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timk225
Active Member
The only effect the Aero wheels have is that they cause people to spend $1500 "upgrading" to the 19 inch wheels, so they won't have those fugly Aero wheels on their car. The primary benefit of this is that Tesla gets more of your money.
This is also why the only free paint is ugly basic black, and any paint change costs $1000.
This is also why the only free paint is ugly basic black, and any paint change costs $1000.
The Area wheels on the Model S supposedly added 3% to the range. Not a lot, but not definitely not nothing.
FloridaGary
Member
I can't believe there would be any significant increase. Given the lack of popularity expressed on youtube videos and podcasts, it appears the 19's will be a very popular upgrade.
FlatSix911
Porsche 918 Hybrid
The main problem with the Model S Aero wheels was that there were only a very few periods where you could actually order them. Then Tesla complained that no one ordered them. Well, of course they didn't, they were only shown as an option for a few weeks. I would have ordered them for my car if I could have.
I'm not sure why it's hard for people to understand that the purpose of aero wheels is to improve aerodynamics. Wheels are one of the big aerodynamic disaster zones for vehicles. The best thing you can do is to shroud them with wheel skirts. But most people find that too ugly (I don't), so the next best thing you can do is an aero wheel design.
Aero losses dominate at highway speeds. You want your wheels small and aerodynamic if you want low energy consumption, and thus long range.
But hey, if you don't mind sacrificing some range and paying more for something you think looks more "baller", then by all means upgrade
Aero losses dominate at highway speeds. You want your wheels small and aerodynamic if you want low energy consumption, and thus long range.
But hey, if you don't mind sacrificing some range and paying more for something you think looks more "baller", then by all means upgrade
Why not flat wheel skirts with a picture of a rim painted on them?
It's not so much aesthetics as is it practicality. They have always been a pain to take off and put back on. Anyone who has had a flat in winter with fender skirts typically enunciates some distinctly non-Disney language, and they don't go back on--ever. Only one car manufacturer that I'm aware of made fender skirts that were easy to re & re regardless of condition. That was Citrõen. They did it by having the entire rear quarter panel being able to be removed (one bolt, two pins).
timk225
Active Member
Upgrading to 19's.... A harsher ride due to less tire sidewall, more expensive replacement tires, the primary reason to upgrade is to avoid the ugly Aero wheels, doesn't sound like much of an upgrade to me.......
Lol B.S.
You will not see a range difference with a certain rim. Rims are for looks and the 19's look the best.
I don't see why Tesla has to make their small rims ugly. They could easily make them look appealing. The original stock 19's on the S look way better than the new cyclone type rims.
Aero's are just blahh
You will not see a range difference with a certain rim. Rims are for looks and the 19's look the best.
I don't see why Tesla has to make their small rims ugly. They could easily make them look appealing. The original stock 19's on the S look way better than the new cyclone type rims.
Aero's are just blahh
FlatSix911
Porsche 918 Hybrid
It's been tested as a prototype before ... here is one example from Porsche in the 80's
I have a Gen1 Insight, and I agree that skirts not designed for easy removal / opening are a bad idea. That said, I have little doubt that if Tesla were to make a skirted vehicle that they wouldn't make such a novice, well known mistake.
Meanwhile in the real world, those of us who have worked with aerodynamics (have OpenFOAM running in the background right now
) are well aware of how much wheel design influences drag, and how much of a high-drag area wheels are. Rims are not meaningless stickers stuck onto the side, their shape significantly strongly affects a vehice's drag. The lower the vehicle's Cd, the more the distinction matters.There's nothing wrong with preferring one "look" over another, but don't deceive yourself about the consequences of your choice.
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When all the proclamations come out about the differences in efficiency between the wheel sizes, the tire compound should not be ignored. The smaller wheels option will be more efficient because of better aero and likely because of lower rolling resistance tires.
I'd like to know how much (if any) of the driving experience / handling that motor trend salivated over will be sacrificed going from 19" to 18", and how much of that is due to the tires not the wheels.
omgwtfbyobbq
Active Member
The difference might be more than 3% in the 3. If aero drag from the Sport wheels is a greater percent of total drag on the 3 than on the S, the Aero wheels will help more. In addition, the 19" tires might be sportier, eg they might have higher rolling resistance.
DrivingTheFuture
Member
I'm not sure I entirely do not understand what you have not not said.
DrivingTheFuture
Member
That would be what, about an extra 10 miles on the larger battery 3?
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