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Model 3 Tires, Tire Sizes, Types, make / model recommendations, tire discussions, etc
- Thread starter benswing
- Start date
DMan918
Member
I think it is a better route for a few reasons.
-Michelin over Pirelli (personal opinion)
-10mm wider to help with rim protection and handling
-235 on a 9" wheel is too stretched. (we all know this already)
-The Uberturbines are heavy so a 265 on that wheel seems counterproductive to me personally if you are trying to get more performance out of that wheel.
-Telsa Zero G set up uses 245s so its a wheel/tire combo you can choose from in the Tesla menu (pretty certain here)
-you do not want to go too tall with a 255/35 and a 255/30 has a REALLY sidewall and too short.
-Keep in mind had 255s on my A6 prior and it worked on that setup. I just dont feel it works for the Model 3. (personal opinion)
Ultimately, Your car. Your decision.
DMan918
Member
Thank you very much for your thoughts! It's really a matter now of me deciding on going with tires then, or if I just sell the wheels and tires and go to 19s. Decisions decisions...
cdub715
Member
I’m on 255/40 and loving the meaty set up. No rubbing what so ever. 255’s IMO fit flush with a 9.5 wheel. 245-255 on 9’’ would still be fine. I’ve seen countless of people running 255/35’s too with no issues. Main reason why I went 255 was cuz I didn’t want to take a huge range hit going 265, but I also wanted more concavity with a wider wheel. It’s all up to what your value most. Here are a couple more pictures of the car - you be the judge if it looks stretched. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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I would agree with everything you said personally. You were right doing the wider 255 tire on the 9.5". 265 would have probably been ideal but totally understand your sentiments. I can't argue with a guy who bought high end wheels custom fit to their car. Looks good!
MaskedRacerX
Member
I'm about 98% ready to pull the trigger on the MPS4 in 255/35 for my OEM Über 20" (sitting in my cart 
).
Totally agree with all the previous comments about the 245-255 vs. a 235/35 fitment on a 9" wide wheel. Since I don't plan on modifying the suspension, I'd like the tires to fill the fender gap a little more, so I want the slightly taller sidewall.
My main concerns:
Clearance
Sounds like no issue based on a few folks who have installed a 255/35 on the factory +34 offset 20" wheels. The outer fender wasn't as much of a concern as the inner control arms, etc., but that all seems to be no issue.
Traction/Stability Control
Seems like the consensus is stay within ~1% of the factory size, a 255/35 is ~2%, but if you set the car for the 245/35 spec wheel/tire setup, that would make the 255/35 ~1% and it sounds like that's a complete "fix" for this.
Mileage
Some impact, but 5-10% I can easily live with (if that's, in fact, the case), if it was over 20%, and certainly approaching 30%, I'd probably start to rethink this.
Noise
I'm __loving__ the quiet of the new ride, so I don't want this to be impacted too much, it's tricky to communicate, since everyone has different tolerances. So some folks say, "Barely any change", a few indicate, "Noticeable, but no big deal".
I think the 255 will look amazing, I mean, a good part of this for me is purely cosmetic, I want a meatier tire, the fenders more "filled out", but not at too much of a sacrifice, especially the 2nd/3rd concerns above.
I'm even thinking of maybe tossing on a 5mm slip on spacer for the rear, to square those up a little more, it would bring the effective offset to a +29, but I think that would be just about perfect for the rear.
).Totally agree with all the previous comments about the 245-255 vs. a 235/35 fitment on a 9" wide wheel. Since I don't plan on modifying the suspension, I'd like the tires to fill the fender gap a little more, so I want the slightly taller sidewall.
My main concerns:
Clearance
Sounds like no issue based on a few folks who have installed a 255/35 on the factory +34 offset 20" wheels. The outer fender wasn't as much of a concern as the inner control arms, etc., but that all seems to be no issue.
Traction/Stability Control
Seems like the consensus is stay within ~1% of the factory size, a 255/35 is ~2%, but if you set the car for the 245/35 spec wheel/tire setup, that would make the 255/35 ~1% and it sounds like that's a complete "fix" for this.
Mileage
Some impact, but 5-10% I can easily live with (if that's, in fact, the case), if it was over 20%, and certainly approaching 30%, I'd probably start to rethink this.
Noise
I'm __loving__ the quiet of the new ride, so I don't want this to be impacted too much, it's tricky to communicate, since everyone has different tolerances. So some folks say, "Barely any change", a few indicate, "Noticeable, but no big deal".
I think the 255 will look amazing, I mean, a good part of this for me is purely cosmetic, I want a meatier tire, the fenders more "filled out", but not at too much of a sacrifice, especially the 2nd/3rd concerns above.
I'm even thinking of maybe tossing on a 5mm slip on spacer for the rear, to square those up a little more, it would bring the effective offset to a +29, but I think that would be just about perfect for the rear.
I am trying to decide between sticking with the OEM MXM4 P235/45/18 tires vs getting Pirelli Cinturado P7, which is what a tech at a tire place suggested. Any advice is welcome. This is for a 2018 AWD model 3 with about 33,000 miles, mostly highway. I drive pretty conservatively; almost never in snow, only occasionally in rain. The two rear tires are down to about 3/32, so I am planning to replace those two now. The front tires still have about 6/32. I appreciate low rolling resistance and I do not corner fast or accelerate much off the line. I know this has been discussed a lot, but I wonder if anyone can share a sense of the bottom lane and what might be best for me (and probably a lot of other people too). Thank you!
ElectricGhost
Member
255/35 is better. Say they weight 1-2lb more? Thats not noticeable at all.
But sidewall goes up 0.1 inch. That fills in the wheel well gap a bit batter. More importantly, that extra 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) helps to cushion the rim a bit more.
The bigger gain is probably that the wheels have a higher Max Load rating, 1609 vs 1521 vs 1389 OEM 235/35/20s. To me that means the wheel is stiffer and so less likely to get a damaged rim. I don't know though, I'm just assuming.
You also may get a bit more heat capacity due to more tread so that may help with performance. Idk.
This biggest potential loss is added drag, but I don't think its really that noticeable either.
Overall I say get the 255/35/20's because the are $350-$400 cheaper than the 255/35/20s, fill the wheel gap better, and give a bit more rim protection between load rating and increase sidewall.
Tire Size Comparison
Tire size comparison the easy way. Use our tire size comparison calculator to compare diameter, width, sidewall, circumference and revolutions per mile.
DMan918
Member
Just FYI I ordered 245/35/20 continental dws 06 plus tires today for when my m3p comes in. Thanks so much again.
Gimmethecash
Member
I’m running 255/35/20 on 20x9.5 ET35 fronts. Clears, even with the M3P thin rotor hats.
I listened very closely for the difference in tire noise and noticed a slight increase, but forgot about it after about 10 seconds and haven’t thought about it until I saw this thread; it’s a non-issue for me.
I listened very closely for the difference in tire noise and noticed a slight increase, but forgot about it after about 10 seconds and haven’t thought about it until I saw this thread; it’s a non-issue for me.
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DMan918
Member
Sorry follow up question. Should I keep my wheel set at the uberturbines or something else to reflect the new tire size?
Gimmethecash
Member
jrmt23
he/him/his
Do not get those P7s. They're the OEM tire on the VW GTI and they're trassssh.
Look at the Pilot Sport All Season 4s or the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus.
DMan918
Member
cdub715
Member
Pilot All Season Season 4's have a stickier tire compound than the DWS06 so that's something to consider if youre concerned about your efficiency.
jrmt23
he/him/his
Nice! I had the older DWS06 on my Mustang and they were superb tires.
Currently I have the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ on my GTI, and I would be getting the revised Pilot sport All Season 4S this year if I wasn’t trading in for a Model 3 soon
.
MaskedRacerX
Member
It looks like people running spacers are generally doing 5-6mm more in the rear (assuming a square wheel setup), so my question: if I want a little more flush offset in the rear, and I'm running stock Uber 20", can I run a 5mm slipover on the rear?
I assume with the Performance hubs, a 5mm will still allow more-than-safe lug engagement (going to be running aftermarket lugs as well).
255/35-20s ordered
(implied to be soon for sale: 235/35-20 OEM Pirellis)
I assume with the Performance hubs, a 5mm will still allow more-than-safe lug engagement (going to be running aftermarket lugs as well).
255/35-20s ordered
(implied to be soon for sale: 235/35-20 OEM Pirellis)
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