Tesla Model S Tire Rotation and Tire Care Tips

Tesla Model S tire rotation and care tips that can help improve mileage and maximize the life of your tires.

One of the most widely discussed topics among Model S owners is the aggressive wheel alignment setting from the factory. The Tesla Model S has world-class handling that rivals the best performance vehicles, but having this award-winning handling performance comes at the expense of tire longevity.

Wheel alignment is broken down into three major angles of orientation; camber, caster, and toe. These components are fundamental to preserving handling performance and tire tread life, but finding the perfect balance between these dimensions can be a challenge.

The camber angle (degree of difference between the wheels vertical alignment perpendicular to the road) on the Model S is set to an aggressive -2 degrees (factoring in the margin of error) as outlined in the factory wheel alignment chart below.   If a wheel is perfectly perpendicular to the surface of contact, its camber would be 0 degrees, but in the case of the Model S, the top of the rear tires are tilted inwards as a way to increase handling characteristics. Heavy cornering would yield more surface contact between tire and road, thereby improving grip.

However, during straight-line acceleration and everyday driving, negative camber reduces surface contact between tire and road – the net effect being a decrease in straight-line performance and additional pressure on the inner tire, which could lead to uneven wear.

Tesla Model S Tire Rotation

Tesla Motors suggests rotating tires every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) and performing an annual wheel alignment. However, many Model S owners have had no ill effects with delaying tire rotation until the 6,000 – 7,000-mile mark.

Tire Rotation Pattern

NOTE: Tire rotation pattern not applicable to Performance Plus Models due to the size difference between the front and rear wheel/tire combination.

Tire Specifications

Tire Type Location Size
19″ wheels (85 kWh vehicles): Michelin Primacy MXM4 All P245/45R19 98V
19″ wheels (60 kWh vehicles): Standard – Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 Optional – Michelin Primacy MXM4 All P245/45R19 98V
21″ wheels on standard vehicles: Continental ExtremeContact DW All P245/35R21 96Y
21″ wheels on Performance Plus (P85+) vehicles: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Front Rear P245/35R21 96Y P265/35R21 101Y

Tips for Maximizing Tire Life

  • Regularly inspect the tire tread and sidewalls for signs of abnormal distortion (bulges), cuts or severe tire wear
  • Look for tire tread wear indicators which start to appear at the surface of the tread pattern
    Related:
  • Routine tire rotation every 5 – 7k miles
  • Keep tires properly inflated (reference the “Tire and Loading Information” label inside the door sill).
  • Annual wheel alignment check
  • Avoid hitting potholes and curbs
  • Avoid frequent fast turning and heavy braking
  • Avoid hard acceleration

Tesla Model S Wheel Alignment Values

Location Air Suspension Coil Suspension
Front Rear Front Rear
Camber -0.75 +/- 0.35 -1.75 +/- 0.35 -.53 +/- 0.35 -1.55 +/- 0.35
Camber Split -0.00 +/- 0.20 -0.00 +/- 0.50 -0.00 +/- 0.20 -0.00 +/- 0.50
Caster 4.00 +/- 0.50 n/a 3.70 +/- 0.50 n/a
Caster Split 0.00 +/- 0.20 n/a 0.00 +/- 0.20 n/a
Single Wheel Toe OUT 0.05 OUT 0.15 (limit) IN 0.05 (limit) IN 0.20 +/- 0.05 IN 0.02 OUT 0.08 (limit) IN 0.12 (limit) IN 0.185 +/- 0.05
Thrust Angle n/a 0.00 +/- 0.30 n/a 0.00 +/- 0.30
Suspension Bolt Height (at design) 213.5 +/- 5 mm Standard models: 144 +/- 5 mm Performance Plus: 151 +/- 5 mm 230 mm (nominal) 158 mm (nominal)

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