Search for autonomy: soon a Tesla Model Y with 18-inch wheels?

A source of much dissatisfaction, the wheels of the Tesla Model Y raise questions about the relevance of an 18-inch diameter setup.

Tesla is exploring simple solutions to lower its production costs or expand its customer base. The imminent arrival of a Model 3 with fabric seats (which is not insulting, mind you!) is a demonstration of this. Also, playing with legislation, as in Singapore where this same Model 3 offers a version with power limited to 148 horsepower.

When developing its Model Y at the end of the 2010s, Tesla had considerable freedom in a market where it ruled supreme. This facilitated the establishment of the specifications. Weight, battery, equipment, price, the Model Y had little credible competition in 2020 at the time of its launch. Thus, it has a hybrid size between an SUV and an elevated sedan, with unprecedented proportions and also the necessary aesthetic appeal of a minimum 19-inch wheel. Optionally, you can upgrade to 20 inches… or even 21 inches for the Performance version, but this results in a grotesque appearance with a tuning effect that ruins everything. Four wheels, a lowered suspension, and a carbon spoiler, that’s it…

18 inches, the perfect diameter for an electric vehicle?

Alas, competition has strengthened, and today the Tesla Model Y must refine its copy. And there are many areas for improvement, according to long-time users. The first feeling is one of comfort, as the suspension is relatively firm and tiresome over time. With an 18-inch wheel diameter, but no change in overall development, the height of the tire sidewalls will be greater, thus absorbing road irregularities better.

A quick tour around a Tesla Model Y reveals a tendency for drivers to scrape the curbs, with the offset of the wheels or the hubcaps exposing them to damage. The 18-inch tires, with a taller profile, provide more protection against these bruises as well as against damage from potholes that can break the wheels.

Customers Tesla often complain about the premature wear of their tires. The suspension setups aren’t always very well calibrated coming out of the factory, while the weight of an electric vehicle due to the battery doesn’t help. With softer sidewall tires, slower wear of the rubber is noted, as the dynamic “stress” is less on the ground contact area.

This “softness” toward the tire also ensures better ease of driving in difficult conditions. In rain or snow, low-profile tires drop traction more easily and lose grip on slippery surfaces.

An increase in autonomy?

Finally, the strong argument for 18-inch wheels for a Tesla Model Y would be an increase in autonomy, thus lowering operating costs. 18-inch tires are cheaper than their 19 or 20-inch counterparts, and they generate less rolling resistance, which increases efficiency.

According to Tesla’s reports on its various models in its catalog, the gain in autonomy could reach up to 7.5%. Thus, the Model Y Propulsion could go from 455 to 489 kilometers (+34 km), the Long Range Propulsion from 600 to 645 km (+45 km), and the Long Range Dual Drive from 565 to 607 km (+42 km). We won’t insult you with a Model Y Performance in 18 inches…

In the end, using 18-inch wheels on a Tesla Model Y could enhance the driving experience in certain conditions while providing benefits in terms of autonomy and cost.

ALSO READ: Physics: we know why large-diameter wheels reduce the autonomy of electric vehicles