Picked up Model Y Today Substandard Tires - Class Action

[Pianewman]

Raechris: Thanks for the post.

Hmmm...1250 miles, AWD, enormous torque, heavy, new car fun: squiggly soft, unstable thick new rubber: 8/32" sounds about right to me. (there's a reason tires are shaved for autocross purposes...)

I'm actually serious. I predict when I finally take delivery of MY AWD Y, the less-than-stellar Continentals won't last very long...I hope. They're not the best tires for noise, and DFW region concrete requires careful choice of tires/suspensions.

 

[FairscottL]

I don't understand all the negativity towards you and I think you are on to something. Just checked my tires MY AWD w 1500 miles and all at 8/32 depth (to bottom not wear bar) which is odd. Tire is not on Continwebsite so just sent them email. These are extra load 104W which could be the difference as they still have a decent 400 treadwear index.

Thanks for the information and support. I have an appt at the SC for a rear bumper replacement on new Model Y (color mismatch - red) and I will continue to pursue the tire dilemma. Will keep you informed of any developments.

As I have said, this is a forum for information sharing. I was seeking to find others like yourself who had similar experiences. Thank you.
Sadly, there will always be those who have little to do but attack others. Hey, they don't pay enough rent to stay in my head.

 

[FairscottL]

From Continental:


Thank you for contacting Customer Relations at Continental Tire the Americas.

The ProContact RX 255/45R19 104W has a beginning tread depth of 9/32".

Tread is the rubber on the tire that touches the road. New tires have an average tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters (10/32 to 11/32 inches).


Pictures from Continental website !

 

[coconutboy84]

View attachment 612006 View attachment 612007

Tread is the rubber on the tire that touches the road. New tires have an average tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters (10/32 to 11/32 inches).


Pictures from Continental website !

good luck in your legal battle.

 

[FairscottL]

good luck in your legal battle.

Shouldn't be much of a legal battle. After owning five Tesla's they tend to keep me satisfied. The SC is replacing both bumpers on MY Tues and we will be having a conversation about tires.

You know, ya gotta put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up.

 

[hcdavis3]

Shouldn't be much of a legal battle. After owning five Tesla's they tend to keep me satisfied. The SC is replacing both bumpers on MY Tues and we will be having a conversation about tires.

You know, ya gotta put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up.

What happened to your bumpers?

 

[FairscottL]

The front bumper had a small scratch on delivery.
May defer replacement on it if it rubs out.

The back bumper is a red color mismatch with the car body.

I didn't ask for replacements. Just a fix. They called and invited me to come in next day for bumper replacements. Couldn't make it Sat so sched for Tues.

 

[Raechris]

View attachment 612006 View attachment 612007

Tread is the rubber on the tire that touches the road. New tires have an average tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters (10/32 to 11/32 inches).


Pictures from Continental website !

I saw that but it is a different tire not on the website and probably custom made for Tesla with the extra load rating of 104W. So it could be normal (I am not a tire engineer) to lose a 32nd after 1500 miles but if that implies a 10k replacement cycle that is poor.

 

[Raechris]

Raechris: Thanks for the post.

Hmmm...1250 miles, AWD, enormous torque, heavy, new car fun: squiggly soft, unstable thick new rubber: 8/32" sounds about right to me. (there's a reason tires are shaved for autocross purposes...)

I'm actually serious. I predict when I finally take delivery of MY AWD Y, the less-than-stellar Continentals won't last very long...I hope. They're not the best tires for noise, and DFW region concrete requires careful choice of tires/suspensions.

This is not my first Tesla and the Y is lighter and slower by comparison. After buying 20 new cars from various manufacturers I have never had a starting tread at 9/32 let alone a 400 rated tire with an expected life of 10k. My wife is not a speed demon and this AWD Y does not have the low end Speed Boost. Maybe the tread is progressively more dense halfway through - time will tell.

 

[Pianewman]

My quoted posted above is incorrect: I thought the FairscottL's tires had 1250 miles when he checked. That 1250 number was from a different car. He posted that his tires were totally new.

My understanding is that tire rubber does indeed get progressively harder the more it wears. The top surface rubber is very soft, which is why MPG with new tires is almost always LESS than after a few thousand miles. So yes, the tires will wear more slowly as the miles add up.

There's always a compromise. New tires (after 50 or so miles as the press releasing agent has worn off) give good traction, with traction increasing after "x" miles. As the tread wears, toward the wear indicators, traction will decrease, as tire rubber is harder. I have experienced this many times with Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Continental. (added frustration: When I want to get RID of a particular tire, but they just won't wear out...original Michelin X from the 70s...would NOT wear out, 90k miles, but were as slick as hard plastic in the rain...)

As for why FairscottL's tires started out at 8/32", I hope we find out. My guess is manufacturer QC failure, which of course, isn't Tesla's responsibility.

 

[acarney]

My quoted posted above is incorrect: I thought the FairscottL's tires had 1250 miles when he checked. That 1250 number was from a different car. He posted that his tires were totally new.

My understanding is that tire rubber does indeed get progressively harder the more it wears. The top surface rubber is very soft, which is why MPG with new tires is almost always LESS than after a few thousand miles. So yes, the tires will wear more slowly as the miles add up.

There's always a compromise. New tires (after 50 or so miles as the press releasing agent has worn off) give good traction, with traction increasing after "x" miles. As the tread wears, toward the wear indicators, traction will decrease, as tire rubber is harder. I have experienced this many times with Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Continental. (added frustration: When I want to get RID of a particular tire, but they just won't wear out...original Michelin X from the 70s...would NOT wear out, 90k miles, but were as slick as hard plastic in the rain...)

As for why FairscottL's tires started out at 8/32", I hope we find out. My guess is manufacturer QC failure, which of course, isn't Tesla's responsibility.

Why do track people often shave the tires to essentially be slicks then? I thought that was to improve response and overall grip by having a larger contact patch...

 

[Pianewman]

Shaving removes the unstable top layer. It would get scrubbed off too quickly anyway. They don't shave them bald, just down past the sypes, more rubber, BUT, it is a firmer rubber than a full, new tread.
That's my understanding, from discussions with autocross guys. Someone feel free to correct this.

 

[Daks]

Bald or shaved tires have more traction then tires with tread on DRY pavement. They do not have better wet weather traction (obviously) Heavy Duty Truck tires are trued or shaved once mounted on rims, but that's a completely different conversation - reader digest version - it makes them completely round and ride better. (Ask anyone with a light duty pickup, like a 3/4 to 1 ton that has put 18-wheeler rims and tires on it)

Like adding Marine to anything instantly quadruples the price, adding the word performance to tires makes them wear faster. Adding the word snow and driving them on hot dry pavement has the same effect.

 

[Pianewman]

Everything is a compromise with tires.

It will be very interesting if Continental determines that they've been marketing/advertising tires with inaccurate specs. THat should be easy to prove, w/o any need for legal action.

Tesla should be measuring all Conti tires NOW!

 

[FairscottL]

Mine were 7/32" at delivery (0 miles) all the way around as measured and called out by the Tesla delivery specialist. Both my friend and I heard it and saw it.. If tires are deemed less safe at 4/32", then getting 7/32" tires is essentially half a tire.

Should learn something today as I have an appt for rear bumper replacement for color mismatch and I will also address the tire issue. Will post response.

Tesla need to own it. If you have breakfast and the eggs are bad, you don't take them back to the chicken.

 

[Pianewman]

Actually, if the tires are bad, Tesla will INDEED go "back to the chicken". Tesla didn't manufacture the tires. We can assume they didn't give you tires that were taken off another car, with "x" number of mile on them. THAT would be a huge criminal offense.

Keep us posted.

 

[scap]

OEM tires are like OEM printer cartridges that come with your printer. While they may have the same name and appearance they may not be the exact same SKU.

 

[FairscottL]

OEM tires are like OEM printer cartridges that come with your printer. While they may have the same name and appearance they may not be the exact same SKU.

At least your printer companies warn you about the INTRODUCTORY cartridge on the label. Not so with your INTRODUCTORY tires.

Just spoke with the service manager. Tesla tires are special order from Continental. Reportedly they have a T O on the side (Tesla Only?).
They are manufactured to 8/32" specifications and he said it applies to ALL Tesla models. Don't know if it is the same with the Goodyear tires, but suspect so.
Will ask. I am not sure any other car company does that.

So be advised, if you are buying a NEW TESLA, you are getting INTRODUCTORY tires. If they are Continentals, expect about 20k miles. I just think it would nice to know up front that my eggs aren't going to be Grade A Large and I am going to be hungry long before lunch. I am sure Tesla negotiated a sweet deal for less rubber.

BTW, Very quick and efficient service on changing the back bumper. 1.5 hour wait time.

 

[Bill135]

FWiW, I had a VW Passat and a Subaru Legacy and for both of those cars I was only able to get 30k out of the OEM tires. In both cases, the replacement tires went well over 50k. I suspect they were manufacturer intro tires.