Improving Tire Mileage
To improve the mileage you get from your
tires, maintain tires at the recommended tire pressures, 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 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.
If you replace a wheel, the TPMS (Tire
Pressure Monitoring System) sensors need to
be reset to ensure they provide accurate
warnings when tires are under- or over-
inflated (see Resetting the TPMS Sensors on
page 25).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 thetire 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.
Safety Information
24Model S Quick Guide
Using Tire ChainsTesla has tested and approved Security Chain
Company (SCC) Model Z-563 chains for use
on the rear wheels. These chains must only be
used if your Model S has 245/45R19 rear tires
installed. Do not use chains on 21 inch tires.
When installing tire chains, follow the
instructions provided by the tire chain
manufacturer. Mount them as tightly as
possible.
When using tire chains:
• Drive slowly. Do not exceed 48 km/h.
• Avoid heavily loading Model S (heavy loads can reduce the clearance betweenthe tires and the body).
• Remove the tire chains as soon as conditions allow.
Note: Tire chains are prohibited in some
jurisdictions. Check local laws before installing
tire chains.Caution: Using non-recommended tire
chains, or using tire chains on other sized tires, can damage the suspension, body,wheels, and/or brake lines. Damagecaused by using non-recommended tire
chains is not covered by the warranty.Caution: Ensure that tire chains cannot
touch suspension components or brake
lines. If you hear the chains making
unusual noises that would indicate
contact with Model S, stop and
investigate immediately.
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Each tire should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the recommended
pressures that are printed on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on the
driver’s door pillar (see Maintaining Tire Pressures on page 22). If your vehicle has tires
of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, 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 displays a tire pressuretelltale (Tire Pressure Warning) on the
instrument panel when one or more of your
tires is significantly under- or over-inflated.
Accordingly, when the Tire Pressure indicator
light displays on the instrument panel alerting
of tire pressure, stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure (see Maintaining TirePressures on page 22). Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-
inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability.If Model S detects a fault with the
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), this indicator flashes for one
minute whenever you power on
Model S.
Note: Installing accessories that are not
approved by Tesla can interfere with the TPMS system.
Warning: The TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, including
manually checking tire pressures and
regularly inspecting the condition of tires.
It is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under- or
over-inflation has not reached the level
for the TPMS to trigger the Tire Pressure Warning on the instrument panel.
Resetting the TPMS Sensors
After replacing one or more wheels, the TPMS sensors must be reset to ensure tire pressurewarnings are accurate. However, note that theTPMS sensors do not need to be reset after
replacing a tire or rotating wheels.
Note: When changing to 21" wheels
(Performance Plus models), the TPMS may
generate false tire pressure warnings. Bring
Model S to a Tesla Service center for further
adjustment.
Note: Do not reset the TPMS sensors in an
attempt to clear tire pressure warnings.
Safety Information
Safety Information25
To reset TPMS sensors:
1. Inflate all tires to their recommend
pressures, as indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on the
driver’s door pillar.
2. Get ready to drive for ten minutes, then,
on the Model S touchscreen, touch
Controls > Settings > Vehicle > Tire
Pressure Monitor > Reset Sensors .
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.
Replacing a Tire Sensor
If the Tire Pressure warning indicator displays
frequently, contact Tesla to determine if a tire
sensor needs to be replaced. Tire sensors
must be replaced by a Tesla service technician
who can perform a brief setup procedure. If a
non-Tesla service center repairs or replaces a
tire, the tire sensor will not work until Tesla
performs the setup procedure.
TPMS Malfunction
Model S has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the tire pressure
indicator light. When the system
detects a malfunction, the indicator
flashes for approximately one
minute after Model S powers on, and
then remains continuously lit. This
sequence continues upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the
TPMS malfunction indicator is on,
the system might not be able to
detect or signal under- and over-
inflated tires as intended.
TPMS malfunctions can occur for a variety of
reasons, including installing replacement oralternate tires or wheels on the vehicle thatprevent the TPMS from functioning properly.Always check the TPMS malfunction indicator
light 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.
Note: If a tire has been replaced or repaired
using a different tire sealant than the one
available from Tesla, and a low tire pressure is
detected, it is possible that the tire sensor has
been damaged. Contact Tesla to have the
fault repaired as soon as possible.
Safety Information
26Model S Quick Guide