Tesla Model 3 Performance tires - your thoughts?

[JeffKeryk]

Our 2024 M3P is approaching 20K and the rear Pirelli P-Zero rubber is getting thin.
I am considering Michelin Pilot Sport All Season and Pilot Sport 4S.

I have the AS tires on the '06 TSX; love 'em. They will last longer and will likely increase range somewhat over sticky summer tires.
I have the 4S on our GS; love them but 30K is the realistic life range.

I do not push my cars; there is no need for the 4S but they are great tires. Of course I have zero complaints on the AS.
Gonna be close to $2K all in, either way. Ouch!

Your thoughts?

 

[Speedbird001]

Dang Sorry for your loss. I don't understand how we consumers put up with automakers and tire manufacturers to allow such high performance (Short life) tires come standard on anything under $100k. Who REALLY needs and can reasonably afford them? I'm guessing less than a third... For them, it should be after sale swap.

FWIW: I'll need new rubber for my 2012 Boss 302 in the spring. Probably gonna go for Firestone Firehawk 500s (~$1,200 versus ~$1,800 for high end Micheline or Pirelli)

 

[JeffKeryk]

Dang Sorry for your loss. I don't understand how we consumers allowed the automakers and tire manufacturers to allow such high performance (Short life) tires come standard on anything under $100k. Who REALLY needs and can reasonably afford them? I'm guessing a less than a third... For them, it should be after sale swap.

FWIW: I'll need new rubber for my Boss 302 in the spring. Probably gonna go for Firestone Firehawk 500s (~$1,200 versus ~$1,800 for high end Micheline or Pirelli)

I have the Firehawks on my '65 442. I wish I would have put a thin whitewall on instead. Wrong tire for the car.

 

[edyvw]

Our 2024 M3P is approaching 20K and the rear Pirelli P-Zero rubber is getting thin.
I am considering Michelin Pilot Sport All Season and Pilot Sport 4S.

I have the AS tires on the '06 TSX; love 'em. They will last longer and will likely increase range somewhat over sticky summer tires.
I have the 4S on our GS; love them but 30K is the realistic life range.

I do not push my cars; there is no need for the 4S but they are great tires. Of course I have zero complaints on the AS.
Gonna be close to $2K all in, either way. Ouch!

Your thoughts?

That or Pilot Super Sport.

 

[Speedbird001]

I have the Firehawks on my '65 442. I wish I would have put a thin whitewall on instead. Wrong tire for the car.

I bet that is rad. (Edited my post... My fun/midlife crisis car is a 2012 Boss 302, special but not the classic unicorn '69/'70)

 

[Trav]

Our 2024 M3P is approaching 20K and the rear Pirelli P-Zero rubber is getting thin.
I am considering Michelin Pilot Sport All Season and Pilot Sport 4S.

I have the AS tires on the '06 TSX; love 'em. They will last longer and will likely increase range somewhat over sticky summer tires.
I have the 4S on our GS; love them but 30K is the realistic life range.

I do not push my cars; there is no need for the 4S but they are great tires. Of course I have zero complaints on the AS.
Gonna be close to $2K all in, either way. Ouch!

Your thoughts?

Do you really need an all season tire? I use winter tires on cars I run in the winter and summer tires on the ones I run in the summer. the difference between dedicated season tire and all season is night and day. I recently bought 4 Conti extreme contact sport 02 for my car for 1,350+ tax, I will put them on the car in spring.

 

[neosomatic]

I think the 2024 Model 3 Performance has staggered tire sizes - 235/35-20 front and 275/30-20 rear. This really limits your options.

Also, be aware that tire companies usually shorten the treadwear warranty on staggered setups because they can't be rotated front-to-back. Typically, the rear tire warranty is cut in half (e.g., if it's a 50k warranty, the rears are covered for only 25k).

I'd skip the sticky summer high-performance tires (like the PS4S) and pick either the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus or the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. I think the Michelins are slightly better, but they often cost about ~15% more. Unless you really love carving up canyons and buying new rear tires frequently, the All-Seasons are the way to go.

Regarding the winter tire comment: Trav mentioned winter tires, but since you are in Los Gatos, you likely won't need them. However, if you do plan on taking trips to Tahoe or similar snow zones, do not buy 20" winter tires. You are better off buying a set of aftermarket 18" wheels (like T Sportline or Unplugged Performance) that are specifically engineered to clear the performance brake calipers. You can then run a "square" setup (same size all around), which offers better pothole protection, cheaper tires, and the ability to rotate them.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I have winter tires, all season tires, all weather tires and summer tires. It does not snow around here much, maybe 5 days a year. If snow is forecasted I will put the snow tires on. Otherwise they are such a huge handicap, I hate driving on them. Give me all seasons all day every day. They work better in every winter condition except snow/ice. I break out the all weathers on when I travel and need to meet the winter requirements when going over the Siskiyous in California, which sometimes require them when there is no snow on the ground. They are still better than snow tires if it’s not snowing.

 

[Cujet]

Even if you don't push your car or the tires, the Pilot Sport 4s (or equiv sports car summer tire) will feel more responsive, with sharp turn-in and a feeling like it's on rails. That makes driving more pleasurable. My F-Type Jag has responsive P-Zero's on it and is an absolute blast to drive. I don't go sliding it around everywhere, but I do enjoy the sharp turn-in and sure-footed feel of a proper performance car.

The same car with Michelin All Seasons feels mushy. Sure, the ultimate grip really is not that different. 63mph on the off ramp vs 65mph. But it is taking away from what I purchased, a sports car that is supremely fun.

I guess my point is why de-claw a tiger?

 

[krzyss]

Dang Sorry for your loss. I don't understand how we consumers put up with automakers and tire manufacturers to allow such high performance (Short life) tires come standard on anything under $100k. Who REALLY needs and can reasonably afford them? I'm guessing less than a third... For them, it should be after sale swap.

FWIW: I'll need new rubber for my 2012 Boss 302 in the spring. Probably gonna go for Firestone Firehawk 500s (~$1,200 versus ~$1,800 for high end Micheline or Pirelli)

They put up with high performance tires when they buy high performance vehicle or model.
It does not need to cost $100K. BMW M2, Some Porsches, some Corvettes, Mazda Miata, Subaru WRX, Hyunday Veloster N, VW GTI and Golf R are all below your threshold.

Krzyś

 

[thescreensavers]

Go for the AS4, if you don't push your car this is going to give you the best life and is still grippy.

 

[JeffKeryk]

That or Pilot Super Sport.

Thanks Edy. I will order them today. Loan a poor boy a little scratch?

Do you really need an all season tire?

Thanks Trav. You are right about AS tires. We get 330+ days of sunshine here. Ha!


You guys are just being logical again.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I guess my point is why de-claw a tiger?

Another good point. If I chose the AS rubber, the PS4S would always be stuck in the back of my mind.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Our 2024 M3P is approaching 20K and the rear Pirelli P-Zero rubber is getting thin.
I am considering Michelin Pilot Sport All Season and Pilot Sport 4S.

I have the AS tires on the '06 TSX; love 'em. They will last longer and will likely increase range somewhat over sticky summer tires.
I have the 4S on our GS; love them but 30K is the realistic life range.

I do not push my cars; there is no need for the 4S but they are great tires. Of course I have zero complaints on the AS.
Gonna be close to $2K all in, either way. Ouch!

Your thoughts?

Your Tesla puts out a ton of torque (471nm) so I would think a HP A/S might be more susepticable to constant wheel spin.

 

[edyvw]

Thanks Edy. I will order them today. Loan a poor boy a little scratch?


Thanks Trav. You are right about AS tires. We get 330+ days of sunshine here. Ha!


You guys are just being logical again.

Yeah.
When I was living in San Diego, I was running Super Sport.
The only reason I am running UHP AS here is the very cold nights in spring and fall, and the possibility of snow in May or September. Otherwise, Max performance summer tire all day, any day.

 

[dogememe]

If you don’t push the car hard to reap the benefits of the staggered setup could you get a set of four matched wheels and tires off a regular model 3 or go with aftermarket 19” wheels so your tires are cheaper? That way you can also rotate them properly.

I know you can afford the tires but saving money is always cool haha.

I’m shocked the tires only lasted 20k, that is astounding to me

 

[JeffKeryk]

If you don’t push the car hard to reap the benefits of the staggered setup could you get a set of four matched wheels and tires off a regular model 3 or go with aftermarket 19” wheels so your tires are cheaper? That way you can also rotate them properly.

I know you can afford the tires but saving money is always cool haha.

I’m shocked the tires only lasted 20k, that is astounding to me

TBT a set of 18" or 19" square wheel setup would increase range and improve ride. But as @Cujet advised, why tame the tiger?
I am not sure I have ever been as satisfied with a vehicle, right up there with the TSX and our beloved Tundra. It's that good.

 

[demarpaint]

I’m shocked the tires only lasted 20k, that is astounding to me

I was surprised too, but I heard that from other people too. $2K for tires was more shocking to me.

 

[02SE]

Your thoughts?

You have to pay to play.

Tires are by far the biggest maintenance expense on our cars and motorcycles.

I just had my buddy who owns a tire store order some tires for the Vette. With the tires installed by me (I'm sure he will help a bit), using his equipment after hours, they will be over 3k. If I had some place like Discount Tire do it, it would be pushing 4k.

 

[Chris142]

I was just wondering the other day how long tires last on the Tesla cars. Every time I'm at a light and it turns green the Tesla is already across the other crosswalk and hammered down before I have my foot all the way off my clutch.