First - let me just preface this post by stating that this is a direct comparison to my 2018 P100D MX fitted with the OEM Pirelli factory all-season tires on 22" wheels. I've driven that in all types of conditions, on ski trips here in the Northeast - from -15 degrees and 6" of snow to ice/sleet storms. It always performed surprisingly far better than I expected, especially in the snow. (except the range but that's another story)
After 2 weeks, I'm getting to used to the Plaid - many quirks I hope Tesla will soon sort out, but I felt really compelled to share my experience so some of you in colder climates know what to expect, especially if you order a Plaid with the 22" wheels, as I did - and to save some of you from the mistaken presumption I had made.
We got a few inches of snow here in North NJ today so I decided to see how the Plaid X handled it. I mistakenly presumed the Continental's that were fitted were all seasons like my 2018 P100D was. I learned, very quickly they absolutely are not. The tires fitted to my Plaid X are Continental Contisport 6s. Research shows they are "Extreme Performance Summer Tires". Duh. (Not sure if they are using other tires). They might as well be hockey pucks. I do not recommend anyone drive a Plaid X with these tires in any sort of winter conditions. My X was all over the place, tire hopping (while turning), rear end unstable, and barely making it back up my very slight incline of a driveway. Tires notwithstanding, the aggressive Regen was also downright dangerous in winter driving. You are (now) required to keep consistent pressure on the accelerator - or be forced to do what I did (not recommended) - which was to manually place the vehicle in Neutral while going down a hill. Reversing on my snow covered driveway was even worse as the regen remains aggressive and caused the car to skid.
For comparison sake, I jumped into my '18 X with the factory (OEM) 22's back to back when about 3" had fallen. To say it was a night and day difference would be an understatement - of course, the tires certainly helped, but moreso that "low" regen setting, which Tesla has to bring back - at least to those in colder climates. It's outrageously dangerous and completely unnecessary to have removed it.
After 2 weeks, I'm getting to used to the Plaid - many quirks I hope Tesla will soon sort out, but I felt really compelled to share my experience so some of you in colder climates know what to expect, especially if you order a Plaid with the 22" wheels, as I did - and to save some of you from the mistaken presumption I had made.
We got a few inches of snow here in North NJ today so I decided to see how the Plaid X handled it. I mistakenly presumed the Continental's that were fitted were all seasons like my 2018 P100D was. I learned, very quickly they absolutely are not. The tires fitted to my Plaid X are Continental Contisport 6s. Research shows they are "Extreme Performance Summer Tires". Duh. (Not sure if they are using other tires). They might as well be hockey pucks. I do not recommend anyone drive a Plaid X with these tires in any sort of winter conditions. My X was all over the place, tire hopping (while turning), rear end unstable, and barely making it back up my very slight incline of a driveway. Tires notwithstanding, the aggressive Regen was also downright dangerous in winter driving. You are (now) required to keep consistent pressure on the accelerator - or be forced to do what I did (not recommended) - which was to manually place the vehicle in Neutral while going down a hill. Reversing on my snow covered driveway was even worse as the regen remains aggressive and caused the car to skid.
For comparison sake, I jumped into my '18 X with the factory (OEM) 22's back to back when about 3" had fallen. To say it was a night and day difference would be an understatement - of course, the tires certainly helped, but moreso that "low" regen setting, which Tesla has to bring back - at least to those in colder climates. It's outrageously dangerous and completely unnecessary to have removed it.
