When I first decided to get a Model 3 it was gonna be an AWD with 19" OEM Wheels. But due to all the hysteria last fall I switched to a Performance (Stealth) for faster Delivery and Free Supercharging. But you lost the option of the 19" Wheels. I knew I could fix that later. No biggy.
When I say Aero's below, it's always with covers. Covers off don't look all that much better in my opinion, on Midnight Silver any way.
In my first month owning it last October I averaged 230 wh/mi with Aero's and AWD (and lots of 0-60 testing) over 1000 miles. I was pretty happy and gave a lot of credit to Aero wheels (and Chill mode when not testing 0-60). Then Winter set in and my average went to 270 wh/mi with 6000 miles and 4-5 months of Winter (MA/NH). Still fairly happy and gave credit to the Aero's and Chill mode.
But with so many Model 3's around now my car just didn't look all that special. Every time I stopped at supercharger I'd see a RWD pull up with 19" wheels and then looked at my car ;(
When I say Aero's below, it's always with covers. Covers off don't look all that much better in my opinion, on Midnight Silver any way.
In my first month owning it last October I averaged 230 wh/mi with Aero's and AWD (and lots of 0-60 testing) over 1000 miles. I was pretty happy and gave a lot of credit to Aero wheels (and Chill mode when not testing 0-60). Then Winter set in and my average went to 270 wh/mi with 6000 miles and 4-5 months of Winter (MA/NH). Still fairly happy and gave credit to the Aero's and Chill mode.
But with so many Model 3's around now my car just didn't look all that special. Every time I stopped at supercharger I'd see a RWD pull up with 19" wheels and then looked at my car ;(
I seriously considered aftermarket wheels but I really like the look of the OEM Wheels and the after market ones I did like were super expensive. I didn't see much point in TSportline turbines that look similar. Why not get OEM. I tried to buy a used set but either they asked too much, were biffed or would not ship. But the real kicker was reading reviews on the OEM 19" tires, not good at all. So why spend $2000 -ish on tires are don't want.
What also hurts is I bought a 2nd set of Aero's for Winter Tires. So I have two full sets of Aero's and an extra set of new Primacy's. Ugh.
I researched a lot on my winter tires and they worked out to be exactly what I wanted. Quiet, Efficient and good tread life are very high criteria for me. Xi3's. Again after research the OEM snows (Sottozero) would fail in all my criteria. Sottozero have there pluses, no question. Could not be happier with Xi3's. They are quieter than Primacy and maybe slightly more efficient.
Once I new I found a tire for the 19" that will fit my criteria (Quiet, Efficient and Good Tread life), only then I could consider the 19's. I settled on a Pirelli P7+ All Season. They are noted for being very quiet. They are supposed to be low rolling resistance (not much info on that) and they have a tread life of 70K miles. And only $208 each !!
So then I finally I called local SC and asked about price and availability of 19" OEM's. He said he had 3 in stock and said he could get a 4th in a couple days. Great for solving my spontaneous decision to get 19's (also a really bad idea from my wife's point of view). He got the 4th wheel right on schedule. Wow did they look huge. BTW if your in MA don't go through Dedham parts department, go through Watertown. They are fantastic.
I weighed the Aero's with Covers and Tires and they were 49 lbs. I weighed the new OEM 19's with tires and they were 50.5 lbs. Only 1.5lbs heavier. Not sure if the P7+ tire is lighter than the OEM Continental.
Well the upgrade hit all the marks.
The car has a nice pop to now. I don't care about offsets, lowering or the race track.
I will still run Aero's with Xi3 in Winter.
To test, I put exactly the door tag pressure (42 lbs cold on 18" or 19") on both sets. Then tested both sets over a 30 mile all highway loop with identical conditions and SOC. They are nearly identical efficiency wise. 1% worse, tops. My commute to work (no highway) all back roads 35-40 mph and I'm getting 200 wh/mi, about the same as Aero's. It keeps getting better as it warms up too.
I used to give Aero's the credit for efficiency. Now I give the Pirelli P7+ the credit. Note there are two P7's. A P7 and a P7+. The P7+ is the tire to get. The P7 is not rated that great. This is not a performance tire, it's an all season touring tire, like the Primacy.
Another bonus, they are quieter than the 18" Primacy's !! Firmness wise they feel very close to the same. Maybe a tad stiffer.
So they look nicer, as efficient (with in 1%), longer tread life (55k vs 70k), quieter and cheaper (tires $283 vs $208).
Another bonus, now with no foam inside tires in winter or summer I have the option to use the fix-a-flat goo in an emergency. And potentially less issues plugging from outside or patching from inside.
Both my Noise and Efficiency tests were based on 65 mph in Chill Mode.
Both noise and efficiency could be very different at 85 mph or a lead foot, but I doubt it.
Blue Trace = 18" Aeros, Orange Trace = 19" P7+, Grey Trace with P7+ and Door Gasket Mode (Z strip only)
X Axis is frequency, Y Axis is dB, Used iPhoneX in a ProClip mount, Microphone hit limit at like 18khz.
This is round trip probably 110 miles Highway 65 mph with passenger. Rest around town.
What also hurts is I bought a 2nd set of Aero's for Winter Tires. So I have two full sets of Aero's and an extra set of new Primacy's. Ugh.
I researched a lot on my winter tires and they worked out to be exactly what I wanted. Quiet, Efficient and good tread life are very high criteria for me. Xi3's. Again after research the OEM snows (Sottozero) would fail in all my criteria. Sottozero have there pluses, no question. Could not be happier with Xi3's. They are quieter than Primacy and maybe slightly more efficient.
Once I new I found a tire for the 19" that will fit my criteria (Quiet, Efficient and Good Tread life), only then I could consider the 19's. I settled on a Pirelli P7+ All Season. They are noted for being very quiet. They are supposed to be low rolling resistance (not much info on that) and they have a tread life of 70K miles. And only $208 each !!
So then I finally I called local SC and asked about price and availability of 19" OEM's. He said he had 3 in stock and said he could get a 4th in a couple days. Great for solving my spontaneous decision to get 19's (also a really bad idea from my wife's point of view). He got the 4th wheel right on schedule. Wow did they look huge. BTW if your in MA don't go through Dedham parts department, go through Watertown. They are fantastic.
I weighed the Aero's with Covers and Tires and they were 49 lbs. I weighed the new OEM 19's with tires and they were 50.5 lbs. Only 1.5lbs heavier. Not sure if the P7+ tire is lighter than the OEM Continental.
Well the upgrade hit all the marks.
The car has a nice pop to now. I don't care about offsets, lowering or the race track.
I will still run Aero's with Xi3 in Winter.
To test, I put exactly the door tag pressure (42 lbs cold on 18" or 19") on both sets. Then tested both sets over a 30 mile all highway loop with identical conditions and SOC. They are nearly identical efficiency wise. 1% worse, tops. My commute to work (no highway) all back roads 35-40 mph and I'm getting 200 wh/mi, about the same as Aero's. It keeps getting better as it warms up too.
I used to give Aero's the credit for efficiency. Now I give the Pirelli P7+ the credit. Note there are two P7's. A P7 and a P7+. The P7+ is the tire to get. The P7 is not rated that great. This is not a performance tire, it's an all season touring tire, like the Primacy.
Another bonus, they are quieter than the 18" Primacy's !! Firmness wise they feel very close to the same. Maybe a tad stiffer.
So they look nicer, as efficient (with in 1%), longer tread life (55k vs 70k), quieter and cheaper (tires $283 vs $208).
Another bonus, now with no foam inside tires in winter or summer I have the option to use the fix-a-flat goo in an emergency. And potentially less issues plugging from outside or patching from inside.
Both my Noise and Efficiency tests were based on 65 mph in Chill Mode.
Both noise and efficiency could be very different at 85 mph or a lead foot, but I doubt it.
Blue Trace = 18" Aeros, Orange Trace = 19" P7+, Grey Trace with P7+ and Door Gasket Mode (Z strip only)
X Axis is frequency, Y Axis is dB, Used iPhoneX in a ProClip mount, Microphone hit limit at like 18khz.
This is round trip probably 110 miles Highway 65 mph with passenger. Rest around town.
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