2015 TESLA MODEL S Traction

Winter Tires
Your Model S is not originally equipped with
winter tires. In snowy and icy conditions, consider installing winter tires. Winter tires are
designed to increase traction in snowy or icy
conditions. When installing winter tires, always install a complete set of four tires at the sametime. Winter tires must be the same size,brand, construction and tread pattern on allfour wheels. Contact Tesla for winter tire
recommendations.Winter tires can be identified by a
mountain/snowflake symbol on the
tire's sidewall.
When driving with winter tires, you may
experience more road noise, shorter tread life, and less traction on dry roads.
Driving in Low Temperatures Tire performance is reduced 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 (kms)
until the tires warm up.
Using Tire Chains Tesla 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 30 mph (48 km/h).
• Avoid heavily loading Model S (heavy loads can reduce the clearance between
the 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 109). 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 pressure
telltale (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 Tire
Pressures on page 109). 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
Tire Care and Maintenance
112Model S Owner's Manual

1Tire category. P indicates that the tire is for passenger vehicles.2Tire width. This 3-digit number is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall
edge to sidewall edge.3Aspect ratio. This 2-digit number is 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 is
102 mm.4Tire construction. R indicates that the tire is of Radial ply construction.5Wheel diameter. This 2-digit number is the diameter of the wheel rim in inches.6Load index. This 2 or 3-digit number is the weight each tire can support. This number is not always shown.7Speed rating. When stated, indicates the maximum speed (in mph) at which the tire
can be used for extended periods. Q=99 mph (160 km/h), R=106 mph (170 km/h),
S=112 mph (180 km/h), T=118 mph (190 km/h), U=124 mph (200 km/h), H=130 mph
(210 km/h), V=149 mph (240 km/h), W=168 mph (270 km/h), Y=186 mph (300 km/h).8Tire composition and materials. The number of plies in both the tread area and the sidewall area indicates how many layers of rubber coated material make up the
structure of the tire. Information is also provided on the type of materials used.9Maximum tire load. The maximum load which can be carried by the tire.10Maximum permissible inflation pressure. This pressure should not be used for normal driving.11U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN). Begins with the letters DOT and indicates
that the tire meets all federal standards. The next 2 digits/letters represent the plant
code where it was manufactured, and the last 4 digits represent the week and year of
manufacture. For example, the number 1712 is used to represent the 17th week of 2012.
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.12Treadwear grade. This 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, lasts twice as long as a tire rated at 200.13Traction grade. Indicates a tire’s ability to stop on wet roads. A higher graded tire should allow you to stop your vehicle in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower
grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as AA, A, B, and C.14Temperature grade. The tire’s resistance to heat is grade A, B, or C, with A indicating
the greatest resistance. This grading is provided for a correctly inflated tire, which is
being used within its speed and loading limits.
Wheels and Tires
146Model S Owner's Manual

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the tire
grading system developed by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by tread wear,
traction and temperature performance. Tires
that have deep tread, and winter tires, are
exempt from these marking requirements.
Where applicable, quality grades are found on
the tire’s sidewall between the tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example:
• TREADWEAR 180
• TRACTION AA
• TEMPERATURE A
The quality grades are described next. Note: In addition to the marking requirements,
passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements.
Treadwear
The 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 wears 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 can depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices, road characteristics, and climate.
Traction
The 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 might have poor traction performance.Warning: 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 can be adversely
affected. Check tires regularly for wear
and to ensure there are no cuts, bulges or
exposure of the ply/cord structure.Warning: 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.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance tothe generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature cancause the tire to degenerate and reduce tirelife, 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.
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.
Wheels and Tires
Specifications147

tire repair kitinflating with air only 116
inflating with sealant 115
replacing the sealant canister 117tiresall-season 111
balancing 110
chains 112
industry glossary of terms 148
inspecting and maintaining 110
pressures, how to check 109
quality grading 147
replacing 111
replacing a tire sensor 113
rotation 110
specification 144
summer 111
temperature grades 147
tire markings 145
tire sealant 114
traction grade 147
treadwear grade 147
winter 112
touch up body 120
touchscreenclean mode 119
cleaning 119
Controls 74
overview 72
Settings 77
software updates 99
tow chain, connecting 151
Tow mode 150
towing 150
towing a trailer 137
towing instructions 150
TPMSFCC certification 158
overview of 112
traction control 54
trademarks 153, 154
traffic alerts 86
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control 60
trailer hitches 137
transmission specifications 140
Transport Canada, contacting 156
transporting 150
trip chart 70
trip information 69
trunk, front 12
trunk, rearchild protection lock 7
disabling interior handle 7
TuneIn 85
turn signals 50
U
uniform tire quality grading 147
Units & Format 77unlockingtrunk, front 12
trunk, rear 10
unlocking and locking doors 4
unlocking when key doesn't work 7
USB devicesconnecting 87
playing audio files from 86
USB ports 87
V
vehicle certification label 136
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 134
vehicle loading 135
vent, sunroof 15
ventilation 82
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) 134
volume control 72
W
walk-away locking 7
Wall Connector 102
warning flashers 50
warning lights, summary of 44
washer fluid, topping up 125
washer jets, cleaning 121
washers, using 51
weight specifications 139
wheel chocks 152
wheelsalignment 110
replacing 111
specifications 143
Wi-Fi, connecting to 98
windshield washer fluid, topping up 125
winter tires 112
wiper blades, replacing 121
wipers and washers 51
wipers, de-icing 51
X
XM radio 85
Index
164Model S Owner's Manual