Model Y Performance 21" Tires - Larger, More Comfortable Fitment Details and Experience - Michelin AS4's (With Photos)

[ultramyp]

OK, I did it!!! They are fantastic! Ride great, look great, I would absolutely never go back!!!

Thank you!

Any need for alignment? Considering doing this, but also want 18" or 19" for winter tires, and don't want to be doing an alignment every time I swap.

 

[kpanda17]

Any need for alignment? Considering doing this, but also want 18" or 19" for winter tires, and don't want to be doing an alignment every time I swap.

people will argue, but i'd do realignment when pulling or steering wheel off or its been a while, best practice

 

[QtownTaxiGreg]

Any need for alignment? Considering doing this, but also want 18" or 19" for winter tires, and don't want to be doing an alignment every time I swap.

A seasonal alignment is a good thing to be doing!

 

[shawnbj]

Cool thread. I have adjusted my PSI to 39 on the screen - my oldish PSI reader says it’s 42 but will go with the screen.

When I picked up the MYP the screen said 42 and my reader said 45 and the ride was a tad stiff and loose. Basically I will play with it for a while.

I wonder if anyone has staggered the PSI to add traction to front. Like 39 in front and 41+ in the rear?

I am more used to using coilovers to adjust ride height (or springs) in order to make each corner carry the same weight - mostly with my prior German toys.

Not my area … but with the stock setup of my MYP (of 42) the ride can get a little loose in the mountains if the roads get bumpy.

I have read that this might be more of the breaks kicking in when the tires lose contact with the road - MYP vs Kia.

Who knows. Sorry for the lengthy post - too much coffee!

 

[fiehlsport]

Cars don't magically lose alignment over the course of a year - you can have a car with excellent tire wear for 10 years if there aren't any major road hazards. Seasonal alignments are most definitely a waste of money. Once the car starts wearing out and bushings start to perish, then it's time.

I don't mess with cars that exhibit great tire wear, a tech is only bound to make it worse. If the car drives straight and tires are wearing evenly - there's nothing to be gained.

A seasonal alignment is a good thing to be doing!

 

[larns576]

I have to roll my eyes when people hit a pothole and exclaim "Oh no! My alignment!". Your alignment did not just go out, unless you hit the pothole so hard it bent something in your suspension.

 

[WhiteAdobo]

I was just playing with a tire tool and noticed it said that our tire pressure should be lower to maintain factory load capacity.

Does this apply to us since we’ve changed tire size?

Tire Pressure Calculator

Easy to use tire pressure calculator. Use our tire pressure calculator to calculate the new tire pressure needed when changing tire sizes.

tiresize.com

 

[BikerPeaBody]

33 seems low

 

[towndrunk]

You'd want another data point to rule out a typo.

 

[Destiny1701]

Below 36 I believe you’ll have the tpms kick in. I run 38/39 myself and more than an adequate balance.

 

[Boedha-Online]

In my Model Y performance Berlin built below 38 the TPMS light already kicks on

 

[BK2BLK]

I’m looking at getting your setup once my stock tires are worn down. I’m only at 7,500 miles. But, there are several major dips I drive through regularly, like where I turn into a venue and the ground is higher but there’s a deeeep dip down before the steeep 4-5 foot driveway up where, if I go fast, my 2023 Tesla Model Y Perfrormance with Tesla front mud flaps—the mud flaps scrape either a tiny bit or not at all. And some speed bumps where the flaps scrape if I’m going too fast, like 20 mph over them. Can you confirm that your tire setup has the clearance for these situations too? What about in snow? I’m in Wisconsin. It’s hard to believe there’s enough clearance with your setup. Great write-up in any case!

 

[Raurele]

I was just playing with a tire tool and noticed it said that our tire pressure should be lower to maintain factory load capacity.

Does this apply to us since we’ve changed tire size?

Tire Pressure Calculator

Easy to use tire pressure calculator. Use our tire pressure calculator to calculate the new tire pressure needed when changing tire sizes.

tiresize.com

View attachment 1056888

I always do 39 cold. Elon suggested 39 as well.

 

[DougYP]

I recently had to replace my 2022 MYP OEM Michelin All Season 4's and after a lot of research, and tire hunting, wanted to share my experience and the direction I went. Valuable information for those close to ordering new tires. I just drive 2000 miles through Santa Cruz, San Jose, Sacramento, and did a weekend in Tahoe, driving on many dirt roads and rough roads.

First off, I will never go with another set of tires after having these. I made it to 37,000 miles with 3/32 left on all 4 tires. they wore evenly. Their performance in heavy rain and even 6" of snow was unbelievable. Ive had multiple cars with Pirellis, and always stuck with them, but was not happy with the miles I got out of them, and the thought of getting 27,000 miles on them with an EV just sounds terrible considering the price.

The Tires

I went up in size with width, and sidewall.

Stock/OEM for the MYP is:
Front: 255/35/21
View attachment 853290
Rear: 275/35/21
View attachment 853291

The tires I chose are:
Front: 265/40/21
View attachment 853292
Rear: 295/40/21
View attachment 853293
Fitment

Front wheels fully turned, there's still >1" to the inner tire well. So no rubbing at all, even with quick turns into parking lots (Where you would probably get rubbing the most)
Rear wheels haven't rubbed on any large bumps. I even tried to get them to rub. nothing.

The main bonus functionality wise is that the tires extend farther out than the rims. not much, but they do.
View attachment 853301

Look

The difference is huge. Pictures don't do it justice. When I see other MYP's now, the OEM tires look stretched and the amount of room in the tire well looks like a mistake. maybe not on the MYLR, but for a performance, the larger sidewall REALLY looks great. It creates the illusion that your car is lowered, but its actually ~1.5" higher clearance

It truly looks performance even though It can handle bumpy roads and "All Season" conditions even better.

Before:
View attachment 853299

After:
View attachment 853302
Efficiency

This part was really interesting.

Bigger tires have a higher rolling resistance than smaller tires which means they require more resistance and effort to get them rolling. However, if you do a lot of freeway driving at high speeds, larger tires can help increase your vehicle's efficiency.

So, days I drive a lot in the city with lots of stop and go, I get about 7% less range. but when I do a lot of freeway driving, I get about 7% better range.

I drive 150-350 miles a day, and have found zero difference in range because I do a wide range of road types. I really thought I'd lose range.

Feel

WOW, what a difference. Sure the suspension is still stiff, but I feel a LOT less of the small imperfections of the roads I drive on every day. even my girlfriend said she noticed it before I got to point it out. Speed bumps and things feel much better and not like im driving over a 2"x4". This is my favorite part of these tires functionality wise. Cant describe it.

There is no foam in the tires, but they are STILL quieter than the OEM with the foam. that stuffs a gimmick.

Things To Be Aware Of

Speedometer: It is not going to be accurate. Due to the larger diameter, it is off. I called Tesla, and talked to 2 different service centers, and there is nothing they can do about it. This seems like something Tesla overlooked. The only thing you can change is your rim size in your cars settings, but not the diameter...

So, when my car says im going 70MPH, im actually going 74MPH.
says 25, im going 26.5
says 40, im going 43
says 65, im going 68.5
says 85 (for AP max) im going 90.

This is something that as long as you keep in mind, it doesnt matter. I just changed my cruise control settings so it doesn't add 5MPH anymore. I chose 7% increase and it's fine.

I dont know if it's the new beta version, or that the car thinks its going slower than it is, but ive noticed that on AP/FSDbeta, it is taking turns a little wider and sometimes touches the lines on the outer edge of the turn if im going above 50mph. I'm pretty sure it's the speed issue.

This really needs to be able to be corrected by the user in the settings. sometimes switching brands can add .5in of diameter even if the tire is the same "size".

Conclusion:

Go Bigger! the OEM tires are actually stretched on your Uberturbines. they are meant for wider tires but Tesla went smaller for efficiency reasons, which in the end, didn't matter. Finding the OEM sizes of these wonderful tires is basically impossible. They are on a national backorder right now which is why I went for a different size in the first place. These tires arent cheap, but they ARE worth every penny.

American tire warned me that they weren't OEM sizes, and I told them I know for a fact they will fit and they had no problem installing them.

Here's some more pictures just for fun. These are some CHONKY tires. Thicc with 2 "C"s. tiny American tire man for reference.
View attachment 853304View attachment 853305

have a new set of Michelin big tires today @ American tires today. Look great and drive comfortable. I will have alignment @ Tesla next week. Thank you for your posting and write-up. Good job.

 

[Raurele]

have a new set of Michelin big tires today @ American tires today. Look great and drive comfortable. I will have alignment @ Tesla next week. Thank you for your posting and write-up. Good job.

Great to hear. Enjoy! Crazy that it looks almost lowered but it has more clearance than stock. Enjoy!

 

[towndrunk]

have a new set of Michelin big tires today @ American tires today. Look great and drive comfortable. I will have alignment @ Tesla next week. Thank you for your posting and write-up. Good job.

Don't get your alignment at Tesla. They align at medium height, yet you spend most of your time driving in low. Their alignment specs are so wide, anything is allowed. Makes no sense.

Go to some place that offers a lifetime alignment for a one time fee ~$200. Then you get get an alignment for free every 5-6k miles. I got mine at Firestone and I plan to tweak my rear camber shims and front lowering links prior to my next one.

 

[Deaf Paul]

Don't get your alignment at Tesla. They align at medium height, yet you spend most of your time driving in low. Their alignment specs are so wide, anything is allowed. Makes no sense.

You do realize that you’re posting in the Model Y sub forum right? Our MYP suspensions aren’t adjustable much less adjust on the fly so there’s no “low” or “medium” setting. The rest of your advice is spot on though.

-Paul