Is the Tesla Model X protected from plastic wheel covers?
- Published on 09/05/2024 12:27
- Modified on 25/09/2025 9:48
In its quest for autonomy, will the Tesla Model X soon be fitted with plastic hubcaps like the Model S sedan?
A brief reminder of the facts. In the early days of January 2024, the vehicle certification body in the United States reduced – sometimes by up to 60 km – the autonomy of all Teslas. The reason being a new calculation method that aims to be closer to reality.
The problem: the marketing argument from the communicators of the California firm was not pleased to see some models fall below the psychological threshold of certain hundreds of miles of range.
From then on, it was necessary to find alternatives to quickly regain autonomy. On the large sedan Tesla Model S, the stunning alloy wheels in line with a car priced close to 100,000 dollars have been replaced with tires that have a smaller footprint on the ground and, importantly, the use of aerodynamic plastic hubcaps priced at 25 dollars each. Admit that on a Model S Plaid version with 1000 horsepower, it looks rather cheap…
Why is the Model X in the crosshairs?
Surprisingly, despite its XXL size, the Tesla Model X has lost the least during this update. Between 2023 and 2024, it reports a loss of 13 miles (21 km) on its entry-level version, and 7 miles (11 km) on its Plaid version.
It is probably due to the lightness of this impact on autonomy that Tesla has, for now, postponed the integration of a new technical specification for its massive electric SUV.
Furthermore, there is likely a technical limit to this idea. Reducing the footprint of the Model X, when this vehicle weighs between 2415 and 2510 kg unladen (compared to 2170 to 2265 kg unladen for the Model S and Model S Plaid), would imply a significant degradation in grip. This would increase braking distances and affect trajectory control via ESP in emergencies. A problem that was encountered nearly 20 years ago by the first Volkswagen Phantom, which was unable to control a skid, even on dry roads, due to its mass. Engineers had to revise their design to make it safe.
The confidentiality of its sales should not encourage Tesla to spend money on new tuning and recertification sessions, which cost millions of dollars, for its Model X. The urgency for Tesla lies elsewhere at the moment.
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This page is translated from the original post "La Tesla Model X à l’abri des enjoliveurs en plastique ?" in French.
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