Flat Tires

[Genomecop]

Morning all. I dont a X, I have a 3, but I'm posting for a friend.
I didnt know friends of my family had the model X. Yesterday I asked if they had ever had problem
with the Falcon doors and they replied no, 'but our tires get flat constantly'. This doesnt seem right to me and I was wondering if having the 'wrong' set of tires, or the wrong size would cause this. I know this isnt much to go on, and I'll try and get more information but just wanted to put it out there.
Thanks.

 

[ngng]

they have a leaking valve stem or a hole in their tires. unlikely the bead is not set.

 

[Master Chief]

I have gotten three flat tires in one year on my X from nails and screws which is about two more flats than I had on my 2009 Highlander Hybrid in 10 years (I ran over a spike on the interstate). You may be talking about leaking tires, but I am talking about flats. My theory is that there is a suspension piece that rides about 1/2 inch above the surface of the rear tires. If a nail or screw is picked up and "rides" on the rubber, it might normally just fly off without puncturing the tire. With the X I think the errant spike hits the suspension and is jabbed into the tire. I have nothing to base this theory on but I have never seen part of the suspension so close to the tire tread in any other vehicle.

Anyone else having a similar experience with flats?

 

[gnuarm]

I have gotten three flat tires in one year on my X from nails and screws which is about two more flats than I had on my 2009 Highlander Hybrid in 10 years (I ran over a spike on the interstate). You may be talking about leaking tires, but I am talking about flats. My theory is that there is a suspension piece that rides about 1/2 inch above the surface of the rear tires. If a nail or screw is picked up and "rides" on the rubber, it might normally just fly off without puncturing the tire. With the X I think the errant spike hits the suspension and is jabbed into the tire. I have nothing to base this theory on but I have never seen part of the suspension so close to the tire tread in any other vehicle.

Anyone else having a similar experience with flats?

My X had one flat tire the other day. A friend was driving it and the rear tires inside tread were worn through. Had it towed to my house from where it will be towed tomorrow to get new rubber. Now I need to figure out what tires to buy. 20 inch rims. I guess it's not going to be cheap.

 

[ngng]

My X had one flat tire the other day. A friend was driving it and the rear tires inside tread were worn through. Had it towed to my house from where it will be towed tomorrow to get new rubber. Now I need to figure out what tires to buy. 20 inch rims. I guess it's not going to be cheap.

few hundred bucks

 

[gnuarm]

I agree with the hundred, but not so much the "few" part. lol

Any idea why the inside tread wore out? Last time this happen to me was a car that had been whammed in the rear which the Tesla has not. Does the rear get aligned like the front? Could that be out? Alignment centers talk about measuring the rear alignment, but I've never had one be able to adjust anything.

 

[Master Chief]

I agree with the hundred, but not so much the "few" part. lol

Any idea why the inside tread wore out? Last time this happen to me was a car that had been whammed in the rear which the Tesla has not. Does the rear get aligned like the front? Could that be out? Alignment centers talk about measuring the rear alignment, but I've never had one be able to adjust anything.

I had all four tires wear to the belt on the inside. It was because I had adjusted the ride height down and apparently the suspension lowering system does not compensate the camber of the tires and it wore them out pretty quickly.

 

[ngng]

I had all four tires wear to the belt on the inside. It was because I had adjusted the ride height down and apparently the suspension lowering system does not compensate the camber of the tires and it wore them out pretty quickly.

you need to align your car for the ride height you are going to be in most often

 

[Silicon Desert]

I'm confused. My oldest Tesla 2016X never had a flat time on either the original set no on the newest set. Original set lasted 27,000 miles and when they came off, they were wearing evenly. Newest set now has 12,000 miles and still wearing evenly. No flats. Never needed an alignment either.

 

[mxnym]

you need to align your car for the ride height you are going to be in most often

Camber is not adjustable, so I'm not sure this helps (my service center refuses to do it anyway). Does the ride height adjustment also affect caster? Obviously aligning at a different ride height could help some if it does.

 

[ngng]

Camber is not adjustable, so I'm not sure this helps (my service center refuses to do it anyway). Does the ride height adjustment also affect caster? Obviously aligning at a different ride height could help some if it does.

ride height affects camber. you control camber through ride height. camber affects toe. toe kills tires.

 

[gnuarm]

you need to align your car for the ride height you are going to be in most often

But you can't align the rear wheels, no? If Tesla actually designed a ride height system that mucks up your wheel alignment they should not be in the auto manufacturing business.

 

[ngng]

But you can't align the rear wheels, no? If Tesla actually designed a ride height system that mucks up your wheel alignment they should not be in the auto manufacturing business.

it's not something tesla designed...it's just how an air suspension works

 

[mxnym]

But you can't align the rear wheels, no? If Tesla actually designed a ride height system that mucks up your wheel alignment they should not be in the auto manufacturing business.

You can adjust toe, just not caster.

it's not something tesla designed...it's just how an air suspension works

I actually work at a tier 3 automotive manufacturer, and I was told by a car enthusiast in upper management here that adjustable suspensions can and should designed to maintain alignment in all ride heights.

 

[ngng]

I actually work at a tier 3 automotive manufacturer, and I was told by a car enthusiast in upper management here that adjustable suspensions can and should designed to maintain alignment in all ride heights.

i don't disagree with you there. but that sounds...expensive and complicated having to align a car for multiple ride heights when you really only drive in one. hell, tesla removed lumbar adjustment becvause "not enough people used it" lol

 

[mxnym]

i don't disagree with you there. but that sounds...expensive and complicated having to align a car for multiple ride heights when you really only drive in one. hell, tesla removed lumbar adjustment becvause "not enough people used it" lol

The suspension would maintain alignment, you wouldn't have to "align it in all heights," but it would instead always have the same alignment because the hub geometry wouldn't move with the height changes. IIRC, he said something like "other manufacturers do it and it only requires a couple more joints."

ETA: To be clear, this discussion likely occurred in 2017, and I've completely forgotten the minutia.

 

[cobra]

There's an aftermarket set of 'arms' to get those adjustments for model X. Not sure it's worth it, but where there's a will there's a way?

 

[mxnym]

There's an aftermarket set of 'arms' to get those adjustments for model X. Not sure it's worth it, but where there's a will there's a way?

I did a bit of math on it, and it seemed that the frequent tire changes would be less expensive over a couple hundred thousand miles. Not saying I did the math right, but it was my conclusion.

 

[cobra]

I did a bit of math on it, and it seemed that the frequent tire changes would be less expensive over a couple hundred thousand miles. Not saying I did the math right, but it was my conclusion.

But they look cool! And they're powder coated! And aircraft aluminum!

 

[mbp11]

I think I saw someone post something in this forum in the past. What was the name of the company?