Howdy M3 owners and admirers (I'm still an admirer and soon-to-be owner),
I'm a motorcyclist and have been commuting to L.A. for work on a 2013 white Triumph Daytona 675R sportbike. I saw the strangest thing, and maybe you'll have some insight here.
I haven't had a car in about a year as I am saving up for a Model 3 Long Range (white). I was behind the locus of my affection (a white Model 3 in the wild) and everything was normal, until I noticed a rogue wheel rolling on its own in the HOV lane. The wheel came off the left side of a vehicle and was rolling to my left, so avoiding it was no issue. I was amazed at how much it was rolling though!
I quickly realized (being the road-scanning rider that I am) that the Model 3 in front of me had lost its left rear wheel. WHA?
Around that time, the M3 pilot also noticed the issue, and surprisingly the M3 was stable enough on three wheels for it not to immediately sink down on the missing rotor. The M3 driver starting pulling to the right, and I tracked him to help stop traffic behind (like a cop doing a traffic break, kinda) to help the Pete Sully of four-wheeled travel. He made it far enough over where they'd be okay and I carried upon my merry and eventful commute.
What gives? Are there any known issues with wheels coming off of Teslas, or is this more likely just an errant wheel installation where either the bolts were missing entirely or just not DUGGADUGGA'd with enough torque? Would the Tesla alert the driver if a wheel had gone missing? I suppose it would be obvious, especially if the driver sees a missing wheel in the side mirrors and a somewhat animated motorcyclist behind waving them over to the right.
I'm impressed that the Tesla Model 3 was still driveable with three wheels. Probably due to that very low center of gravity and three other wheels to share the load. Good to know.
I'm a motorcyclist and have been commuting to L.A. for work on a 2013 white Triumph Daytona 675R sportbike. I saw the strangest thing, and maybe you'll have some insight here.
I haven't had a car in about a year as I am saving up for a Model 3 Long Range (white). I was behind the locus of my affection (a white Model 3 in the wild) and everything was normal, until I noticed a rogue wheel rolling on its own in the HOV lane. The wheel came off the left side of a vehicle and was rolling to my left, so avoiding it was no issue. I was amazed at how much it was rolling though!
I quickly realized (being the road-scanning rider that I am) that the Model 3 in front of me had lost its left rear wheel. WHA?
Around that time, the M3 pilot also noticed the issue, and surprisingly the M3 was stable enough on three wheels for it not to immediately sink down on the missing rotor. The M3 driver starting pulling to the right, and I tracked him to help stop traffic behind (like a cop doing a traffic break, kinda) to help the Pete Sully of four-wheeled travel. He made it far enough over where they'd be okay and I carried upon my merry and eventful commute.
What gives? Are there any known issues with wheels coming off of Teslas, or is this more likely just an errant wheel installation where either the bolts were missing entirely or just not DUGGADUGGA'd with enough torque? Would the Tesla alert the driver if a wheel had gone missing? I suppose it would be obvious, especially if the driver sees a missing wheel in the side mirrors and a somewhat animated motorcyclist behind waving them over to the right.
I'm impressed that the Tesla Model 3 was still driveable with three wheels. Probably due to that very low center of gravity and three other wheels to share the load. Good to know.
