Anyone know if Model 3 tires have foam inserts?

[Garlan Garner]

Does anyone know if model 3 tires have foam inserts inside of them?

If they do.....can the foam be purchased just in case I need new tires?

Tesla owner cuts open Model X tire to reveal acoustic foam used for noise reduction

 

[ucmndd]

Tested: Do Acoustically Insulated Tires Really Hush Road Noise? – Feature – Car and Driver

My first-hand experience is the foam is nothing but a gimmick with negligible benefit and considerable downside when you take your punctured tire to $RandomTireShop and they stare as if it were mounted to a space ship then flatly refuse to touch it.

You don't "purchase" the foam to put in the tires. The tires either come foam-lined or they don't.

Not sure about the Model 3 but I replaced the foam-lined OEM Goodyears with the non-foam-lined used-to-be-OEM Michelins on my MS and that was absolutely the right decision.

 

[TEG]

Yes, I think they do. Both the 18" (Michelin) and 19" (Continental) have noise reduction technology marks on the tires which I think means the foam.

 

[UkrHog]

Yes, they do. I had one repaired.

 

[rtanov]

The 18" do

 

[m3snowy]

Tire foam tested:
Tested: Do Acoustically Insulated Tires Really Hush Road Noise? – Feature – Car and Driver

 

[xpitxbullx]

I think this would also be another reason NOT to use Fix-a-Flat.

 

[M109Rider]

Tire foam tested:
Tested: Do Acoustically Insulated Tires Really Hush Road Noise? – Feature – Car and Driver

Well, based on that testing, the 200hz range does have a noticeable affect.
That’s good.

 

[Knightshade]

Well, based on that testing, the 200hz range does have a noticeable affect.
That’s good.

I'd put noticeable in quotes after reading the results....either 0 or 1 db difference as measured during testing.

If the effect appears small by our sound-meter measurements, it seemed even smaller when measured with our eardrums. We struggled to discern any significant improvement

 

[M109Rider]

I'd put noticeable in quotes after reading the results....either 0 or 1 db difference as measured during testing.

It’s not huge, but depending on the road conditions. Rumble strips, bumps, etc. it can make a 5-6 db difference.
5-6 dB is a pretty big deal, even to your ear.

 

[JeffK]

Huge problem with this "test" they are measuring noise from only within the cabin.

 

[M109Rider]

Huge problem with this "test" they are measuring noise from only within the cabin.

Isn’t that where noise should be measured ?

 

[trm2]

Isn’t that where noise should be measured ?

Not if you are trying to sneak up on someone.

 

[JeffK]

Isn’t that where noise should be measured ?

Depends if you're driving with the windows up or down.

If you want to measure how much noise a tire makes it should be done at the source.

 

[M109Rider]

Depends if you're driving with the windows up or down.

If you want to measure how much noise a tire makes it should be done at the source.

I think if anyone felt there was too much noise, the first thing they would do is close the windows.
After that, you would want a quiet cabin.

 

[JeffK]

I think if anyone felt there was too much noise, the first thing they would do is close the windows.
After that, you would want a quiet cabin.

True, but the article in car and driver was measuring if there was a difference between the two tires. Unfortunately they only measured from within the cabin and therefore did not get an accurate measurement if the foam is really reducing road noise from the tire itself. Continental argues it could be as high as 9 dB difference.

 

[daranello]

I’d this a Tesla part or Michline? When tires are worn do you keep the foam?

 

[JeffK]

I’d this a Tesla part or Michline? When tires are worn do you keep the foam?

It's glued to the inside of the tire. It's manufactured that way from the tire manufacturer.

 

[Baymax3]

Yes, I think they do. Both the 18" (Michelin) and 19" (Continental) have noise reduction technology marks on the tires which I think means the foam.

Can you elaborate on "noise reduction technology marks"? What are these? A picture would be nice.

 

[TEG]

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=336

I have the 18" and my tires have the "headphones" symbol.