BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS AT THE END OF MY POST!
After enjoying my 2010 Tesla Roadster for a few weeks, I decided that I felt the car would look better with a +1 wheel setup. This means instead of running 16” front and 17” rear wheels, I’d instead upgrade to a 17”/18” combo. Did my research, talked to a few owners and folks who have played around ... and put together something that works for me.
For those who may want this info.... my car had the factory Forged wheels, and here is the pertinent info:
Ultimately, I found there weren’t many 5x110 wheel options on the market. I’m still contemplating some other wheels that will require spacers, but for now I wanted something different and put together a wheel setup from Tire Rack. They don’t have measurements for a Roadster (someone should do something about that— its only ~5 hour drive for me, so maybe I will soon). But I was able to figure out what should fit, and pulled the trigger on these:
Overall, this setup adds 7 to 8 lbs per axle. My initial driving reaction is that the added weight is not something most of us would perceive, at least in the acceleration or handling department. However, there is a very small awareness in the braking, though nothing that would make me unhappy. Generally speaking the delta in weight is not significant here for most of us.
Tire-wise, however, these S.drive tires are not as sticky as the stock setup. BUT... what you get is an amazing increase in ride comfort and noise. It is like turning the volume down — and a LOT! There is a ride comfort and noise reduction that make the overall enjoyment of the Yokohama S.drive tires notable. Around the twists the tires are predictable, even if not quite as much G-force pull. I need to put more miles on them to really speak my piece there— and I know they are amazing in the wet/rain should that occur. Over the rough roads of Cleveland, though, they are a great choice if you plan to put on a fair share of miles (esp with these nice treadwear rating).
As you’ll see in the details above and the photos below, I’m running spacers. In order for the front wheels to clear the caliper, this was a necessity. And for the rear wheels, it wasn’t so much needed as much as it made them flush, and gave the front-and-rear a more matching aesthetic appeal. For those who worry about spacers and their safety, you can find plenty of great articles on the matter, to which I’ll share this one:
Wheel spacer safety, and the physics of keeping the wheels on
All told this setup includes: wheels (Enkei EV5) staggered, with Yokohama tires, new BaoLong TPMS installed (which will need coded by local service center). The setup includes hub centric rings from Tire Rack pre-installed in the wheels. The spacers are 4x (one per corner) at 15mm. Each spacer came with 15mm longer wheel bolts, too (eBay purchased). Total investment is less than $1,700 for wheels, tires, sensors, rings, bolts, spacers, the whole monte! Not a bad price... and yes these are cast wheels, so not as light/strong as the factory ... but again for 99% of us that won’t matter.
If you have any questions or I left out any details please let me know— be happy to help answer them! And now, onto the fun stuff.... PHOTOS!
After enjoying my 2010 Tesla Roadster for a few weeks, I decided that I felt the car would look better with a +1 wheel setup. This means instead of running 16” front and 17” rear wheels, I’d instead upgrade to a 17”/18” combo. Did my research, talked to a few owners and folks who have played around ... and put together something that works for me.
For those who may want this info.... my car had the factory Forged wheels, and here is the pertinent info:
- Front: 16x6,0 ET 25
- Rear: 17x7,5 ET 38
- Weight (Front): 14.6 lbs
- Weight (Rear): 19.9 lbs
- Bolt Pattern: 5x110
- Hub Bore: 65.1 mm
- Front Tires: 175/55-16 (non-sport)
- Front Tires: 195/50-16 (sport)
- Rear Tires: 225/45-17
- Torque: 105 NM
- Bolts: Conical M12 x 1.5 x 26mm
- Front Tires: 205/45-17 XL
- Rear Tires: 235/40-18 XL
- Front: 17x7 +24 to +44 **
- Front: 17x7.5 +30 to +40 **
- Rear: 18x8 +30 to +42 **
Ultimately, I found there weren’t many 5x110 wheel options on the market. I’m still contemplating some other wheels that will require spacers, but for now I wanted something different and put together a wheel setup from Tire Rack. They don’t have measurements for a Roadster (someone should do something about that— its only ~5 hour drive for me, so maybe I will soon). But I was able to figure out what should fit, and pulled the trigger on these:
- Wheel Brand: Enkei
- Wheel Style: EV5
- Front: 17x7,0 ET 38
- (P/N: 446-770-5238HB)
- Rear: 18x7,5 ET 38
- (P/N: 446-875-5238HB)
- Weight (Front): ~21 lbs
- Weight (Rear): ~22 lbs
- Bolt Pattern: 5x110 / 5x105
- Hub Bore: 72.6 mm
- Front Tires: 195/45-17 XL
- Rear Tires: 225/40-18 XL
- Tire Brand: Yokohama
- Tire Style: S.Drive XL
- Spacers: 15 MM (Front/Rear)
Overall, this setup adds 7 to 8 lbs per axle. My initial driving reaction is that the added weight is not something most of us would perceive, at least in the acceleration or handling department. However, there is a very small awareness in the braking, though nothing that would make me unhappy. Generally speaking the delta in weight is not significant here for most of us.
Tire-wise, however, these S.drive tires are not as sticky as the stock setup. BUT... what you get is an amazing increase in ride comfort and noise. It is like turning the volume down — and a LOT! There is a ride comfort and noise reduction that make the overall enjoyment of the Yokohama S.drive tires notable. Around the twists the tires are predictable, even if not quite as much G-force pull. I need to put more miles on them to really speak my piece there— and I know they are amazing in the wet/rain should that occur. Over the rough roads of Cleveland, though, they are a great choice if you plan to put on a fair share of miles (esp with these nice treadwear rating).
As you’ll see in the details above and the photos below, I’m running spacers. In order for the front wheels to clear the caliper, this was a necessity. And for the rear wheels, it wasn’t so much needed as much as it made them flush, and gave the front-and-rear a more matching aesthetic appeal. For those who worry about spacers and their safety, you can find plenty of great articles on the matter, to which I’ll share this one:
Wheel spacer safety, and the physics of keeping the wheels on
All told this setup includes: wheels (Enkei EV5) staggered, with Yokohama tires, new BaoLong TPMS installed (which will need coded by local service center). The setup includes hub centric rings from Tire Rack pre-installed in the wheels. The spacers are 4x (one per corner) at 15mm. Each spacer came with 15mm longer wheel bolts, too (eBay purchased). Total investment is less than $1,700 for wheels, tires, sensors, rings, bolts, spacers, the whole monte! Not a bad price... and yes these are cast wheels, so not as light/strong as the factory ... but again for 99% of us that won’t matter.
If you have any questions or I left out any details please let me know— be happy to help answer them! And now, onto the fun stuff.... PHOTOS!
