Braking SystemsWARNING: Properly functioning braking systems
are critical to ensure safety. If you experience a
problem with the brake pedal, brake calipers, or
any component of a Model 3 braking system,
contact Tesla immediately.
Model 3 has an anti-lock braking system (ABS) that
prevents the wheels from locking when you apply
maximum brake pressure. This improves steering control
during heavy braking in most road conditions.
During emergency braking conditions, the ABS
constantly monitors the speed of each wheel and varies
the brake pressure according to the grip available.
The alteration of brake pressure can be felt as a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal. This demonstrates that the ABS is operating and is not a cause for concern. Keep
firm and steady pressure on the brake pedal while
experiencing the pulsing.
The ABS indicator briefly flashes yellow on
the
touchscreen when you first start Model
3. If this indicator lights up at any other
time, an ABS fault has occurred and the ABS is not operating. Contact Tesla. The
braking system remains fully operational
and is not
affected by an ABS failure.
However, braking distances may increase. Drive cautiously and avoid heavy braking.
If the touchscreen displays this red brake
indicator at any time other than
briefly
when you first start Model 3, a brake
system fault is detected, or the level of the
brake
fluid is low. Contact Tesla
immediately. Apply steady pressure and
keep the brakes
firm to bring the vehicle to
a stop when safe to do so.
The touchscreen displays this yellow brake
indicator if a brake booster fault is detected. Apply steady pressure and keep
the brakes
firm to stop the vehicle when
safety permits. Hydraulic Boost
Compensation will be active (see
Hydraulic
Boost Compensation on page 59).
Emergency Braking
In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal and
maintain
firm pressure, even on low traction surfaces.
The ABS varies the braking pressure to each wheel according to the amount of traction available. This prevents wheels from locking and ensures that you stop as safely as possible.
WARNING: Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
interrupts operation of the ABS and can increase
braking distance.
WARNING: Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you and be aware of
hazardous driving conditions. While the ABS can
improve stopping distance, it cannot overcome the
laws of physics. It also does not prevent the
danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of water
prevents direct contact between the tires and the
road).
NOTE: Automatic Emergency Braking (see Automatic
Emergency Braking on page 113) may intervene to
automatically brake in situations where a collision is considered imminent. Automatic Emergency Braking is
not designed to prevent a collision. At best, it can
minimize the impact of a frontal collision by attempting to reduce your driving speed. Depending on Automatic
Emergency Braking to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death. .
CAUTION: In emergency situations, if the brakes
are not functioning properly, press and hold the
Park button on the drive stalk to bring the vehicle
to a stop. Do not use this method to stop the
vehicle unless absolutely necessary.
Brake Disc Wiping
To ensure brakes remain responsive in cold and wet
weather,
Model 3 is equipped with brake disc wiping.
When cold and wet weather is detected, this feature repeatedly applies an imperceptible amount of brake force to remove water from the surface of the brake discs.
Hydraulic Fade Compensation
Model 3 is also equipped with hydraulic fade
compensation. This feature assists in monitoring brake system pressure and ABS activity for instances of reduced brake performance. If reduced brake
performance is detected (for example, as a result of
brake fade, or cold or wet conditions), you may hear a sound, feel the brake pedal pull away from your foot, and notice a strong increase in braking. Brake as you
normally would and continue to press the brake pedal
without releasing or "pumping".
CAUTION: If brakes are not functioning properly,
stop the vehicle when safety permits and contact
Tesla Service. See Park on page 50 for information
on using the Park button to stop the vehicle in
case of emergency.
WARNING: Always maintain a safe driving distance
from the vehicle in front of you and exercise
caution when driving conditions are hazardous.
Brake disc wiping and hydraulic fade
compensation is not a substitute for adequately
applying the brakes.
Braking and Stopping
58MODEL 3 Owner
Maintaining Tire Pressures
Keep tires inflated to the pressures shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label, even if it
differs from the
pressure printed on the tire itself. The Tire and Loading
Information label is located on the center door pillar and
is visible when the front door is open.
NOTE: If your Model 3 is fitted with Tesla accessory
wheels or tires, some information may be
different from
the labels on the vehicle.
See Accessory Wheels and
Tires on page 174.
The Tire Pressure indicator light on the
touchscreen alerts you if one or more tires
is under-
or over-inflated.
The Tire Pressure indicator light does not immediately
turn off when you adjust tire pressure. After inflating the
tire to the recommended pressure, you must drive over
15 mph (25 km/h) for more than 10 minutes to activate
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which turns
off the Tire Pressure indicator light.
If the indicator light flashes for one minute whenever
you power on
Model 3, a fault with the TPMS is detected
(see
TPMS Malfunction on page 165).
NOTE: Display tire pressures in the "Cards" area, located
toward the bottom on the left side of the touchscreen
,
as described in Touchscreen Overview on page 4. You
can also choose whether you want to display tire pressures using Bar or PSI by touching
Controls >
Display > Tire Pressure.
WARNING: 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 the vehicle
NOTE: Installing accessories that are not approved by
Tesla can interfere with the TPMS.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
Parts, Accessories, and
Modifications
Use only genuine Tesla parts and accessories. Tesla
performs rigorous testing on parts to ensure their
suitability, safety, and reliability. Purchase these parts
from Tesla, where they are professionally installed and
where you can receive expert advice about
modifications to Model 3. Accessories are available for
purchase from Tesla stores or online at
www.tesla.com.
NOTE: Some accessories may not be available in your
market region.
Tesla is unable to assess parts manufactured by other distributors and therefore accepts no responsibility if you use non-Tesla parts on
Model 3.
WARNING: Installing non-approved parts and
accessories, or performing non-approved
modifications, can affect the performance of
Model 3 and the safety of its occupants. Any
damage caused by using or installing non-
approved parts, or by performing non-approved
modifications, is not covered by the warranty.
WARNING: Tesla does not accept liability for
death, personal injury or damage that occurs if you
use or install non-approved accessories or make
non-approved modifications.
Accessory Wheels and Tires
If your Model 3 is fitted with Tesla accessory wheels or
tires, the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), wheel, tire, and loading information may be
different from the labels
shown on the vehicle. Refer to the relevant following
section for updated information.
NOTE: If your vehicle is not fitted with Tesla accessory
wheels or tires (it is
fitted with the factory original
wheels and tires, including Tesla genuine replacement
parts), refer to the labels attached to the center door pillar for the most accurate information for your
Model 3.
20" Sport WheelsWheelsLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)20"Front/Rear8.540Tires (front/
rear)SizeTire PressureMichelin, Pilot
Sport 4S (PS4S)235/35ZR2042 PSI (290 kPa)**Increase the tire pressure to 44 PSI (300 kPa) prior to driving 136 mph (220 kph) or faster.GAWRFront2407 lbs1,092 kgRear2,767 lbs1,255 kg
Parts and Accessories
174MODEL 3 Owner
19" Sport WheelsWheelsLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)19"Front/Rear8.540Tires (front/rear)SizeTire PressureContinental,
ProContact RX235/40R1942 PSI (290 kPa)*Hankook Ventus S1
Evo3235/40R1942 PSI (290 kPa)*Pirelli Winter
Sottozero 3235/40R1942 PSI (290 kPa)*Increase the tire pressure to 44 PSI (300 kPa) prior to driving 134 mph (215 kph) or faster.GAWRFront2,447 lbs1,110 kgRear2,767 lbs1,255 kg20" Zero-G Wheels (Performance)WheelsLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)20"Front/Rear934Tires (front/rear)SizeTire PressureMichelin, Pilot Sport
4S (PS4S)235/35ZR2042 PSI (290 kPa)Michelin PS Cup 2245/35ZR2042 PSI (290 kPa)GAWRFront2,650 lbs1,202 kgRear2,784 lbs1,263 kg
20" Zero-G Wheels (Non-Performance)
WheelsLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)20"Front/Rear940Tires (front/rear)SizeTire PressureMichelin, Pilot Sport
4S (PS4S)235/35ZR2042 PSI (290 kPa)GAWRFront2,650 lbs1,202 kgRear2,784 lbs1,263 kg
Parts and Accessories
175Maintenance
19" Gemini Wheels (Performance)
See Removing and Installing Aero Covers on page 163
for information on how to remove and install Gemini
wheel covers.
WheelsLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)19"Front/Rear8.535Tires (front/rear)SizeTire PressureHankook Ventus
S1 Evo3235/40R1942 PSI (290 kPa)*Pirelli Winter,
Sottozero 3235/40R1942 PSI (290 kPa)**Increase the tire pressure to 44 PSI (300 kPa) prior to driving 136 mph (220 kph) or faster.GAWRFront2510 lbs1,141 kgRear3,023 lbs1,374 kg18" Aero WheelsWheelsLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)18"Front/Rear8.540Tires (front/rear)SizeTire PressureMichelin, Primacy
MXM4235/45R1842 PSI (290 kPa)Michelin, Pilot Sport 4
(PS4)235/45R1842 PSI (290 kPa)Pirelli Winter Sottozero
Serie II235/45R1842 PSI (290 kPa)GAWRFront2,447 lbs1,110 kgRear2,840 lbs1,288 kg
Body Repairs
If your Model 3 is in a collision, contact Tesla or a Tesla-
approved Body Shop to ensure that it is repaired with genuine Tesla parts. Tesla has selected and approved
body shops that meet strict requirements for training, equipment, quality, and customer satisfaction.
Some repair shops and insurance companies might
suggest using non-original equipment or salvaged parts
to save money. However, these parts do not meet Tesla
Wheel Specifications (Factory)
Wheel DiameterLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)18"Front/Rear8.54019"Front/Rear8.54020"Front/Rear9.034Lug Nut Torque129 lb. ft (175 Nm)Lug Nut Socket Size21 mm
NOTE: For instructions on how to jack/lift Model 3, see Jacking and Lifting on page 173.
Tire Specifications (Factory)
Tire SizeLocationSize18"Front/RearP235/45R1819"Front/RearP235/40R1920"Front/RearP235/35R20Tire pressures vary depending on the type of tires fitted. Refer to the tire pressures printed on the Tire and
Loading Information label. This label is located on the center door pillar and is visible when the
driver
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