The Aero wheels provide ALL of the upsides mentioned in your first paragraph!
GSP
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Aero wheels
- Thread starter richkae
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- Driving Dynamics Model S
The Aero wheels provide ALL of the upsides mentioned in your first paragraph!
GSP
The other important thing to remember about aerodynamic improvements is that they get better with higher speed.
By fiddling with the spreadsheet I found in this thread: Efficiency comparison - Model S v. Roadster
For the Roadster a 5% improvement at 55mph is very likely a 6.1% improvement at 70mph and a 6.7% improvement at 80mph and a 7.2% improvement at 90mph.
By fiddling with the spreadsheet I found in this thread: Efficiency comparison - Model S v. Roadster
For the Roadster a 5% improvement at 55mph is very likely a 6.1% improvement at 70mph and a 6.7% improvement at 80mph and a 7.2% improvement at 90mph.
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spatterso911
P100DL - Raven
On an ideal level, you are precisely correct. You also pointed out some valid points in your previous post as well, which are very meaningful IMHO. I guess I phrased it incorrectly in trying to express my intent. If you choose the 85 kWh option, and you drive the average commute (40-60 mi/64-96 km) then the aero wheels may not really make any difference for you, as you will not realize the benefits of the longer range for the most part. You will have plenty of room to drive any way you like. For the longer commute, using a 40 kWh option, it makes all the sense in the world, for all the reasons you presented. Your $1500 will be better used. If you have lots of headroom in battery range, drive 60 miles/96 km a day and charge nightly, aero wheels will only cost you $1500 for the look, not really perform realistically for you.
If you need a 19" wheel, however, you'd be hard pressed to find a reason not to get the aero wheels, as there is more upside than down, regardless of which battery option you choose.
Personally, I don't think I will need the range from the Areo wheels in everyday use. However when going on a 400-700 mi/day road trip, the extra crusing speed and/or range will be well appricated I think. I suspect others will be in the same situation.
Compared to the 22" wheels the Aero wheels will come with the greater utility of all-season tires, instead of summer tires. Also, they will have more choices available for replacement tires.
Compared to the 19" wheels, the Aero wheels unfortunately mostly cover up Tesla's beautiful Ferrari-esque brake calibers. Maybe someone makes a transparent aero wheel cover....
GSP
Compared to the 22" wheels the Aero wheels will come with the greater utility of all-season tires, instead of summer tires. Also, they will have more choices available for replacement tires.
Compared to the 19" wheels, the Aero wheels unfortunately mostly cover up Tesla's beautiful Ferrari-esque brake calibers. Maybe someone makes a transparent aero wheel cover....
GSP
Thanks for the side-by-side pictures!
The difference in the gap between the inner black and the outer silver is subtle.
The difference in the triangles is not subtle, IMO.
If you're a Signature holder downgrading, I agree with you. OTOH, if you're a Production guy like me, the $1,500 price tag is reason #1 to stay with the stock 19". Reason #2 is appearance -- I really liked the stock 19" in person, and as @GSP notes, the visible (and better-cooled) brake calibers are a nice styling touch. Reason #3 is cleaning; I'm not sure how we'll clean the brake dust accumulation on the aeros.
Much remains to be seen.
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
I'd think the smoother aero wheels would be easier to clean than the others, plus I'd not expect too much dust from an EV with strong regen.
ddenboer
MODEL X #1770
Hahahaha...
Been there done that. We got lucky and ran on fumes into Swift Current when all the small towns along the way had no open gas stations in the middle of the night. Turned the heater in the car off and broke out the emergency thermal blankets.
spatterso911
P100DL - Raven
That is an excellent thought. I'm hoping someone develops something like this so that we can have the best of both worlds.
So far, this is the best aero wheel cover that I have found. They will custom make 22" for you. Looks more aerodynamic than Tesla's Aero wheels. Maybe you could claim to have a 325-mile car, with 5 miles of extra bragging rights.
I don't know about the self-tapping screws, but maybe the Dzus Fasteners would work.
Mooneyes Online Store - Specialty Equipment Manufacturer, Speed and Custom Parts for Motorcycles and Automobiles
GSP
I don't know about the self-tapping screws, but maybe the Dzus Fasteners would work.
Mooneyes Online Store - Specialty Equipment Manufacturer, Speed and Custom Parts for Motorcycles and Automobiles
GSP
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
I don't think people want to drill holes in their wheels for screws or Dzus fasteners. Maybe a snap fit system over the lug nuts, or special lug nuts with small threaded holes in the top, or threaded studs, that you could use to attach smooth covers.
Yeh, I'd like to see what Tesla comes up with before going after market. OEM is usually pricier, but a much better overall fit, finish and product.
spatterso911
P100DL - Raven
Someone asked about posting the various range estimates from the tv app they have in stores ... I can't find which thread that was in, so I'll post here. I was at the Santanna Row store today and took note of these numbers:
19" wheels. Units in miles and MPH. 70F ambient, windows up, no HVAC.
65: 271
60: 295
55: 321
21" wheels
65: 266
60: 289
55: 314
Given the similarity at 55MPH it's not clear if the 19's were aero's or not.
19" wheels. Units in miles and MPH. 70F ambient, windows up, no HVAC.
65: 271
60: 295
55: 321
21" wheels
65: 266
60: 289
55: 314
Given the similarity at 55MPH it's not clear if the 19's were aero's or not.
WhiteKnight
_____ P85 #549 _____ Sig Red / Sig White
So it would appear if you lose 15% of your range going from 55mph to 65mph then you would lose at least that much going from 65mph to 75mph. So it seems like the Model S is following the Roadster spreadsheet (30% penalty in range moving from 55 to 75 mph).
AndyM
Member
So you lose about 2% range going up to 21" wheels... Are you certain that the app-on-a-wall doesn't use another constant to make that calculation - such as 'Performance Model S vs. base Model S'?
So, I thought the loss from going to 21" would be from aerodynamics. But then shouldn't the difference between 21" and 19" get bigger the faster you go? Here the difference shrinks in terms of miles and stays the same or even shrinks a little in percent terms. Of course maybe the application simply doesn't take that into account and gives an estimate based on a constant percentage.
At the precision we have you can't tell the difference.
The range loss could be 14% higher at 65 compared to 55 and the rounding would wipe it out.
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