across the width of
the tire.
Replace a tire as soon as an indicator band
becomes visible or the tread depth reaches the
minimum permitted by law.
Tire Rotation, Balance, and Wheel
Alignment
Tesla recommends rotating the tires every
8000 kms. After rotating, always check and
adjust tire pressures.
NOTE: Do not rotate tires on the Performance
Plus models.
Unbalanced wheels (sometimes noticeable as
vibration through the steering wheel) affect
vehicle handling and tire life. Even with regular
use, wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
If tire wear is uneven (on one side of the tire
only) or becomes abnormally excessive, check
the alignment of wheels.
Punctured Tires
A puncture eventually causes the tire to lose
pressure, which is why it is important to check
tire pressures frequently. Permanently repair or
replace punctured or damaged tires as soon as
possible. Do not drive with a punctured tire,
even if the puncture has not caused the tire to
deflate. A punctured tire can deflate suddenly
at any time.
Your tubeless tires may not leak when
penetrated, provided the object remains in the
tire. If, however, you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or you suspect a
tire is damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive slowly, while avoiding heavy
braking or sharp steering and, when safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Arrange to have Model S
transported to Tesla or to a nearby tire repair
center.
In some cases, you can temporarily repair small
tire punctures (under 6 mm) using an optional
tire repair kit available from Tesla. This allows
you to slowly drive Model S to Tesla or to a
nearby tire repair facility (see page 7.8).
WARNING: Do not drive Model S with a
punctured tire. Even if the punctured tire
has not deflated, it can suddenly deflate at any
time.
Flat Spots
If Model S is stationary for a long period in high
temperatures, tires can form flat spots. When
Model S is driven, these flat spots cause a
vibration which gradually disappears as the
tires get warm and regain their original shape.
To minimize the flat spots during storage,
inflate tires to the maximum pressure indicated
on the tire wall, then, before driving, release air
to adjust tire pressure to the recommended
levels.
Driving in Low Ambient Temperatures
Tire performance reduces in low ambient
temperatures, resulting in reduced grip and an
increased susceptibility to damage from
impacts. Performance tires can temporarily
harden when cold, causing you to hear
rotational noise for the first few miles until the
tires warm up. Contact Tesla for winter tire
recommendations.
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Tire Care and Maintenance
MAINTENANCE7.5
Improving Tire Mileage
To improve the mileage you get from your tires,
maintain tires at the recommended tire
pressures (see page 7.3), observe speed limits
and advisory speeds, and avoid:
•Pulling away quickly, or hard acceleration.
•Fast turns and heavy braking.
•Potholes and objects in the road.
•Hitting curbs when parking.
•Contaminating tires with fluids that can
cause damage.
Replacing Tires and Wheels
Tires degrade over time due to the effects of
ultraviolet light, extreme temperatures, high
loads, and environmental conditions. It is
recommended that tires are replaced every six
years, or sooner if required.
Wheel rims and tires are matched to suit the
handling characteristics of the vehicle.
Replacement tires must comply with the
original specification. If tires other than those
specified are used, ensure that the load and
speed ratings marked on the tire (see
page 8.10) equal or exceed those of the original
specification.
Ideally, you should replace all four tires at the
same time. If this is not possible, replace the
tires in pairs (both front or both rear). When
replacing tires, always re-balance and check
the alignment of wheels.
For the specification of the original wheels and
tires installed on Model S, see page 8.8.
WARNING: For your safety, use only tires
and wheels that match the original
specification. Tires that do not match the
original specification can affect the operation
of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Asymmetric Tires
Model S tires are asymmetric and must be
mounted on the wheel with the correct sidewall
facing outward. The sidewall of the tire is
marked with the word OUTSIDE. When new
tires are installed, make sure that the tires are
correctly mounted on the wheels.
WARNING: Road holding is seriously
impaired if the tires are incorrectly
installed on the wheels.
Winter Tires
In snowy and icy conditions, consider installing
winter tires. Winter tires must be the same size,
brand, construction and tread pattern on all
four wheels. For recommendations on winter
tires, contact Tesla.
WARNING: On dry roads, winter tires
could have less traction than the
originally installed tires.
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8.1
SPECIFICATIONS
Identification Labels
Vehicle Identification Number..................... 8.2
Vehicle Loading
Load Capacity Labeling ................................. 8.3
Calculating Load Limits ................................ 8.4
Towing a Trailer ............................................... 8.4
Dimensions and Weights
Exterior Dimensions ........................................ 8.5
Weights ................................................................ 8.5
Subsystems
Motor .................................................................... 8.6
Transmission...................................................... 8.6
Steering ............................................................... 8.6
Brakes .................................................................. 8.6
Suspension .......................................................... 8.7
Battery - 12V ....................................................... 8.7
Battery - High Voltage ................................... 8.7
Wheels and Tires
Wheel Specifications ..................................... 8.8
Wheel Alignment Values .............................. 8.8
Tire Specifications........................................... 8.8
Understanding Tire Markings..................... 8.10
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Wheels and TiresWheels and Tires
8.8MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
Wheels and TiresWheel Specifications
Wheel Alignment Values
Wheel TypeLocationSizeOffset
19”Front 8.0J x 19 40 mm
Rear 8.0J x 19 40 mm
21” - Silver (standard) Front 8.5J x 21 40 mm
21” - Grey (standard) Rear 8.5J x 21 40 mm
21” - Silver and Grey (optional)
Performance Plus vehiclesRear 9.0J x 21 40 mm
Road Wheel Nut Torque 129 lb.ft
Requirements for dynamic wheel balance 14 grams
NOTE: For instructions on how to jack/lift Model S, see page 7.23.
Location
Air SuspensionCoil Suspension
FrontRearFrontRear
Camber -0.75
o +/- 0.35o-1.75o +/- 0.35o-.53o +/- 0.35o-1.55o +/- 0.35o
Camber Split -0.00o +/- 0.20o-0.00o +/- 0.50o-0.00o +/- 0.20o-0.00o +/- 0.50o
Caster 4.00o +/- 0.50on/a 3.70o +/- 0.50on/a
Caster Split 0.00
o +/- 0.20on/a 0.00o +/- 0.20on/a
Single Wheel
To e
OUT 0.05OUT0.15oIN0.05oIN 0.20o +/- 0.05oIN 0.02oOUT0.08oIN0.12oIN 0.185o +/- 0.05o
Thrust Angle n/a 0.00o +/- 0.30on/a 0.00o +/- 0.30o
Suspension
Bolt Height
(at design)213.5 +/- 5 mmStandard models:144 +/- 5 mmPerformance Plus:151 +/- 5 mm230 mm (nominal) 158 mm
(nominal)
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vii
INDEX
wheel chocks ..........................................................9-4
wheels
alignment of
...................................................... 7-4
replacing ............................................................. 7-5
specifications .................................................... 8-8
windows
opening and closing
....................................... 2-7
opening from outside .................................... 2-7
rear, child protection ..................................... 2-7
rear, locking ....................................................... 2-7
using key to open ............................................ 2-7
using the switch ............................................... 2-7
windshield washer fluid, topping up ............7-18
windshield washer jets ......................................7-15
windshield washers ........................................... 4-15
windshield wiper blades, replacing ..............7-15
windshield wipers, using .................................. 4-15
winter tires .............................................................. 7-5
wiper blades, replacing .....................................7-15
wipers ..................................................................... 4-15
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