I recently had to replace the tires on my Model S 85D. But i did not want to go back to the stock tire size. As many of you know. the stock 245/35 R21 tires look skinny on the 21 in wheels. The tires also don't quite fit in the wheel wells an make the car look a little off. The Continental sport tires have a built in rim protector but they don't quite fit right on the 21's and offer no protection. Also, the stock tires cannot be repaired. I you get a nail your only option is replacement because of the Foam inside the tire.
Well this past week I got a leak in the tire and turns out I had a nail. None of my local tire shops would repair the wheel, or even attempt to repair it. I had 24,400 miles on the tires so they were about done anyways so it was time for a whole new set. I tried to look in the forums for advise for getting a larger time and there was not much. Everyone cautioned that a 265 would rub but no one had tried it. The discussion always de-evolved to; you should have gotten the 19s or get aftermarket 20's.
So i took a risk and got a set of 265/35 R21 Continental Sport P5 tires. These are the black wall tires and they are not the foam core CSI or silent tires. I wanted a tire that could be repaired. At $375 a tire I don't want to have to pay for a new tire every time I get a nail or something.
I'm so glad I did. The tired look AMAZING. The tires are wider but also slightly taller than the Stock wheels. Here are my first impressions:
- Much better look, the tire fills in the wheel well and the wheel don't look skinny anymore
- RIM Protection. The rim no longer sticks out father than the wheel
- Same road noise. I have not noticed an increase in road noise. I fact I think it sounds a little quieter
- The ride seems to be smoother.
- No rubbing. I have turned lock to lock with no rubbing.
I'm going to be taking a couple of longer trips this weekend to fully try then out and will update.
Well this past week I got a leak in the tire and turns out I had a nail. None of my local tire shops would repair the wheel, or even attempt to repair it. I had 24,400 miles on the tires so they were about done anyways so it was time for a whole new set. I tried to look in the forums for advise for getting a larger time and there was not much. Everyone cautioned that a 265 would rub but no one had tried it. The discussion always de-evolved to; you should have gotten the 19s or get aftermarket 20's.
So i took a risk and got a set of 265/35 R21 Continental Sport P5 tires. These are the black wall tires and they are not the foam core CSI or silent tires. I wanted a tire that could be repaired. At $375 a tire I don't want to have to pay for a new tire every time I get a nail or something.
I'm so glad I did. The tired look AMAZING. The tires are wider but also slightly taller than the Stock wheels. Here are my first impressions:
- Much better look, the tire fills in the wheel well and the wheel don't look skinny anymore
- RIM Protection. The rim no longer sticks out father than the wheel
- Same road noise. I have not noticed an increase in road noise. I fact I think it sounds a little quieter
- The ride seems to be smoother.
- No rubbing. I have turned lock to lock with no rubbing.
I'm going to be taking a couple of longer trips this weekend to fully try then out and will update.