M3P hesitates with new rims in 1/4 mile run

[silverflash]

Took my Model 3 stealth performance last night to the drag strip and the first two runs car ran 11.5. The next 3 runs the car would hesitate around the 330ft mark and end up running from 12.2 to 12.6. Could it be that I swapped my 20’s for aftermarket 18” Enkei PF01’s with TPMS I bought on eBay?

 

[GLM3]

The wheels shouldn't make any difference assuming correct bore size and offset doesn't result in tires/wheels rubbing against anything. I've only experienced t hesitation in my M3P in non-ideal conditions and traction control made a real-time adjustment. Is it possible the track had some material on the track at the 330 ft mark resulting in less than ideal conditions?

 

[silverflash]

I thought the same thing but tested it out on the way home and the same thing happened. Between 70-90mph the car loses power and then regains the power, really weird.

 

[silverflash]

So I swapped my stock wheels back on and the hesitation is gone.

 

[Tiger]

So I swapped my stock wheels back on and the hesitation is gone.

It is possible that the new wheels are too slippery, and the wheels can actually rotate at different speed compared to the rubber.

 

[Sophias_dad]

It is possible that the new wheels are too slippery, and the wheels can actually rotate at different speed compared to the rubber.

I hope you realize that you linked to a remote control car forum.

I'd be REALLY surprised if the hesitation was really the tires rotating on the rims, especially because it happens at 70-90mph instead of at launch. There's a ton of friction at the bead.


Its gonna be fun getting the service center to figure that one out.

 

[JT_M3P]

I doubt it's the wheels since the first two runs were normal with the new wheels.

 

[f308gt4]

What was your battery at? Could low battery charge have caused this?

 

[silverflash]

Battery was at 80% when I started and 70% after the runs.

 

[silverflash]

The first time the car dropped power the traction control warning popped on but I felt no slippage. The next times it happened no warning came on.

 

[Dolemite]

Doubt it's anything related to TPMS. I have heard of rims spinning within the tire, but it's rare - plus the TM3's starting to wind down on power at those speeds so I'd be surprised if it's happening there & not <40 mph.

 

[blaferty]

Long shot - are you supposed to change 'wheel configuration' when changing to wheels
with different diameter?

 

[MasterC17]

I would make sure you change the wheel configuration if you haven't already to match the overall diameter of the new setup. You also need to drive it for ~50+ miles for the car to "learn" the new grip characteristics. What tires are you using, are they new - what size?

 

[silverflash]

So I did switch the wheel configuration to the 18” stock rims and drove over 50 miles to the track

 

[MasterC17]

So I did switch the wheel configuration to the 18” stock rims and drove over 50 miles to the track

Can you please let us know what tires you are using with the 18" wheels (including size)? Are they new or used?

 

[silverflash]

Relatively new RE-71 Bridgestone Potenza 255/35r18. I’ve used them for 3 Autocross events and that’s it.

 

[MasterC17]

Relatively new RE-71 Bridgestone Potenza 255/35r18. I’ve used them for 3 Autocross events and that’s it.

Ok so the overall diameter of that tire is only 25". The smallest OEM option, the 18" MXM4 is 26.3". That's a pretty massive difference of 5%. The ABS/DSC/TC/AutoPilot/Odometer/etc were not designed to compensate for such a large difference.

I would only run tires with an overall diameter between 26" and 26.8" (1.1% max difference from stock options).

 

[silverflash]

Damn that’s wild never even thought of that but it makes complete sense. I wonder why the first two runs it didn’t happen.

 

[Woundman]

Had something similar happen to me as well. Ran 245/35/18s and sometimes the traction control would limit power. Wheel is spinning much faster than design so it thinks the tire is breaking loose. Unfortunately I don't think it can be fixed until Tesla gives customers the option to set tire diameter instead of wheel size.

I'm currently running 255/45/18s and noticed I haven't had any issues with traction control. Unfortunately it definitely has reduced acceleration but gained some top end.

 

[Sam1]

Wheel is spinning much faster than design so it thinks the tire is breaking loose.

What is it using to compare wheel speed to actual speed with? Because if all 4 wheels are the same diameter, it shouldn't appear that the wheels are spinning faster than the others. Unless there's something I'm not seeing here.