Picking up P3D+ in two weeks and it's suppose to snow, what should I do?

[ba2002]

Except I live in Reno and was "forced" to pick up the car in Rocklin CA so I had to drive over the Sierra to get the car home.

Your post underscores the lack of planning on tesla's part re: cold weather and the P3D.

I made an attempt to point this out in an amusing way, but apparently people are super duper serious around these parts.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

I have been driving in winter weather for 30 years. First five years in northern New England and last 25 years in Colorado.

I still had major pucker factor when I foolishly thought it would be no big deal to drive an Audi I bought 14 years ago with the stock performance Z rated rubber.

At 20 mph on a very slight downhill grade with a very light dusting of snow the car ended up sideways and I almost took out a fire hydrant. It's a miracle I didn't hit anything.

Don't screw with this stuff.

Tesla is under no obligation to eat the cost of doing a home delivery but if they will do it for you, that's great... I would do it even if I had to pay for it rather than risking your 'precious' winding up in a ditch with body damage... which would be a sucky way to start your new car relationship.

BMW/Merc/Audi dealers deliver AWD cars with performance tires in the dead of winter all the time and usually they will have a plan to do this for the customer whether it is a complimentary home delivery of the car, loan of a set of all season wheels/tires.... etc.

Whatever you do DON'T drive it in the snow, especially for four hours.

Someone commented on increasing your following distance. I invite that person to drive on an icy road with performance rubber and discover that they have literally zero traction below 20-30F and become ice skates. You can give yourself all the room in the world to stop and still not stop.

@voip-ninja is right and i was the idiot who recommended increased following distances. four hours? Don't do it

 

[Superspectral]

I live in Ann Arbor MI and own a P3D+ I picked up from Cleveland in Sept. I got 20 in Alpins put on the stock wheels 2 weeks ago. Stock tires are Ok at 40deg dry. Had one afternoon with sleet in late Oct. Stock tires had no - zero - traction on the sleet. If it is 40+ you can drive home. If any frozen water around - I’d try to demand home delivery.

 

[mongo]

I live in Ann Arbor MI and own a P3D+ I picked up from Cleveland in Sept. I got 20 in Alpins put on the stock wheels 2 weeks ago. Stock tires are Ok at 40deg dry. Had one afternoon with sleet in late Oct. Stock tires had no - zero - traction on the sleet. If it is 40+ you can drive home. If any frozen water around - I’d try to demand home delivery.

That storm was crazy! Glad the hail wasn't any larger.

 

[skrtskrt]

I live in Ann Arbor MI and own a P3D+ I picked up from Cleveland in Sept. I got 20 in Alpins put on the stock wheels 2 weeks ago. Stock tires are Ok at 40deg dry. Had one afternoon with sleet in late Oct. Stock tires had no - zero - traction on the sleet. If it is 40+ you can drive home. If any frozen water around - I’d try to demand home delivery.

Are you saying you got Alpin on stock when you picked up?

 

[voip-ninja]

Are you saying you got Alpin on stock when you picked up?

He says he took delivery in Sept and got Alpins put on 2 weeks ago, so no he didn't have them put on at delivery. He also commented on the fact that the stock rubber were ice skates when there was some sleet, which means don't even try snow/ice.

 

[voip-ninja]

So many knee jerk replies without reading the post. It’s mentioned in the OP and many follow ups the issue isn’t driving in the snow.

It’s the dedicated summer tires that come on the model 3 20” wheels risk of being destroyed by operating in cold temperatures per the manufacturer warnings that the tread compound can permanently crack in low temps.

Note: Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.

Also worth pointing out that the stock tires for the 20" wheels probably run around $275-$325 per tire.... so one time of abusing them by running them in below freezing weather could be a very costly error... compared to say the cost of having the car delivered on a flat bed 150 miles away.

 

[Nocturnal]

Find an empty parking and drift that mother.

 

[mongo]

Find an empty parking and drift that mother.

Drift that mudder
Drift that fadder
All I can do till
Weather gets hotter
These tires are slippery
They are not gripply
Oh darn it, now my bumper has a dimply.

 

[tomas]

Drift that mudder
Drift that fadder
All I can do till
Weather gets hotter
These tires are slippery
They are not gripply
Oh darn it, now my bumper has a dimply.

<snap><snap><snap>

 

[hoang51]

What's the process like to get it towed? How much does it cost?

Request a flat bed tow truck due to the design of the Model 3. Have it towed for long distance. You'll have to find out a tow truck company that's willing to do such and at what cost you're willing to pay.

 

[SigNC]

DWS 06 should fit in 245/35/20 P3+ per Performance Model 3 Snow Tires/Rims

Performance Model 3 Snow Tires/Rims

 

[cmyke]

I've had DWS 06s (245/35/20) on my car for two weeks and counting. No clearance issues whatsoever, even at full lock. Tread wear looks good, and they're quieter than AS 3+s.

Do they grip as well as summer tires? Of course not. But they're all-seasons! They're fine. No-brainer imo. I'd buy 'em again in a heartbeat.

 

[Sappy02]

Do what I did. Put winter tires on your stock wheels, sell your unused PS4S tires, and get a set of staggered lightweight wheels with Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires for max performance most of the rest of the year.

Interesting option. So what were your measurements on the staggered wheels? Do you find the ride is different than when you had the PS4S tires on?

 

[aspec818]

so what did op end up doing? home delivery sounded like the best choice here.

 

[Sappy02]

I've had DWS 06s (245/35/20) on my car for two weeks and counting. No clearance issues whatsoever, even at full lock. Tread wear looks good, and they're quieter than AS 3+s.

Do they grip as well as summer tires? Of course not. But they're all-seasons! They're fine. No-brainer imo. I'd buy 'em again in a heartbeat.

What about the width? Does the 245 vs 235 really make a difference? If yes, how so?

 

[Sappy02]

DWS 06s!

What is your take on the DWS 06s vs. A/S 3+?

 

[Sappy02]

DWS 06s!

What I like about the DWS 06s is that they have a better wear warranty.

 

[skrtskrt]

so what did op end up doing? home delivery sounded like the best choice here.

I ordered Michelin's A/S 3+ and had them sent to the SC, they swapped it out on the day I picked it up. Everything was good

 

[Sappy02]

I ordered Michelin's A/S 3+ and had them sent to the SC, they swapped it out on the day I picked it up. Everything was good

What did you do with the summer tires? Did you try selling them or do you plan swapping them back in when summer rolls back around?