Tesla’s Tyre Warranty | Everything You Need to Know

Tesla electric vehicles are known around the world as one of the leading names in electric vehicles and for good reason. They’re eco-friendly, energy efficient, and packed with advanced technologies. But do their tyres have a reliable warranty to keep you on the road?

Tesla provides a tyre warranty that covers four years or 80,000 km, whichever comes first. It’s important to have your tyres checked by a licensed Tesla mechanic or service centre to ensure your warranty isn’t voided.

It’s important to know details about this warranty, such as what’s covered, what’s not covered, the duration of the warranty, and more. Understanding your tyre warranty to the fullest helps you make the right decisions about maintenance and repairs.

Does the Tesla Warranty Cover Tyres?

Tesla provides a limited warranty for tyres as a component of their overall vehicle warranty. However, the specific coverage and terms of a Tesla tyre warranty may depend on the specific Tesla vehicle model. It may also vary depending on the region where the vehicle was purchased.

Tesla’s Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty, in which the tyre warranty is included, covers replacement or repair necessary to rectify factory errors and material defects of parts supplied or manufactured by Tesla. The warranty lasts four years or 80,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

How Long is Tesla’s Tyre Warranty?

The Tesla Model S and Model X have a 4-year or 80,000 km new vehicle limited Tesla warranty. This includes a tyre warranty for one year or 20,000 km, whichever comes first. The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have a tyre warranty for workmanship and defects for one year or 16,000 km, whichever comes first.

Tesla tyre warranty depends on the specific Tesla vehicle model and the region where it was purchased. Note that the warranty only applies to the original tyres that came with the Tesla vehicle when it was purchased.

What Can Void the Tesla Tyre Warranty?

There are several things that can void the Tesla Tyre Warranty, including:

Replacing the original tyres with aftermarket tyres
Negligence, improper tyre use, and failure to properly maintain the tyres
Vehicle modifications that affect the tyres, such as installing a lift kit
Driving off-road when the vehicle is not intended for off-road driving or other activities not intended for normal driving

Note that this is not an exhaustive list. The specific terms and conditions of the warranty are in the warranty documentation that comes with the vehicle purchase.

Does Changing Tesla Tyres Void My Warranty?

Changing Tesla tyres as part of regular maintenance does not void the warranty. In general, if you replace your original vehicle tyres with tyres that satisfy Tesla’s specifications and are properly installed as prescribed, your warranty won’t be voided.

But if you replace the tyres with aftermarket counterparts that fail to meet Tesla’s specifications, then this could void the warranty. The same goes if the tyres, even if they meet Tesla’s specifications, are incorrectly installed.

In addition, if replacing the tyres leads to damage or issues with other parts or mechanisms of the vehicle, the warranty on those parts or the vehicle itself may be affected. For instance, replacing the tyres with a different size or type than the original or specified by Tesla could negatively affect the vehicle’s performance. If the suspension, brakes, and other systems get damaged due to that change, the warranties on those parts may be voided.

Do Teslas Need Special Types of Tyres?

Each Tesla vehicle can accelerate quickly and has regenerative braking capabilities. That means Tesla vehicles need specific types of tyres that are designed to handle these features.

The tyres that Tesla recommends for their electric vehicles have:

High load rating to handle the weight of the vehicle, its passengers, and additional cargo
High-speed rating to handle the maximum speed of the Tesla vehicle
Low roll resistance to optimise the vehicle’s range and efficiency
Good traction to ensure it grips the road in wet conditions
Stiff sidewall construction that supports the weight of the vehicle when accelerating or braking

The manual that comes along with your purchased vehicle provides the exact specifications of the tyres of your Tesla vehicle model. It’s important to follow these specifications not just to void the warranty but to ensure that your Tesla vehicle operates at its optimal performance.

Why Can’t You Change a Tyre on a Tesla?

Tesla vehicles have a unique jacking point system, which is why you shouldn’t change the tyres yourself. These are locations along the vehicle’s undercarriage where jacks are positioned in case the vehicle needs to be lifted. Using an incorrect jacking point or lifting the car improperly can damage the vehicle.

Additionally, several Tesla models do not have spare tyres because they are equipped with run-flat tyres. These tyres enable the driver to continue driving for a short distance at a reduced speed if he has a flat tyre. This should be enough to allow him to reach a repair shop or a service centre.

To prevent damaging the vehicle when changing tyres, you should follow Tesla’s recommended procedures. Better yet, it’s highly recommended that you let a Tesla-certified technician change the tyres, or have them changed at a Tesla service centre.

Can You Get Tesla Tyres Replaced Anywhere?

Tesla highly recommends replacing your tyres at a Tesla Service Centre or a Tesla-approved tyre centre. Technically, you can have the tyres of your Tesla vehicle changed anywhere. However, the technician or service centre must be proficient or certified in servicing Tesla vehicles.

Improper servicing can potentially void the Tesla tyre warranty, damage the vehicle, or impede its operation. However, Tesla-approved service centres have trained and certified technicians who can properly and safely replace your tyres using Tesla-approved spare parts and equipment.

Where Should You Get Tesla Tyres Changed?

Ideally, you should have your tyres changed at Tesla service centres. There are several in Australia, including:

Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Southport, Gold Coast
Mulgrave, Melbourne
Richmond, Melbourne
Osborne Park, Perth
Chatsworth, Sydney

There are also Tesla-approved body shops in the following locations:

Alexandria, New South Wales
Brisbane, Queensland
Burwood East, Victoria
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Collingwood, Victoria
Fortitude Valley, Queensland
Melbourne, Victoria
South Melbourne, Victoria
Southport, Queensland
Wangara, Western Australia

How Often Should You Replace Tesla Tyres?

As a rule of thumb, in normal driving conditions, Tesla tyres should be replaced every 40,000 to 60,000 kilometres or every two to three years, whichever comes first.

However, the frequency of tyre replacement can vary depending on your driving technique, the road conditions you’re driving on, your vehicle’s load, the type of tyres you have, your tyre maintenance routine, and more.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Tesla Tyres Replaced?

The approximate tyre replacement cost at a Tesla Service Center in Australia is around $830 for a single tyre or $2,000 for a set of four tyres. The actual price depends on the Tesla vehicle model and the type of replacement tyres.

What’s Not Covered Under the Tesla Tyre Warranty?

The Tesla tyre warranty does not cover natural wear and tear from normal tyre operations or cover damage caused by punctures, road hazards, and other external factors. The warranty also does not cover damage or wear caused by negligence, irresponsible use, improper tyre care and improper tyre handling.

Tesla Tyre FAQs

Do You Need to Rotate Tesla Tyres?

To distribute wear and tear evenly, it’s recommended that you rotate your tyres every 10,000 to 12,000 kilometres or every six months, whichever comes first. Even wear and tear helps prolong your tyres’ life, improves vehicle handling, and increases safety.

Your Tesla owner’s manual provides a comprehensive guide on rotating tyres based on your specific Tesla model.

How Long Do Tesla Tyres Last?

In general, Tesla tyres can run for 40,000 to 60,000 kilometres, or two to three years, before they need to be replaced. Again, the lifespan of your tyres can vary depending on several factors. This includes your driving style, road conditions, your tyre maintenance routine, and more.

Is a Flat Tyre Covered By Tesla?

There is no Tesla flat tyre warranty if the tyre is punctured via a road hazard such as nails or sharp debris or damage due to negligence such as a flat resulting in overinflation or driving off-road. Tesla does cover roadside assistance but won’t pay for the replacement tyre or the tyre replacement service.

Why Do Tesla Tyres Wear Out So Fast?

Many people complain that their Tesla tyres wear out faster than expected. In reality, it’s more on how the tyres are being handled.

Some factors that cause Tesla tyres to wear out prematurely include:

Hard acceleration, sudden stops, aggressive cornering, and poor driving style
Poor road conditions, such as uneven roads, potholes, and debris
Misalignment of the tyres
Underinflated or overinflated tyres
Non-Tesla approved or recommended tyres

Do Tyres Affect a Tesla’s Driving Range?

Yes, the type of tyres you choose can impact the vehicle’s driving range. Rolling resistance, tyre weight, tyre pressure, and many other factors affect your Tesla’s performance. That’s why you need to choose tyres that are specifically designed for your Tesla model. These tyres are optimised for energy efficiency.

Conclusion

When you buy a Tesla car, you are buying a state-of-the-art product that may be the vehicle of the near future. Knowing your warranty coverage ensures you get the most out of your Tesla driving experience.