Sanity check: change Performance Model 3 to lighter 18 inch wheels, same tire model

[juanmedina]

Not too many manufacturers are going to be comfortable boring out lug nut holes. The problem is that without a proper metallurgical and stress testing method - which is obviously very expensive relative to a one-off solution - they can't really be sure that the wheel is not significantly structurally weakened. That spells massive lawsuit if the bolt holes fracture and somebody gets injured or killed. So no, you're not going to get anybody to drill out lug nut holes to fit the 14 millimeter lugs on the model 3. You can do it yourself and lots of people are doing it, but you're on your own and it's frankly pretty dicey.

Wedsports just came out with TC105X version for the Honda Type R that comes with 14mm wheel studs. The biggest issue on their side was that they designed the weels to have a dynamic load rating of 4500 lbs they said is too close for comfort for the Model 3 and they have not interest on making a Model 3 version of TC105x wheel.

 

[dfwatt]

Wedsports just came out with TC105X version for the Honda Type R that comes with 14mm wheel studs. The biggest issue on their side was that they designed the weels to have a dynamic load rating of 4500 lbs they said is too close for comfort for the Model 3 and they have not interest on making a Model 3 version of TC105x wheel.

Yep that sounds familiar. Different instance of the same fundamental problem. Nobody wants to be on the hook for a structural failure. You might check out Ray's website. They have some Ultra lightweight 20-inch wheels in a variety of sizes although they do not list a fitment for the model 3 or any Tesla. I don't know about 19 or 18 inch wheels that would fit a model 3 but you can check it out. They are out of Japan, but there are some us dealerships. I've got a pair of their forged wheels on a Lexus IS. Super light weight and very high quality.