I have a 2012 Model S P85 with 21 inch wheels. are they 9.0 or 8.5 inches?

[alfredman]

I have a 2012 Model S P85 with 21 inch wheels. are they 9.0 or 8.5 inches?

 

[tm1v2]

The original 21" Model S wheels are 8.5" wide.

 

[alfredman]

The original 21" Model S wheels are 8.5" wide.

Thank you. Does that mean those wheels cannot use a 265/35 Z 21 tire?

 

[alfredman]

The original 21" Model S wheels are 8.5" wide.

Can the 8.5" wheels use 265/35 Z 21 tires?

 

[tm1v2]

Thank you. Does that mean those wheels cannot use a 265/35 Z 21 tire?

Why do you want a tire that size on 21x8.5" wheels? What do you hope to get out of it vs stock size? I think conventional wisdom is it won't be good for handling overall, but I haven't tried a setup like that myself.

Have you looked into the overall clearance for a tire of that diameter and width, when mounted at stock offset, front and rear? Especially front knuckle clearance for the larger diameter.

I don't have any offhand knowledge about tire clearance on the Model S, you'll have to look up or measure the answers.

 

[alfredman]

Why do you want a tire that size on 21x8.5" wheels? What do you hope to get out of it vs stock size? I think conventional wisdom is it won't be good for handling overall, but I haven't tried a setup like that myself.

Have you looked into the overall clearance for a tire of that diameter and width, when mounted at stock offset, front and rear? Especially front knuckle clearance for the larger diameter.

I don't have any offhand knowledge about tire clearance on the Model S, you'll have to look up or measure the answers.

Thank you for your knowledgable reply. On the 2013 Model S, which is the same body as my 2012, Tesla used staggered wheels where the rears where 265/35 Z21 and the fronts are 245/35 Z 21. I read that the wheels were different sizes as well.

 

[alfredman]

Thank you for your knowledgable reply. On the 2013 Model S, which is the same body as my 2012, Tesla used staggered wheels where the rears where 265/35 Z21 and the fronts are 245/35 Z 21. I read that the wheels were different sizes as well.

 

[tm1v2]

It's the front where clearance is going to be tighter due to knuckle and narrower bodywork.

Again though, why put 265s on 8.5" wide wheels? What's the purpose?

 

[alfredman]

I did not know if the wheels were 8.5 or 9.0" in the rear. When I looked at buying replacement 21" tires both the 245/35 and the 265/35 are listed.

 

[tm1v2]

Yeah 265/35R21 is for the P85+ rear wheels as you know. I would stay with 245/35R21 on the regular P85 wheels, but if you really want to try the wider size on them, I don't think it'll harm you.

 

[12Pack]

For the staggered set-up, the rear wheel is indeed 21x9”. In theory, the wider wheel and tyre can help the put down the power from the performance variant rear motors.

 

[alfredman]

The original 21" Model S wheels are 8.5" wide.

Is that true even for the P85 version with 21" wheels. There were no staggered wheel set-ups with 9" wheels on the 2012 Model S?

 

[tm1v2]

Is that true even for the P85 version with 21" wheels. There were no staggered wheel set-ups with 9" wheels on the 2012 Model S?

Correct. Regular P85 came with 4 identical 21x8.5" wheels. There was no P85+ yet in 2012 so most definitely all 2012 P85 left the factory with 21x8.5" wheels at all four corners. The P85+ option started mid-2013.

Wheels can be swapped obviously, and the P85+ rear wheels fit perfectly well on any 2012-2020 Model S, so don't make any assumptions based on this. This reply is just to the question of what came from the factory.

 

[alfredman]

Yeah 265/35R21 is for the P85+ rear wheels as you know. I would stay with 245/35R21 on the regular P85 wheels, but if you really want to try the wider size on them, I don't think it'll harm you.

Are there to different width wheels on my P85 2012 Model S (8.5" and 9") or are they all the same width?

 

[tm1v2]

Are there to different width wheels on my P85 2012 Model S (8.5" and 9") or are they all the same width?

If they are the original wheels then they're all identical size and offset, with 8.5" width.

For best certainly the size should be stamped on the inside of the spokes.

 

[alfredman]

Correct. Regular P85 came with 4 identical 21x8.5" wheels. There was no P85+ yet in 2012 so most definitely all 2012 P85 left the factory with 21x8.5" wheels at all four corners. The P85+ option started mid-2013.

Wheels can be swapped obviously, and the P85+ rear wheels fit perfectly well on any 2012-2020 Model S, so don't make any assumptions based on this. This reply is just to the question of what came from the factory.

Thank you for the information. May I mount 265/35 Z R 21 tires on the 8.5", 21"wheels to use for the rear tires on my P85?