Plaid handling improvements: better wheels, tires, brakes, suspension options

[omarsultan]

From a quick look, beyond the active spoiler, maybe bigger splitter, maybe larger calipers and drilled rotors..

Tesla Model S Plaid returns to Nürburgring with active rear spoiler and 'Track Pack'

Tesla’s insane Model S Plaid active spoiler has been spotted at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. Tesla has been attempting to break its own lap record at the raceway, which it set on September 9th. Teslarati caught exclusive photos of the Model S Plaid’s active spoiler at the Ring earlier...

www.teslarati.com

 

[Dave EV]

From a quick look, beyond the active spoiler, maybe bigger splitter, maybe larger calipers and drilled rotors..

Tesla Model S Plaid returns to Nürburgring with active rear spoiler and 'Track Pack'

Tesla’s insane Model S Plaid active spoiler has been spotted at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. Tesla has been attempting to break its own lap record at the raceway, which it set on September 9th. Teslarati caught exclusive photos of the Model S Plaid’s active spoiler at the Ring earlier...

www.teslarati.com

Sure is looking close to what an OEM "Track Pack" might include. Definitely bigger brakes. The other item the Model S really needs now with the Yoke is a steering rack with a quicker ratio, though.

Aside from hardware, the stability and traction control appears to need quite a bit more tweaking as well - eg Track Mode. I have to wonder if Tesla was running production stability/traction control when they set the last record or not based on the reviews I've seen from drivers pushing the Plaid in a spirited manner.

 

[omarsultan]

Sure is looking close to what an OEM "Track Pack" might include. Definitely bigger brakes. The other item the Model S really needs now with the Yoke is a steering rack with a quicker ratio, though.

Aside from hardware, the stability and traction control appears to need quite a bit more tweaking as well - eg Track Mode. I have to wonder if Tesla was running production stability/traction control when they set the last record or not based on the reviews I've seen from drivers pushing the Plaid in a spirited manner.

I am hoping we get a track mode interface like the M3P to tweak parameters, or even something like the controls on the Rimac Nevera.

 

[bhzmark]

I’m hoping the track pack comes with a proper steering wheel

 

[FlatSix911]

From a quick look, beyond the active spoiler, maybe bigger splitter, maybe larger calipers and drilled rotors..

Tesla Model S Plaid returns to Nürburgring with active rear spoiler and 'Track Pack'

Tesla’s insane Model S Plaid active spoiler has been spotted at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. Tesla has been attempting to break its own lap record at the raceway, which it set on September 9th. Teslarati caught exclusive photos of the Model S Plaid’s active spoiler at the Ring earlier...

www.teslarati.com

Sure is looking close to what an OEM "Track Pack" might include. Definitely bigger brakes. The other item the Model S really needs now with the Yoke is a steering rack with a quicker ratio, though.

Aside from hardware, the stability and traction control appears to need quite a bit more tweaking as well - eg Track Mode. I have to wonder if Tesla was running production stability/traction control when they set the last record or not based on the reviews I've seen from drivers pushing the Plaid in a spirited manner.

I agree that this is likely the track package that also includes the previously discovered Zero-G wheels.

Tesla hints at Model S Plaid "Track Package" with large Zero G wheels in parts catalog

The Tesla Model S Plaid is designed to be a hardcore smackdown to gasoline-powered cars, so much so that its specs must be experienced to be believed. Unlike its predecessors, the Model S Plaid is even designed to handle the rigors of track driving, making it a four-door, all-electric monster...

www.teslarati.com

 

[lolachampcar]

Tesla has indicated they are going to rely on the aftermarket for bigger/better brakes. I wonder if they are going to do anything hardware related or if they are just going to do an adjustable software update track pack and let owners do the physical mods (albeit active spoilers are most certainly in OEM territory).

 

[juanmedina]

I agree that this is likely the track package that also includes the previously discovered Zero-G wheels.

Tesla hints at Model S Plaid "Track Package" with large Zero G wheels in parts catalog

The Tesla Model S Plaid is designed to be a hardcore smackdown to gasoline-powered cars, so much so that its specs must be experienced to be believed. Unlike its predecessors, the Model S Plaid is even designed to handle the rigors of track driving, making it a four-door, all-electric monster...

www.teslarati.com

What is the offset on those wheels?

 

[lbowroom]

I have 295/30-21 Pilot 4S all around on 10.5” wheels. I choose that size so I could get OEM tires with foam. Unfortunately they are nowhere to be found so I have the ones without foam. They are noisy. Howl/hum at steady speeds. I opened a case with Michelin under there 60 day customer satisfaction and will request tires with foam when they are available. I was surprised they were so different.

I suppose it could be the forged lightweight wheels or the additional width up front. Only one way to find out. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if the extra mass of the Arachnids damp the resonance to make it quiet?

 

[MarcG]

I have 295/30-21 Pilot 4S all around on 10.5” wheels. I choose that size so I could get OEM tires with foam. Unfortunately they are nowhere to be found so I have the ones without foam. They are noisy. Howl/hum at steady speeds. I opened a case with Michelin under there 60 day customer satisfaction and will request tires with foam when they are available. I was surprised they were so different.

I suppose it could be the forged lightweight wheels or the additional width up front. Only one way to find out. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if the extra mass of the Arachnids damp the resonance to make it quiet?

Interesting, I don’t hear a howl or hum on my PS4S tires that don’t have the acoustic foam either, but they are 20” not 21”.

 

[OCS300]

Interesting, I don’t hear a howl or hum on my PS4S tires that don’t have the acoustic foam either, but they are 20” not 21”.

What width are you running on the fronts?

 

[MarcG]

What width are you running on the fronts?

275s on 9.5” rims. I posted all details a while back, a few pages ago in this thread.

 

[dropgems]

What ride height do you guys typically drive on, low or med? Just curious… I was on low today and scraped a parking block.

 

[bhzmark]

Always low, except program to raise to medium (occasionally to high) at needed locations

 

[lbowroom]

What ride height do you guys typically drive on, low or med? Just curious… I was on low today and scraped a parking block.

It’s good with any car with a giant spoiler in the front to get into the habit of stopping before it gets to the parking log.

 

[KevinY]

Any brake pad options other than Racing Brake available yet?

 

[lbowroom]

So I started tapping on my wheel spoke with my knuckles and I could hear a ringing sound. I think it’s the metal shield behind the rotors as it stopped when I grabbed that. Could be the tires and resonant frequency of the wheel excites the shield. I’ll try pulling them off.

 

[sandman1330]

I wonder if the track pack will be available for the Long Range, or just the Plaid. LR may not be as fast as the Plaid but it's still no slouch and could still be a very formidable track car.

If it's just bolt on parts (brakes, tires, etc), there should be no issue mounting them on a LR. But the big question is whether the software updates will be made available to a LR...

 

[FlatSix911]

I wonder if the track pack will be available for the Long Range, or just the Plaid. LR may not be as fast as the Plaid but it's still no slouch and could still be a very formidable track car.

If it's just bolt on parts (brakes, tires, etc), there should be no issue mounting them on a LR. But the big question is whether the software updates will be made available to a LR...

Doubtful... the track package will further differentiate the Plaid from the LR Model S.

 

[lbowroom]

I wonder if the track pack will be available for the Long Range, or just the Plaid. LR may not be as fast as the Plaid but it's still no slouch and could still be a very formidable track car.

If it's just bolt on parts (brakes, tires, etc), there should be no issue mounting them on a LR. But the big question is whether the software updates will be made available to a LR...

Not too different on the Model 3 line. Although the difference between the Long Range and Performance 3 is even less than the S line, only the Performance gets track mode software.

 

[sandman1330]

Doubtful... the track package will further differentiate the Plaid from the LR Model S.

Boo… haha