Is it necessary to change the rims for a Tesla?
3 Answers
If the car owner prefers a stylish and handsome appearance, they can replace the 19-inch rims on the Tesla with 20-inch ones. If the owner prioritizes practicality, there is no need to change the rims. The Tesla comes standard with 19-inch rims, and upgrading to 20-inch rims requires an additional fee. The pros and cons of switching to 20-inch rims are as follows: Appearance: 20-inch rims are larger and more attractive, offering a better look. Range: The actual driving range with 20-inch rims will be about 5-10% shorter than with 19-inch rims, roughly 30 kilometers less. Practicality: 20-inch tires have thinner sidewalls, making the rims more susceptible to damage and the tires more prone to bulging. Road feedback is more pronounced, requiring extra caution even for small potholes. For 19-inch rims, reducing the tire pressure to 2.8-2.9 Bar can effectively minimize tire noise and road feedback.
I've been into cars for over a decade, and when it comes to changing Tesla wheels, it depends on how you use them. The stock wheels aren't ugly but are heavy. Switching to lightweight forged wheels makes acceleration and cornering noticeably more responsive, with improved wet-weather grip. The key is choosing the right size—upgrading from 19 to 20 inches looks more aggressive, but the thinner tires are prone to bulging, and range drops by 5%-8%. Last week, I helped a fellow owner pick flow-formed wheels that were 3kg lighter per wheel than stock, and he reported better efficiency. For the ultimate setup, ensure the J-value fits properly, or the tires might protrude and rub the fenders. My advice? If your budget allows, go for it—wheels are like a car's sneakers.
As a mother of two, I haven't changed the wheels on my Model Y in three years. The factory 18-inch wheels may look ordinary, but the matched tires are thick enough to make speed bumps less jarring. Last year, my best friend upgraded to 21-inch wheels only to damage two tires on a trip back home, costing over 4,000 yuan in repairs. Actually, Tesla's tire pressure monitoring system is extremely sensitive—aftermarket wheels often trigger false alarms, which I experienced once when borrowing a friend's car. If it's just for aesthetics, wheel wraps or hubcap replacements do the trick for around 100 yuan, no need to remove them for inspections. If you must swap wheels, remember to get them balanced—don't skimp on that 200-yuan labor cost.
