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Model 3 wheel cover purpose?
- Thread starter TesConvert
- Start date
android04
Active Member
They make the car wheels more aerodynamic and improve range about 3% in certain situations. They reduce wind drag.
Yes it makes the car more efficient by reducing drag, but this is only noticed at speeds above 65mph+ so car is 5% efficient at highway/freeway speeds. Efficiency at speeds below 65mph are insignificant
I have not seen anyone here saying that they look better... they apparently do reduce aerodynamic drag at higher speeds, so you would get a few percent better efficiency and range in highway driving with them on versus off.
Super bonus is that there are pretty nice alloy rims under those covers. Many prefer the looks of the alloy wheels and only consider installing the covers on road trips.
The 18" alloy wheels without the aero covers look great, especially with the midnight silver paint. You just need to buy the aero wheel cap kit to cover the lug nuts. I used the old one with individual nut caps and a small center cover, but I see the new wheel cap kit now just has a larger center cover, much like you find with the stock 19" wheels. Both really dress up the 18" alloy wheels and you can avoid the dorky-looking aero covers!
PianoAl
Active Member
Why aren't something like this more popular? Wouldn't they be maximally aerodynamic?
BigNick
Infamous Fat Sweaty Guy
"Bonneville" style wheel covers IMO would be a great aftermarket idea.
Not everyone digs that look, and brake cooling is greatly reduced (but Regen doesn't heat up the brakes.)
The vents in the OEM covers are likely there to meet whatever minimum brake cooling requirements there are (in the hard use case where the friction brakes are used heavily, as opposed to gentle driving that uses all regenerative braking).
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
More like you’re getting ~5% less range without them (the car’s EPA range was tested/calculated with them on), but yeah, basically that.
At highway speeds anyway.
The bottom car looks just like mine--but with wheel covers. The gray color is really a plum color.
I came here after searching bc i had similar questions. Not trying to stir the pot, but I'm so curious as to why there is an enormous level of interest in hubcaps/wheel covers within the tesla community. I understand the potential aero benefit of the oem covers, but do aftermarket provide similar benefits or just for looks? I just feel like wheel covers would just be hated on in any other car community yet so well embraced here.
Falcon73
Member
The M3 is already so efficient I'm not too concerned about it, but see attached for my new wheel covers... they didn't come this color but I really like how they came out in silver. My M3H is next to the M3 with the stock Aero covers.
I was going to get the Nova wheels for the M3H, but opted for Photon 18's so I could choose my own covers. The Photon covers look better than the Aero's IMO but I still wanted better and stored them.
I was going to get the Nova wheels for the M3H, but opted for Photon 18's so I could choose my own covers. The Photon covers look better than the Aero's IMO but I still wanted better and stored them.
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the 18" wheels are not the best looking underneath, the design is putting a wheel cover on for highest efficiency, Tesla's wheel covers are hideous looking vs the uber look from the aftermarket, the difference in range between the covers is negligible, a by product of the cover is rim rash protection...good luck
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