Tesla Model Y 2025: The Strange Free 20-Inch Rims

In the United States, the Tesla Model Y Launch Series comes with 19-inch wheel covers… or 20-inch alloy wheels at no extra cost.

Across the Atlantic, the battle for range is fierce. And all marketing tricks are currently being used by Tesla to improve figures and meet the expectations of (rare) customers. This is less true in other markets like Europe, where they are pushed products “take it or leave it,” often at much higher prices. The cost of the “labor” of Chinese robots is probably lower than that of European robots.

Thus, Tesla USA allows its customers to choose, free of charge, the size of the wheels on their new Model Y 2025 Launch Series: 19 or 20 inches. Strange? Not really. As previously seen, the US configurator offers a lot of configuration freedom: exterior and lower paints are all free, a first. And now, the same goes for the wheels.

Range as the Only Argument?

At first glance, one might think that the pursuit of the greatest range is the hidden reason. This is not false, but not the only one. First, it’s worth recalling that the American homologation cycles, called EPA, are more stringent than in Europe (WLTP), and even more so compared to China. By favoring highways (very numerous in the USA due to long distances), EPA ranges are closer to reality.

Thus, the new Tesla Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive Launch Series is rated at 303 miles of range (487 km) in the United States, versus 568 km in Europe (an 81 km difference). To improve this under-500 km performance, Tesla offers — without a price reduction! — 19-inch steel wheels with plastic covers. Here, the range increases to 327 miles, or 527 km (still less than in Europe with 20-inch wheels…). That’s a gain of 40 kilometers compared to the 20-inch wheels, quite pleasant.

The second reason for offering smaller rim size tires is related to comfort. Tesla promised a revolution in this regard, as seen with the Model 3 2.0 in 2024. But the situation was so bad with the first Model Y that even with the 2025 version, there’s a significant risk of suspension discomfort. Given that U.S. roads are often concrete slabs with rough joints, the higher sidewalls of the tires offer a better ride quality.

And you, if you had a choice, which wheel setup would you choose? The 19-inch wheels without a price reduction or the 20-inch wheels that cost more and are included in the base price?

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