mytesla page updated

[garsh]

I bet nobody else is enjoying our discussion except us, Zaphod.

I see what you're talking about, but I think that's just light reflection at a tend bend. If it were a joint, I would expect there to be a black (or darker) line between the two pieces, since there would be no way for them to have that tight of a fit against such a complicated shape.

 

[garsh]

Bah, I forgot to share the picture first. See if this works:

 

[gregincal]

I don't know. I think the wheels from the Motor Trend car and the MyTesla page shows what I think is a clever cap. Whereas a wheel that tries to look exactly like a center lock wheel but is a fake is totally stupid. Tesla would be laughed out of the building with such wannabe nonsense. I would far prefer to think that they prototyped a center lock wheel and either will sell it as a high end option or gave up on the idea but still had it on the prototype (most car manufacturers do all sorts of things to prototypes that they have no intention of releasing on the final cars).

 

[Zaphod]

I bet nobody else is enjoying our discussion except us, Zaphod.

I see what you're talking about, but I think that's just light reflection at a tend bend. If it were a joint, I would expect there to be a black (or darker) line between the two pieces, since there would be no way for them to have that tight of a fit against such a complicated shape.

Yes, I think we are the only 2 people who are crazy enough to look at such minute detail .

I think you would be surprised on what kind of fitment you can get from one-off prototype stuff. Some plastics are kind of rubbery and softer which would make a tight fit when pressed into place.

I do see the line you are talking about now. I think that is just a mold line.

 

[Zaphod]

I don't know. I think the wheels from the Motor Trend car and the MyTesla page shows what I think is a clever cap. Whereas a wheel that tries to look exactly like a center lock wheel but is a fake is totally stupid. Tesla would be laughed out of the building with such wannabe nonsense. I would far prefer to think that they prototyped a center lock wheel and either will sell it as a high end option or gave up on the idea but still had it on the prototype (most car manufacturers do all sorts of things to prototypes that they have no intention of releasing on the final cars).

I agree, I think the general consensus on that wheel version is that it is indeed a cap. This other wheel version is where more disagreement is coming into play.

Would it be silly to be fake, pretty much, but you might be surprised that it's not that uncommon for automakers to do styling tricks like that. Keep in mind, there is probably small percentage of the population that doesn't even knows what a "centerlock" wheel is, so they won't even notice one way or the other.

If they truly wasted engineering time on a centerlock wheel, even for a prototype, I find that silly. Unless they borrowed some engineering from the next-gen Roadster, that is only way I can fathom that making any sense.

 

[Pando]

Bah, I forgot to share the picture first. See if this works:

At first glance I thought how in the heck did they make the center cap glow green like this?

Then I realized it's a drawing. Looks wild though if that can be done!

 

[plankeye]

I can't imagine they will go with centerlock wheels, unless they aim to make Tesla owners take their cars in to a SC for EVERY bit of maintenance, including rotating tires.

 

[sunrocket]

The my tesla page has been updated with a side view of the Model 3 in a nice shade of blue

very nice find Mike! now i'm gettin the "can't drive my 3 soon enough" blues''.. pending song title lol

 

[sunrocket]

spring 2017

wow ! just around the corner. I somehow convinced myself of a delay (S & X were delayed quite a bit)..guess its time to garage sell everything in my home lol ..downpayments are agony when you want low payments

 

[S3XY]

The problem with measuring horizontally is that the front of the wheel is closer to the camera than the back. But measuring horizontally, I only get 55 pixels for the dark grey center cap. I can't imagine what you're measuring as 108 pixels horizontally.

That said, I do now see a faint cut line on the silver part of the wheel. When I measure that vertically, I get 108 pixels. That would give an opening size of (21.5" * (108/448)) = 5.18". Assuming the 3 will have the same 5x120 lug pattern as the S, that might be enough room to hide the lugs. I hope you're right.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=92

The problem with measuring horizontally is that the front of the wheel is closer to the camera than the back. But measuring horizontally, I only get 55 pixels for the dark grey center cap. I can't imagine what you're measuring as 108 pixels horizontally.

That said, I do now see a faint cut line on the silver part of the wheel. When I measure that vertically, I get 108 pixels. That would give an opening size of (21.5" * (108/448)) = 5.18". Assuming the 3 will have the same 5x120 lug pattern as the S, that might be enough room to hide the lugs. I hope you're right.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=92

Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the wheel in post #27, not the one on the red car. The circle overlay is what I measured as the hub.

The wheel on the red car does look to me like it is a center lock, not lug nuts. What looks like a cut line is probably just the way the lighting reflects. It doesn't seem to be consistently located on each "spoke". Also, if that is a cut line I don't see what each spoke would be anchored to in the center. So the wheel would just fall off.

 

[S3XY]

I bet nobody else is enjoying our discussion except us, Zaphod.

I see what you're talking about, but I think that's just light reflection at a tend bend. If it were a joint, I would expect there to be a black (or darker) line between the two pieces, since there would be no way for them to have that tight of a fit against such a complicated shape.

3

 

[alseTrick]

Is there any interest in center caps that "float" so that the Tesla logo is always right-side up?

 

[melindav]

Is there any interest in center caps that "float" so that the Tesla logo is always right-side up?

Personally, any of these I've seen in person I thought looked really tacky. So, no. Not interested

 

[Skione65]

I'm sure most have seen this, but in case not, here's the tweet with Elon confirming the silver prototype's wheels would be produced
Elon Musk on Twitter

@melindav,

I Do NOT like the rims on the Red Car at the reveal......to me they look like 'fit over hubcaps' and an afterthought.

I DO LOVE the reveal Silver Car rims (the rims in my Avatar) and am exstatic that your linked Tweet from Elon confirms these are making it to final production as these are the rims I'll go with on my build. Reminiscent of the 21" turbines on the current MS. I fully believe we will have 18" base and 20" turbine upgrade to choose from on the Model 3.

Ski

 

[melindav]

@melindav,

I Do NOT like the rims on the Red Car at the reveal......to me they look like 'fit over hubcaps' and an afterthought.

I DO LOVE the reveal Silver Car rims (the rims in my Avatar) and am exstatic that your linked Tweet from Elon confirms these are making it to final production as these are the rims I'll go with on my build. Reminiscent of the 21" turbines on the current MS. I fully believe we will have 18" base and 20" turbine upgrade to choose from on the Model 3.

Ski

Agree on the silver. Absolutely LOVE them. The ones on the red car I would be okay with, but a distant second to the silver car's wheels. The ones on the matte black I DO NOT LIKE at all. AT ALL. To me, those look like a hub cap from the 70s trying to look like what a wheel will look like in 2020. I'd go as far as saying I hate them. I trust Tesla's design style, but if these are the standard wheel, I'd figure out how to budget in the extra $2k, because those are not going to be on the car I take home.

 

[03DSG]

I've been looking at all the available pics of M3 wheels and have yet not been able to see a valve stem. They must have put them inside the rim.

 

[N5329K]

Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the wheel in post #27, not the one on the red car. The circle overlay is what I measured as the hub.

View attachment 180504

The wheel on the red car does look to me like it is a center lock, not lug nuts. What looks like a cut line is probably just the way the lighting reflects. It doesn't seem to be consistently located on each "spoke". Also, if that is a cut line I don't see what each spoke would be anchored to in the center. So the wheel would just fall off.

Couldn't the "carbon fiber" spider in the center simply pop off to reveal the lugs beneath?
Robin

 

[Skione65]

Couldn't the "carbon fiber" spider in the center simply pop off to reveal the lugs beneath?
Robin

@Robin,

I believe that is exactly what happens and how it's designed.....Love the look. Like the lugs covered up to give it that Center Hub look.

Ski

 

[lolder]

Couldn't the "carbon fiber" spider in the center simply pop off to reveal the lugs beneath?
Robin

So do you have a Navion?

 

[S3XY]

Couldn't the "carbon fiber" spider in the center simply pop off to reveal the lugs beneath?
Robin

Yes, that's what I was saying. My reference to the center lock wheel was regarding the wheel on the red car (i.e. I think that one is a center lock). Apparently I'm confusing everyone now.