My winter setup: 19” TST with Nokian R3

[dmd2005]

Just quickly swapped out my 20” Stilettos to 19” TSportline metallic grey wheels with Nokian R3’s in 235/40/19. I noticed that the Nokian’s are ultra low rolling resistance, so that will help with energy usage for the winter. I’m not sure what the difference is between low rolling vs ultra low rolling resistance in terms of efficiency. After I get a few miles, I’ll report back regarding energy usage.

Wheels look great, but I’m planning to swap out the cheapo ebay TPMS sensors I bought and change them out to Tesla ones or shorter ones with a dark metal stem. The current plastic valve stems stick out too far for my liking and makes it look cheap.

I used Murphy’s jack pads, a 2.5 ton floor jack, torque wrench, 21mm impact socket, a set of locking wheel nuts, and an Aero wheel kit. The black lug caps fit perfectly over the Tesla lock nuts as well. Took me about 30 mins to swap out and 30 mins driving around and 30 mins to swap back to the Stilettos...gonna pick up the Tesla TPMS sensors this week and get them put in the TST wheels at the tire shop.

If you’re planning to get a set of Tsportlines, you can get $50 off a $500 or more purchase with my referral link below.

T Sportline - Tesla Model S, X & 3 Aftermarket Accessories

 

[dmd2005]

A few more pics at diff angles and with stock wheels.

 

[run-the-joules]

I'm planning on ordering the R3s as soon as a major supplier in the US actually starts selling the danged things…

 

[brobinson]

they shipped your cap kit in a fancy box? Mine came in plastic bags

 

[Goosby]

I'm planning on ordering the R3s as soon as a major supplier in the US actually starts selling the danged things…

I purchased mine from discount tire. Apparently they had a (smallish) shipment being routed through a Chicago warehouse and were able to divert a set for me, even though the tire wasn’t listed on their website at the time. Might be worth a call to your local tire stores, even if the tire isn’t listed as for sale on their site, to see if they’re able to order a set for you.

 

[run-the-joules]

I purchased mine from discount tire. Apparently they had a (smallish) shipment being routed through a Chicago warehouse and were able to divert a set for me, even though the tire wasn’t listed on their website at the time. Might be worth a call to your local tire stores, even if the tire isn’t listed as for sale on their site, to see if they’re able to order a set for you.

Oh very nice info, thank you. If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for them?

 

[Skione65]

Just quickly swapped out my 20” Stilettos to 19” TSportline metallic grey wheels with Nokian R3’s in 235/40/19. I noticed that the Nokian’s are ultra low rolling resistance, so that will help with energy usage for the winter. I’m not sure what the difference is between low rolling vs ultra low rolling resistance in terms of efficiency. After I get a few miles, I’ll report back regarding energy usage.

Wheels look great, but I’m planning to swap out the cheapo ebay TPMS sensors I bought and change them out to Tesla ones or shorter ones with a dark metal stem. The current plastic valve stems stick out too far for my liking and makes it look cheap.

I used Murphy’s jack pads, a 2.5 ton floor jack, torque wrench, 21mm impact socket, a set of locking wheel nuts, and an Aero wheel kit. The black lug caps fit perfectly over the Tesla lock nuts as well. Took me about 30 mins to swap out and 30 mins driving around and 30 mins to swap back to the Stilettos...gonna pick up the Tesla TPMS sensors this week and get them put in the TST wheels at the tire shop.

If you’re planning to get a set of Tsportlines, you can get $50 off a $500 or more purchase with my referral link below.

T Sportline - Tesla Model S, X & 3 Aftermarket Accessories

@dmd2005,

Let me know what difference you see in Wh/mi and range or energy efficiency compared to the stock 20’s. I’m running the stock 20’s currently on my P3D+ and am getting ready to pull the trigger on a winter setup. This may be my go to setup.

Ski

 

[vletnguyen]

they shipped your cap kit in a fancy box? Mine came in plastic bags

Mine came in a plastic bag as well. haha.

Oh very nice info, thank you. If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for them?

I ordered ( called local store) mine from discount tire was well. it was $200 for 235/45/18 R3 vs $213 for the R2 , per tire.

 

[run-the-joules]

Mine came in a plastic bag as well. haha.



I ordered ( called local store) mine from discount tire was well. it was $200 for 235/45/18 R3 vs $213 for the R2 , per tire.

Thank you!

 

[Goosby]

Oh very nice info, thank you. If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for them?

~$255/tire for 235/40/19s.

 

[dmd2005]

~$255/tire for 235/40/19s.

Mine were $343 CDN/tire or about $260USD before taxes.

 

[dmd2005]

they shipped your cap kit in a fancy box? Mine came in plastic bags

Yeah, it came with the cap puller tool, grey center caps and lug covers in a box. The box is worth $20 because it says Tesla on it.

 

[DrDabbles]

I'm so torn between Hakka 9, Hakka r3, and Michelin Xi3. I'm really leaning toward the r3, but boy does the Xi3 marketing work well.

 

[run-the-joules]

Iboy does the Xi3 marketing work well.

How so?

 

[FlyinDelorean]

I went with Michelin All Weathers 20" on the 3 Performance..Pilot Sport A/S 3.. whats weird about these tires is that theyre actually Y rated which is theoretically a higher speed than the Michelin sport tires that come w/ the performance edition. So far so good even though its been unseasonably hot.. Traction seems to be stronger. And they have hazard protection from Mavis. Energy usage is roughly the same. Will see.

 

[DrDabbles]

How so?

Their claims that the tire works nearly as well on ice as a studded tire, and their claims that the rolling resistance is very low compared to other winter tires are both persuasive. But the Hakka R3 is also a low rolling resistance tire. When I think about it, though, low resistance tires to me means more solid tread blocks, which means less pliable, and likely less grip in the conditions I'm buying to protect against, but near all-season levels of grip when the roads are dry and clear.

I'm buying cheap insurance, IMO, with winter tires. So I traditionally buy for the likely worst case scenario. But maybe I'm way overthinking it, and the Xi3 is totally fine and the difference between its performance and he Hakka R3 is minimal anyway. Only marketing material can make me question my choices this much.

 

[run-the-joules]

Their claims that the tire works nearly as well on ice as a studded tire, and their claims that the rolling resistance is very low compared to other winter tires are both persuasive. But the Hakka R3 is also a low rolling resistance tire. When I think about it, though, low resistance tires to me means more solid tread blocks, which means less pliable, and likely less grip in the conditions I'm buying to protect against, but near all-season levels of grip when the roads are dry and clear.

I'm buying cheap insurance, IMO, with winter tires. So I traditionally buy for the likely worst case scenario. But maybe I'm way overthinking it, and the Xi3 is totally fine and the difference between its performance and he Hakka R3 is minimal anyway. Only marketing material can make me question my choices this much.

Gotcha. Yeah I've always bought nokians for the most part, and I'll only be using them for ski trips to Tahoe where they'll be on for 2-5 days, then back off once I get home. The main reason I kinda dismissed the XI3 is that they've been out for almost 5 years and it's hard to imagine that the latest and greatest from Nokian won't surpass them.

 

[roguenode]

I'm so torn between Hakka 9, Hakka r3, and Michelin Xi3. I'm really leaning toward the r3, but boy does the Xi3 marketing work well.

Having run the Hakka 7's and 8's, I'm skipping the 9's this year and likely going with the R3. The studs are great on ice/icy packed snow and I do think they dig in and turn a bit quicker than the R2's on icy turns and also when stopped on an icy incline and they trying to move forward again. However, I don't think they aren't worth the negatives (worse on clear roads and in wet than the R2's and loud as hell). Ymmv.

I've always gone with Nokian for winter tires, but I have heard good things about the Xi3's from neighbors that use them.

 

[DrDabbles]

My previous car to this was a Subaru STI. I used to exclusively run the Blizzaks on it until a few years ago when I started running studded. Here in the north eastern US, we don't get tons of deep snow all at once like @run-the-joules might experience out west in the mountains, and we don't get the arctic temperatures that Norway gets. But we get between 2 and 21 days of freezing rain, and we get heavy wet snow.

The main reason I kinda dismissed the XI3 is that they've been out for almost 5 years and it's hard to imagine that the latest and greatest from Nokian won't surpass them.

That is probably the best point I've seen made about the two. I knew the Xi3 was older, but I didn't realize it was that much older. That pretty much puts the nail in the coffin for the Xi3 for me. Thanks.

Having run the Hakka 7's and 8's, I'm skipping the 9's this year and likely going with the R3. The studs are great on ice/icy packed snow and I do think they dig in and turn a bit quicker than the R2's on icy turns and also when stopped on an icy incline and they trying to move forward again. However, I don't think they aren't worth the negatives (worse on clear roads and in wet than the R2's and loud as hell). Ymmv.

Yeah, studs are loud no matter how quiet the manufacturer tries to make them. I don't usually mind the noise too much since it's only mid November to early April that they're on, but this is my first EV so there wouldn't be engine noise to block them out either. I'll probably go with the R3 this season, see what I think, and re-assess next year. Teslas look pretty amazing on the snow to begin with, so really I'm sure I'm just overthinking this. Thanks for the input!

 

[akeresztes]

@dmd2005 how are you enjoying the Nokian R3s? I’ve gotten blizzaks in the past and they generally have always been too “soft” but good on snow. I’ve also heard the R2s are very good but soft as well.

I’m trying to figure out if the R3 is more similar to a performance winter like the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 or more like a regular softer winter tires. Also curious about road noise and dry grip / feeling in addition to the snow/ice performance.