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I will never buy 21" tires again
- Thread starter theheff
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- Driving Dynamics Model S
Xenoilphobe
Well-Known Member
My TPMS kept going off and one of my rear staggered 21's was diagnoissed with a hairline crack. I had prepped a set of 19 stockers with PVD Black Chrome - so we pulled the 4 21's to be sent off to rehab (only $800 to repair all of them) and will run the 19's through the winter.
ddimit
Member
Those look great in black chrome. I did my standard 19's in flat black. I get lots of comments from other Owners thinking they are a aftermarket wheel.
Xenoilphobe
Well-Known Member
Thank you. I get stopped constantly the last couple of days on how to get it done. I'm doing the same treatment to the stock 21s. I am absolutely stunned at how well they turned out.
Xenoilphobe
Well-Known Member
Wheels of Steel
Member
FWIW, here in Texas we're very pleased with the 21" wheel, and no damage thus far over about 40k of driving, give or take.
The only negatives are that Michelin tire availability is a joke (at least via aftermarket; Tesla Services may have the inside track on those?), and the extra cost, of course.
Positives are many: stopping, going, handling/cornering, are far, far better, an important consideration on such fast and powerful automobile. And, the most important--the MS looks far better in a 21" wheel . . . .
The only negatives are that Michelin tire availability is a joke (at least via aftermarket; Tesla Services may have the inside track on those?), and the extra cost, of course.
Positives are many: stopping, going, handling/cornering, are far, far better, an important consideration on such fast and powerful automobile. And, the most important--the MS looks far better in a 21" wheel . . . .
tmyl21
Member
Amen TSLA Pilot couldn't agree more! No problems with them here and I drive on them in NJ and NY
TSLA Pilot, are you running staggered or non-staggered 21"s? Mine are staggered, meaning that the only tire that fits is the PS2. For me in Texas, I had one tire replaced due to a sidewall bubble at 7K miles, and was told that there is a small bend in one other rim (which I can't feel when driving.) Talking to both my local Tesla Techs they stated to me that tire and rim damage in the 21" s is extremely common issue (at least down here.)
I have no way to verify this, but I'm curious if Tesla changed the alloy in the wheels at some point. A lot of the 21" problems I'm seeing were early VINs like mine. It seems like more recent owners aren't having as many issues. Of course, this could also be due to the number of miles driven.
thegruf
Active Member
now that is both interesting and could be entirely consistent with Tesla's model of continuous improvement.
Can I suggest setting up a poll to log 21 inch failures by year (or even half year increment). Obviously the older cars will show more failures, but maybe it will show a sudden drop where there was a change.
There are two issues with the 21" wheels. First is the tires, the second is the rims. On the 21" being the tires are low profile, they are more prone to sidewall damage being there is less rubber between the road contact and the rim, and thereby easier for the tire to get damaged. They second with the rim, I believe that the 21" (correct me if I am wrong) are cast and not the stronger forged.
For myself, I took delivery last December. My car came with the staggered 21" with PS2s. In 7000 miles I have had one tire replaced due to a sidewall bubble, and one other wheel's rim damaged for no impact that I ever noticed.
For myself, I took delivery last December. My car came with the staggered 21" with PS2s. In 7000 miles I have had one tire replaced due to a sidewall bubble, and one other wheel's rim damaged for no impact that I ever noticed.
Non-staggered 21" Tesla wheels.
Note that Dallas is filled with 5 or 6 inch "wheel buster" lane separators at many intersections. On our side of Hwy 360 we don't have that insanity to deal with so perhaps that may help explain the number of blown tires and bent wheels?
We've had the 21" wheels since our first MS in June of 2013 and are quite pleased. The issue with the 19" wheel and tire is the massive difference in available traction, as noted with some of our service loaners IMHO. (And our 70D until the wheels are replaced.)
Perhaps Tesla will upgrade and make the base wheel 20" for the Model X, and then bring that over to the MS? Sounds like it might be a better choice/compromise, and fill out the wheel well a bit better, especially on the SUV . . . .
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