How to change a flat tire in a Tesla.

[aigomorla]

As you are aware, Tesla's and some more recient modern cars do not come with a spare tire.

To make matters worse, the car does not even come with run flats.
So how do you change a flat tire on a Tesla?

You call roadside service. They are fairly quick in the metro area.
I had the service guy come out and find me in literally 25 min.
They also seem to have you on GPS since its a Tesla, so he even knew i pulled the car into a residental street as the traffic got a bit heavier on where i originally stopped.

As long as your not located in the middle of nowhere, they will come out to you with a spare tire.
They will throw the spare on for you and then you have a couple of options.

1. You can ask the roadside to take the flat tire + rim to the nearest service center to get the tire fixed.
2. You can take the rim and tire to your favorate tire store and get it fixed / replaced.

I honestly find this kinda silly, especially in a car which toots to have the most trunk room.
They could easily put a spare in either the rear trunk since it has no gas tank, or the frunk.
What if i was in the middle of nowhere and this happened? I guess i cant be located in the middle of nowhere, because then i will be in trouble of battery range.

At any rate i decided to take the tire and rim in hopes of getting it repaired, however the tire store insisted that i needed to get it replaced.

As i have been going to this store for a while now and trust the guy, i ended up sighing because the Michilin Super Sport tire by itself ended up costing more then replacing all 4 tires on my utility truck i use at the office for work purpose.

Sigh... here is the damage.... and i only had 3k miles on this tire too.... my tire guy is wondering WTF hit it.
Note that hole is fairly big... its something a lot bigger then a nail, he thinks it might have been a concrete rebar or something.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Geez.

So what happens when your roadside assistance subscription expires?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Plugs and the tools you need to use them don't take up much room including a compressor. Probably take a couple in that hole lol.

 

[aigomorla]

Geez.

So what happens when your roadside assistance subscription expires?

lol thats what im worried about too...
I guess it means AAA has to tow you to a tire store, where they have inventory in stock.

In my case, the store needed to order it, so i left my rim there.

 

[Jimzz]

Recent? Cars have been coming without spares for several decades now. Some have it as an option but then people complain when their sleek car has less trunk space.

My Q50s has the spare tire option but if you read forums online people complain how the new trunk is smaller than the older G37. It has to be pointed out to them its because of the spare tire option.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

So what do you do with the extra wheel the roadside service provided you? I assume the spare they brought you is not a donut, but full sie.

 

[aigomorla]

So what do you do with the extra wheel the roadside service provided you? I assume the spare they brought you is not a donut, but full sie.

actually my full size is 265/35/21
They brought me a 245/45/19 as a spare.

After i replaced the flat tire, which i got done today, i had to drive to the service center to drop it off.

Tesla wanted 485 dollars for the replacement. That's parts + labor + balancing.
My tire guy charged me 405.

 

[OutHouse]

actually my full size is 265/35/21
They brought me a 245/45/19 as a spare.

After i replaced the flat tire, which i got done today, i had to drive to the service center to drop it off.

Tesla wanted 485 dollars for the replacement. That's parts + labor + balancing.
My tire guy charged me 405.

for one tire? damn what tires do you have on the car?

 

[aigomorla]

Michelin super sport.

:\

Its staggard too, so i cant do rotations.
I hear tires also wears out really fast on EV's because of the insane Torque, so im basically looking at a double wammie when it comes to life.

The one thing i do sort of regret is that i got the 21's.
I should of gotten the 19's and then bought an aftermarket 20's and not staggard.
That way i could theoretically have a spare, and end up costing less then what i paid for my 21's.

 

[Kaido]

As you are aware, Tesla's and some more recient modern cars do not come with a spare tire.

To make matters worse, the car does not even come with run flats.
So how do you change a flat tire on a Tesla?

You call roadside service.

This has been one of my concerns as well. When I test-drove the S & X, they said it's primarily due to the weight of the car (super heavy). I'd imagine it's also due to the range loss from carrying the extra weight (might be negligible tho). You'd think they'd offer an option for a kit that included a spare tire, plug-in impact driver that runs off the car's battery, and electric car jack or something. My last few cars haven't come with spares or jack kits & I've always ended up ordering them myself off either Amazon or eBay. I don't like the idea of having to wait on someone to fix your tire for you...

 

[OutHouse]

This has been one of my concerns as well. When I test-drove the S & X, they said it's primarily due to the weight of the car (super heavy). I'd imagine it's also due to the range loss from carrying the extra weight (might be negligible tho). You'd think they'd offer an option for a kit that included a spare tire, plug-in impact driver that runs off the car's battery, and electric car jack or something. My last few cars haven't come with spares or jack kits & I've always ended up ordering them myself off either Amazon or eBay. I don't like the idea of having to wait on someone to fix your tire for you...

Especially if driving through Utah or other western states.

 

[Kaido]

Especially if driving through Utah or other western states.

Due to the long distances of nothing, I'm assuming? I did SLC to Moab a few years ago, that was fun...

 

[OutHouse]

Due to the long distances of nothing, I'm assuming? I did SLC to Moab a few years ago, that was fun...

Sure it is. when you dont have a flat, no spare or cell service.

 

[Gillbot]

Can’t rotate but can swap left to right. Doesn’t really do much though.

 

[sdifox]

As you are aware, Tesla's and some more recient modern cars do not come with a spare tire.

To make matters worse, the car does not even come with run flats.
So how do you change a flat tire on a Tesla?

You call roadside service. They are fairly quick in the metro area.
I had the service guy come out and find me in literally 25 min.
They also seem to have you on GPS since its a Tesla, so he even knew i pulled the car into a residental street as the traffic got a bit heavier on where i originally stopped.

As long as your not located in the middle of nowhere, they will come out to you with a spare tire.
They will throw the spare on for you and then you have a couple of options.

1. You can ask the roadside to take the flat tire + rim to the nearest service center to get the tire fixed.
2. You can take the rim and tire to your favorate tire store and get it fixed / replaced.

I honestly find this kinda silly, especially in a car which toots to have the most trunk room.
They could easily put a spare in either the rear trunk since it has no gas tank, or the frunk.
What if i was in the middle of nowhere and this happened? I guess i cant be located in the middle of nowhere, because then i will be in trouble of battery range.

At any rate i decided to take the tire and rim in hopes of getting it repaired, however the tire store insisted that i needed to get it replaced.

As i have been going to this store for a while now and trust the guy, i ended up sighing because the Michilin Super Sport tire by itself ended up costing more then replacing all 4 tires on my utility truck i use at the office for work purpose.

Sigh... here is the damage.... and i only had 3k miles on this tire too.... my tire guy is wondering WTF hit it.
Note that hole is fairly big... its something a lot bigger then a nail, he thinks it might have been a concrete rebar or something.

I had a similar blowout on the interstate north no cyracuse. Scary as hell with dump trucks rolling by.

Had to drive on doughnut on highway speed xd

 

[Kaido]

Can’t rotate but can swap left to right. Doesn’t really do much though.

Aren't only the performance models staggered?

 

[NutBucket]

Due to the long distances of nothing, I'm assuming? I did SLC to Moab a few years ago, that was fun...

If that was the case a BEV would be my last choice in vehicles. Even my CR-Z had a spare. No spare is BS. I gotta get off my butt and get a full size spare for the WRX. Luckily it fits under the trunk floor.

What happened to proper engineering?

 

[Kaido]

If that was the case a BEV would be my last choice in vehicles. Even my CR-Z had a spare. No spare is BS. I gotta get off my butt and get a full size spare for the WRX. Luckily it fits under the trunk floor.

What happened to proper engineering?

I think it boils down to 2 things:

1. Government fuel economy requirements

2. Cost-cutting methods driven by corporate greed

And also maybe:

3. A lot of people don't know how to change a tire anymore & are content just calling AAA for a roadside tire change or their insurance for a tow or their dad or whoever to get them out of a jam

Also, tires are made better these days. I think I've had to change maybe three tires in the past 20 years.

 

[sdifox]

I think it boils down to 2 things:

1. Government fuel economy requirements

2. Cost-cutting methods driven by corporate greed

And also maybe:

3. A lot of people don't know how to change a tire anymore & are content just calling AAA for a roadside tire change or their insurance for a tow or their dad or whoever to get them out of a jam

Also, tires are made better these days. I think I've had to change maybe three tires in the past 20 years.

Doesn't matter how well a tire is made, it is no match for road hazard. A day after the blow out I got a flat...

 

[Kaido]

Doesn't matter how well a tire is made, it is no match for road hazard. A day after the blow out I got a flat...

Wow, what rotten luck! My last 2 flats were in the same week. iirc, I got a flat in mine, then while I was waiting for a new tire & driving my wife's car, got a flat in hers a few days later lol.

 

[sdifox]

Wow, what rotten luck! My last 2 flats were in the same week. iirc, I got a flat in mine, then while I was waiting for a new tire & driving my wife's car, got a flat in hers a few days later lol.

And it was flat in an underground parking in nyc...found out the bext morning when I went to pick up car with family and luggage in tow...

 

[JTsyo]

This is why I go with the Road Hazard warranty. Of course with Costco, you get it for free.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Just remember that repaired tires lose their speed rating.