Fastest 1/4 mile tires for 18inch rimmed M3P

[Street_Tuna]

Hey team! Been looking through the threads here to try and work out what the quickest 1/4 mile tyre is to run on an 18 inch equipped M3P.....without much luck....

Have just run 11.54 @ 116.2 on the stock 20s with the factory PS4s, and would like to try and shave an extra 1/10th if at all possible.
Any real world experience I would be very thankful for!

 

[mpgxsvcd]

Mid 11.5s @ 116 mph is typical for an un-preconditioned 100% Stock Model 3 Performance with less than 100% SOC.

You can get that down to low 11.4s or even upper 11.3s with a lighter driver and preconditioning a full battery.

If you switch to 18” 19-22 lb wheels and 22-24 lb 235/45/18 tires you can get down into the low 11.3s consistently. Even the upper 11.2s in some cases.

If you take out the seats, frunk, and trunk you can get down into the upper 11.1s.

If you go with smaller outer diameter tires it will hurt your top end acceleration and barely help your 0-60 mph(~.01 seconds). It isn’t worth it unless you are just going for max 0-60 mph.

Tire compound is almost irrelevant for the Model 3 Performance especially on prepped surfaces. It doesn’t produce enough low end power to overwhelm the tires in a straight line.

Here is my progression from 100% stock to fully gutted on 18” wheels and 235/45/18 tires.

1. 11.55 @ 116.0 mph 100% Stock on 20” UberHeavies

2. 11.43 @ 117.67 mph 100% Stock but with some Preconditioning.

3. 11.31 @ 119.34 mph with 18” 18x8.5 T Sportline TS5 wheels and 235/45/18 Michelin PS4S tires. Fully preconditioned with 100% SOC.

4. 11.24 @ 119.42 mph with Seats, Frunk, and Trunk removed, on 18” wheels with 235/45/18 Hankook iON EVO All Season tires, and fully preconditioned 100% SOC.

5. 11.17 @ 120.0 mph with Seats, Frunk, and Trunk removed on 18” wheels with fully preconditioned 100% SOC and minimal battery degradation.

 

[Street_Tuna]

What a fantastic answer! Thank you

 

[Zcd1]

Fast Tesla Model-3s 1/4 Mile 0-60 Drag Racing - DragTimes.com

 

[Street_Tuna]

Started the transformation - a set of lightweight Konig Flow Formed 18s. Now to find the lightest tire for them!

 

[mpgxsvcd]

Started the transformation - a set of lightweight Konig Flow Formed 18s. Now to find the lightest tire for them!

How much do your wheels weigh?

The lightest tire I have found that will fit is the 245/40/18 Pirelli PZ4. Mine weighed 21 lbs. However, they have an undersized diameter so they really hurt the top end acceleration where HP is decreasing.

Just go with any 235/45/18 summer tire and it will be quick enough.

 

[Street_Tuna]

How much do your wheels weigh?

The lightest tire I have found that will fit is the 245/40/18 Pirelli PZ4. Mine weighed 21 lbs. However, they have an undersized diameter so they really hurt the top end acceleration where HP is decreasing.

Just go with any 235/45/18 summer tire and it will be quick enough.

The wheels weigh 19lb each which seems equivalent to a Martian style 18, but are 8.5 inch with a +35mm offset.
I have a friend in the tire biz that is trying to find the lightest 235/45/18 which he believes will be a Pirelli or a PS5.
What kind of pressure do you run in them at the track for best times?
(I would presume the ride will be nicer too)

 

[mpgxsvcd]

The wheels weigh 19lb each which seems equivalent to a Martian style 18, but are 8.5 inch with a +35mm offset.
I have a friend in the tire biz that is trying to find the lightest 235/45/18 which he believes will be a Pirelli or a PS5.
What kind of pressure do you run in them at the track for best times?
(I would presume the ride will be nicer too)

The Pirelli PZ4 were the lightest tires I could find. I had the PS4S before and set my fastest time with those. They were 1 lb heavier but they were faster because the PZ4 were a smaller diameter.

I typically run high pressures at the Dragstrip because traction is never the issue. My best passes were close to 50 PSI because that gave me the best Trap speeds.

 

[Street_Tuna]

The Pirelli PZ4 were the lightest tires I could find. I had the PS4S before and set my fastest time with those. They were 1 lb heavier but they were faster because the PZ4 were a smaller diameter.

I typically run high pressures at the Dragstrip because traction is never the issue. My best passes were close to 50 PSI because that gave me the best Trap speeds.

We are going to weigh a ton of different tires - will report back in here.

 

[Zcd1]

We are going to weigh a ton of different tires - will report back in here.

Why tho??

 

[Street_Tuna]

Why tho??

Because we have the access, it would just provide some interesting data points.

 

[Sendit1]

My Apex VS-5Rs 18 x 9.5 wheels are only 18.3 lbs each I added an extra pound total by going with a wider 255 40 18 PS4S

 

[mpgxsvcd]

My Apex VS-5Rs 18 x 9.5 wheels are only 18.3 lbs each I added an extra pound total by going with a wider 255 40 18 PS4S

Did you have to go with any spacers or hub rings with those wheels?

 

[Sendit1]

nope, they fit perfect as is

 

[Street_Tuna]

Turns out Continental Max Contact MC6 were the lightest out of the 10 or so different tires we weighed.

 

[Street_Tuna]

Got the new skateboard wheels on! Just a question - How long does the TPMS registration for new sensors take? Drove a mile or so and still trying to learn. Got the right sensors for this MY19 so its not that.

 

[mpgxsvcd]

Got the new skateboard wheels on! Just a question - How long does the TPMS registration for new sensors take? Drove a mile or so and still trying to learn. Got the right sensors for this MY19 so its not that.

What does the tire and wheel weigh? The TPMS sensors registered almost immediately when I swapped my wheels out. I have the newer sensors though so it may be different. Do you have to manually register the older ones?

 

[Street_Tuna]

The rims are just on 19lb and the tires 22lb.
Yes mine are the old sensors that manually register.

 

[Sendit1]

Turns out Continental Max Contact MC6 were the lightest out of the 10 or so different tires we weighed.

Good info, at only 22.5 lbs for 265/35ZR18, they are 3.2 lbs lighter each than my 255/40R18 PS4S
Pair these with my 18.3 lb 18 x 9.5 Apex VS-5RS wheels and maybe the extra width can protect from curb rash (which I've experienced 2x )

 

[DougDC]

Great answers. I think you all have planted a seed in my brain for 18's. I'm wondering how regen braking will be affected? I was pretty nausious driving my M3P for the first couple of weeks. Is it really strong?