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Model YP in the snow?
- Thread starter MIPlaid
- Start date
Probably not. New England here and I always use a set of dedicated snow tires.
The car is heavy, regen is not good on ice, and all season tires are a compromise.
Neither of those are optional settings on any current model of the Tesla Model Y. You can select Chill mode and this will reduce power to the front and rear drive motors. You can also engage Off-Road mode but this mode disables the traction control.
Tesla removed the option for reduced regenerative braking. Current production Tesla Model Y vehicles as delivered do not have the factory capability for the user to select Low, only Standard regenerative braking. (There are aftermarket smart buttons you can purchase that can enable low regenerative braking.)
The real issue will be the potholes and general poor condition of the roads (not just in winter.) The low profile tires on the Performance Model Y do not stand much chance on Michigan roads in winter. For winter driving you would want 19" or 18" wheels and winter tires, else drive a different vehicle when the roads are snow covered, icy. Even then pot holes year round remain a concern with the OE 21" wheels and factory low profile tires.
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In Chicago (much the same as MI) I have had no issues in the winter driving the YP since 2020. Have the same all season tires as you. As for all the fears on winter regen it’s a mute point in my opinion. As soon as it gets that cold the car rarely if ever regens and tells you so. You will likely be a bit more cautious one peddle driving but overall never been an issue here. We have also used the car several times to ski in the UP of MI and no issues.
I highly doubt that the majority of the Michigan drivers use all season tires that came with the car during the winter driving. As the poster above mentioned, it it will be totally fine with 21s.
Here's the fun fact: when I had a VW Golf R with factory 19s, people said it was too dangerous to drive with the 19s and 17s are must for winter driving. Do you see where I am getting at here? =)
Highly suggest snow tires. I live in MI during half of the winter and on my 5th winter. I look at snow tires keeping me out of the bump shop. Switch over on December 1 and back to all season April 1.
Do you need them? I guess maybe not. All user subjective. Some people see snow and freak. Some blast through the drifts and drive big miles in the winter. I drive in almost all conditions outside of ice that I am aware of at the time. Roads in Michigan are horrendous. I have 18 inch forged on my 3 and stock 19's on my S.
Slip start is used at the moment. Not at every time. From manual:
Although Slip Start is automatically disabled the next time you start Model 3, it is strongly recommended that you disable it immediately after the circumstances that required you to enable it have passed.
teslamotorsclub.com
Do you need them? I guess maybe not. All user subjective. Some people see snow and freak. Some blast through the drifts and drive big miles in the winter. I drive in almost all conditions outside of ice that I am aware of at the time. Roads in Michigan are horrendous. I have 18 inch forged on my 3 and stock 19's on my S.
Slip start is used at the moment. Not at every time. From manual:
Although Slip Start is automatically disabled the next time you start Model 3, it is strongly recommended that you disable it immediately after the circumstances that required you to enable it have passed.
What are the conditions to use Slip Start?
I'm a little confused on the best conditions to use Slip Start. I have had my fair share of AWD/FWD/RWD Snow Tires and Exposure to Snow various Conditions. I have had several cars crawl through some slippery condition, if the Traction Control Defeat and boom off you go. And if I recall still...
teslamotorsclub.com
Slip start is not for driving. It’s for getting you out of a deep snow patch or uneven terrain if the vehicle is stuck.
so, bottom line is that anyone who drives Tesla cars during the winter months crash their cars all the time and Tesla is useless during the winter months?
Bro. I just said to get snow tires if you live in places like Vermont or Michigan.
I’m sure you’ll be okay in Virginia. Relax.
So all people in Vernon or Michigan drive with snow tires? I’m assuming most won’t.
People can choose to drive their cars with bald tires too. Doesn’t make it a good idea.
I’m not sure what point it is you are trying to make. If it’s that Tesla delivers all vehicles to all regions with adequate tires; that is demonstrably false.
If it’s that most Tesla owners in winter clients just assume it’s okay to drive on whatever tires come stock on the vehicle; that is also false. Winter tires exist for a reason.
Go troll elsewhere, please.
I think that depends heavily on where you live. If you live in a snowy region where roads are covered in some form of ice and/or snow basically from Dec to Apr, it takes a whopping storm to keep people off the roads. Life must go on. If you'll be driving on cold roads, snow or ice = winter tires.
What did you do with your previous cars? I would do the same. The only caveat would be with the width of the tires, they would tend to ride over the snow rather than cutting through.
I have the Geminis with Conti all-seasons on mine and the one time we had serious snow here in NJ this past winter, I went out and played around with all of the various settings and found leaving it in my 'normal' settings (Standard for driving, Sport for steering) worked just fine for me.
Rshephorse
Member
Vermont- going to ski areas all the time, always when it is snowing the most- it does really well in the snow [vredenstein snow tires] I would use Chill mode in slippery conditions, but really never needed the slipstart/offroad modes. I do better than the other MYPs though because I went for the non-performance tires for the ride in the summer and the traction in the winter.
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