Optimizing Tesla Tire Pressure: Tips

Electric vehicles are heavier and have higher torque than regular gas-powered cars. For these reasons, they require special robust tires to withstand the heavy load and instant torque. Even though you can fit standard tires on your Tesla, they don’t just cut since they are prone to excessive wear and tear under these conditions.

Tesla tire pressure

Tesla electric motors come with a wide variety of high-quality tubeless tires customized to complement their performance. They have a meticulously rigid design to withstand the heavy load and provide adequate grip, ensuring a smooth and comfortable driving experience.

Since these tires are pricier than traditional ones, proper care is critical to preventing premature replacement and reducing recurring maintenance costs. Ideally, you should monitor your Tesla tire pressure at least once monthly to ensure it is not under or over-inflated.

This guide explains everything about Tesla tire pressure so you can incorporate it into your tire maintenance routine.

Why Does Tesla Tire Pressure Matter?

As with regular cars, your Tesla tires will lose air pressure over time due to various factors. For instance, cold temperatures can cause the air inside the high-performance tires to condense, causing air tire pressure to drop by 1 PSI.

Tesla

Maintaining the correct tire pressure will ensure a smooth driving experience. After all, driving your EV on under-inflated or flat tires reduces its efficiency and range. The tires dissipate more heat, leading to higher rolling resistance.

Proper Telsa air tire pressure is significant for several reasons, including:

Enhanced Safety

 Under-inflated tires can cause the wheels to touch the ground, increasing friction between the affected tires and the road.

Excessive friction generates heat and increases the chances of the tires wearing or blowing out. If one or more tires are unbalanced, you may notice your EV’s steering wheel vibrating excessively, causing loss of control.

As such, ensure your tires have the recommended tire pressure for increased safety while driving.

Improved Traction

Maintaining proper inflation ensures adequate grip between the tires and the road, improving vehicle handling. Good traction is vital for safe driving in dry, wet, or icy conditions. It prevents heavy breaking and ensures you can maneuver different surfaces without issues.

Tesla recommends summer and all-season tires for dry and wet roads and winter tires for icy or snowy terrain. Install the appropriate aftermarket replacements and ensure they have the correct pressure for optimal performance.

Ensure Stability & Comfort

Aside from enhanced traction, properly inflated tires ensure comfort and stability. Low pressure increases vibration, making your ride uncomfortable. Besides, it impacts your handling, making it nearly impossible to control your EV.

Conversely, high air tire pressure can cause your car to become bouncy, stiffer, and harder to navigate, especially when negotiating bends and corners. Ensure you maintain the correct pressure for a smoother, more stable, and comfortable driving experience.

Prevents Tire Wear

Under-inflated tires are the primary cause of tire failure, while over-inflated air pressure often leads to rapid tire wear and tear. Your tires won’t withstand the heavy battery packs or the instant torque associated with Tesla cars. You’ll have to replace the worn-out Telsa OEM tires with aftermarket tires, incurring more maintenance costs.

Given that Tesla tires are expensive, frequent tire wear is not something you want to experience. The good news is that proper air pressure will help increase tire life and ensure optimal performance.

Improved Driving Range

Your Tesla tires impact your EV’s driving range. As underinflated tires affect fuel economy in gas-powered cars, so do they decrease your EV’s driving range.

Tires with low pressure require more energy to move around, meaning your electric vehicle must work harder to meet the new demands, effectively reducing the driving range.

Conversely, over-inflating your tires has the same impact. It will make the tires uneven, leading to a bumpy ride and reducing the maximum driving range.

Reduced Braking Distance

Due to the reduced traction and increased friction, under-inflated tires result in longer braking distances. This situation can be risky in emergencies since stopping your EV with deflated tires is more complicated. Your Tesla will also skid longer on snowy or icy surfaces.

While insurance companies might compensate you for an accident caused by brake failure, they will recede their decision if they realize that improperly inflated tires were the cause of the crash.


Tesla Tire Pressure by Model

The recommended tire pressure for Tesla electric vehicles is 40 to 45 psi (pounds per square inch) for the rear tires and 38 to 45 psi for the front tires. Rear tires have higher pressure for better traction and control.

tire pressure

However, different Tesla vehicle models have varying tire pressure requirements, depending on the tire type, vehicle or tire configuration, and tire size. Knowing the recommended air pressure for your Tesla model can enhance the tire life and let you get the best out of your electric vehicle.

Fortunately, Tesla cars have an advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System as an added safety feature. This built-in feature displays your vehicle’s recommended tire pressures with the touch of a button.

You can access it on the car status display or by tapping Controls > Service on the touchscreen display. Alternatively, you can check air pressures on the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver’s door pillar.

That said, here are the Tesla tire pressure requirements for each Tesla model.

  • Tesla Model Y – 40 – 45 psi
  • Tesla Model X – 42 – 45 psi
  • Tesla Model 3 – 42 – 45 psi
  • Tesla Model S – 38 – 45 psi (front) 40 – 45 psi (rear)

Checking and Adjusting Tesla Tire Pressure

Tesla electric vehicles have tire sensors that send alerts to the EV’s touchscreen displaying the current tire pressure readings. However, you can only check the accurate level of pressure when the tires are cold and your Tesla has been stationary for about three hours.

tire pressure Check

Here are the steps to check your Tesla tire pressure:

  1. Locate the pressure panel label (middle door panel) on the driver’s door pillar to find the target tire pressure
  2. Remove the tire’s valve cap
  3. Insert a tire pressure gauge into each valve
  4. Measure the pressure of each tire
  5. Adjust the pressure in each tire accordingly
  6. Recheck the air pressure on each tire using an accurate tire pressure gauge
  7. Add or remove the pressure to reach the recommended tire pressure
  8. Re-insert the valve cap to protect the tires from dirt and debris

How to Maintain Tesla Tire Pressure?

Tesla electric vehicles make it easy for owners to maintain tire pressure. The EVs have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that quickly informs you if one of the tires is over or under-inflated.

The Tire Pressure Monitor light indicator will display a warning message if one or more tires don’t have optimum levels. You only need to open the driver’s door and check the Tire and Loading Information label printed on the center pillar to know the target air pressure for each tire.

However, even though the Tire Pressure Monitoring System can help you maintain your EV’s tire pressure, it is no substitute for keeping tabs on your vehicle’s actual pressure. It might malfunction, particularly in cold conditions, and not provide accurate readings. For this reason, use an accurate pressure gauge in your nearest gas station to check and maintain precise pressure readings.


Take Away

As mentioned above,  Tesla owners should ideally monitor air pressure at least once monthly to ensure their EV tires meet the recommended air pressures.

Doing so ensures you get the best out of your Tesla regarding driving range, handling, and car safety.

Fortunately, Teslas have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that lets you know your vehicle’s current tire status with the touch of a button!

About Post Author