Tire rotation frequency and pattern

[notAnExpert]

I wasn't able to find any official recommendation from Tesla regarding tire rotation frequency and rotation pattern. I contacted their chat support this morning. Perhaps some of you will find it useful.

• [ME] Does Tesla have a recommendation for tire rotation frequency and tire rotation pattern for Model 3 cars with 19" sport wheels?
  
  
• [TESLA] Great question! A lot depends on the way you drive, we rotate your tires with the annual service (12 months or 12,000 miles) but most tire manufacturers recommend 5,000 to 6,000 miles.
  
  
• [ME] Thanks. What's the rotation pattern? X Pattern, or keep left side tires always on the left and right side tires always on the right?
  
  
• [TESLA] Tires are rotated to same side with the best tires on the rear. If the front tires are not in good shape they'll recommend that the tires are replaced and put the best tires on the back.
  
  
• [ME] OK, thanks. Back to "annual service". Is that included as part of ownership, or is that something we pay extra for?
  
  
• [TESLA] You're right, the annual service is not something that is included and would be paid for at time of service.
  
  
• [ME] So if I were to rotate the tires myself as I do with my other cars, Tesla recommends that I don't do X pattern, but that I keep left side always on the left and right side always on the right. Yes?
  
  
• [TESLA] Yes we recommend front to back rotation (same side).

 

[kappadon3]

FWIW mobile technician out of Raleigh, NC service center told me the same info about tire rotation pattern. He also suggested a 6,000 mile freq.

 

[notAnExpert]

I also came across this helpful video of a mobile ranger rotating Model 3.

 

[ewoodrick]

Model 3 Manual - Index - Maintenance - Tire Care and Maintenance

Page 130 of the manual

Tire Rotation, Balance, and Wheel Alignment Tesla recommends rotating the tires every 6,250 miles (10,000 km).

 

[woodisgood]

Interesting. I've been doing rearward crosses on my RWD. I wonder if they are sticking to same-side switches because it simplifies things for their techs or whether there's actually any downside to crossing.

Oh well. My tires are wearing nice and evenly so aside from the few extra minutes it takes to cross, I can't imagine a downside.

 

[Petrlol]

I also came across this helpful video of a mobile ranger rotating Model 3.

I know that's a Tesla mobile ranger, and maybe I'm just paranoid, but jacking up with only one jack and leaving the back left free hanging in the air made me super nervous. I know the body is supposed to be strong, but just seems to be asking for a slight warp or something.

 

[Bobg5124]

The manual now states...

Rotate tires every 10,000-12,000 miles (16,000-20,000 km) or if tread depth difference is 2/32 in (1.5 mm) or greater.

 

[Watts_Up]

I would simply rotate front with rear, just because I don't want to have all my four wheels to get curb rash!

 

[03DSG]

I would simply rotate front with rear, just because I don't want to have all my four wheels to get curb rash!

Also keeps the rashed wheels on the passenger side where I don’t have to look at them as often..........

 

[Kevy Baby]

The manual now states...

Rotate tires every 10,000-12,000 miles (16,000-20,000 km) or if tread depth difference is 2/32 in (1.5 mm) or greater.

Where are you seeing that? The one I refer to here still has the lower figure

 

[Bobg5124]

Where are you seeing that? The one I refer to here still has the lower figure

Link to owners manual from my Tesla page.

https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/model_3_owners_manual_north_america_en.pdf

 

[Kevy Baby]

Link to owners manual from my Tesla page.

https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/model_3_owners_manual_north_america_en.pdf

View attachment 455240

How bizarre that there are two different manuals available out there.

 

[Ilikestuff]

I don't know why they recommend front to back only (without crossing) if the tires aren't uni-directional. Won't that cause problems with premature wear?

 

[Zerosky]

How bizarre that there are two different manuals available out there.

If you scroll down to the very bottom of the manual, you'll notice that the one posted by Bobg5124 was updated in May 2019. Yours was from December 2018.

 

[joebruin77]

Is it possible that different tires on different trims of the M3 require different rotation intervals? I have a Performance and my manual states I should rotate every 6,250 miles.

 

[Kevy Baby]

If you scroll down to the very bottom of the manual, you'll notice that the one posted by Bobg5124 was updated in May 2019. Yours was from December 2018.

My point was that there are two versions still live on the interwebs.

When I do a Google search for "tesla model 3 manual", the first result is the December 2018 version and the second is the May 2019 version.

I wasn't real clear in my OP

 

[SageBrush]

I don't know why they recommend front to back only (without crossing) if the tires aren't uni-directional. Won't that cause problems with premature wear?

I'd also like to know the answer to this question