A video uploaded on YouTube showcases Tesla’s use foam-lined tires to ensure that its vehicles are as silent as they can be on the road. As it turns out, however, inexperienced tire centers can find it quite difficult to repair Tesla’s tires of choice due to their noise-reducing components.
Acoustically insulated tires were introduced as a result of vehicles generally getting quieter. With the advent of electric cars thanks to trendsetters like Tesla, something as neglected as the noise produced by non-insulated tires become points for improvement. Thus, sound insulating tires started getting more popular. Continental’s ContiSilent tires, which are used in some of Tesla’s electric cars, for one, features insulation that reduces cabin noise by up to 9 dB(A), depending on the type of vehicle and road surface.
The video, uploaded by popular YouTube channel What’s Inside, featured a collaboration with the streaming service’s tech teardown specialist, JerryRigEverything. Dan, the host of What’s Inside, noted that he recently attempted to have his Tesla Model X’s tire repaired in a Discount Tire Center after it got punctured by a nail. To his surprise, the tire center informed him that they do not fix Model X tires, since Tesla uses proprietary components that could be damaged.
Thus, the collaboration with JerryRigEverything. Zack, the host of the YouTube tech channel has made a name for himself from his teardowns of popular tech products (he also tore down a Tesla Powerbank before). The two YouTubers opted to pierce the sidewall of the Model X at first, before opening it up fully with an angle grinder. As could be seen in the video, the insides of the Model X’s Pirelli tires featured a thick strip of foam running around the tire. This strip of foam, as noted by Elon Musk in a tweet last year, could be described as an “internal acoustic foam,” which is designed to minimize road noise.
Latest S and X tires have internal acoustic foam
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2017
Tesla’s vehicles are fully-electric, which means that they are incredibly silent on the road. This also means that every sound in any of the car’s components, including its tires, could be heard audibly inside the cabin. This was recently mentioned by Elon Musk in a conversation with Consumer Reports about the Model 3, with the CEO stating that Tesla opted to change some of the vehicle’s interior materials after they were found to cause extra noise. Tesla’s 2012 Model S initially came equipped with Continental’s ExtremeContact DW tires, which are pretty silent on their own. As noted in anecdotes from the Tesla community, later tires, which included the sound-reducing technology, were far more silent and provided more comfort.
As noted by the What’s Inside host, however, Tesla’s noise-canceling tires could ultimately be viewed as difficulties by some tire repair centers. Nevertheless, patching up a Tesla’s tire is actually quite simple, as all that needs to be done is to peel off the acoustic foam before covering up any punctures or holes. Once the tire’s puncture is fixed, a simple layer of adhesive to the peeled off parts of the foam should set it back in place.
Watch the teardown of the Model X’s tire in the video below.
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0 likes 4 days ago
PS : Tesla staff did everything they could to help me but unfortunately to no avail. So thumbs up for the staff and road assistance but without proper stock you can’t do much.
0 likes 4 days ago
0 likes 4 days ago
Well I’m a bit surprised to see that one cuts open a tire to find something out that is already in place since October 2017 (at least as far as I can see). My model X P100D has Michelins Lattitude Sports 3 275/45 R20’s on the rear wheels that have this magnificent invention (please read sarcastically). Last week I had the misfortune to run a flat tire. A beautifull little screw had wedged itself in my rear tire. No problem Sir! Tesla Road Assistance to the rescue…but alas, no tow service had a spare tire with my dimensions in stock (at least not mounted on a 20” rim). So repair on the spot = impossible. The only solution was towing the model X to the nearest service centre… given the fact that it was after working hours that would have left me without a vehicle for at least a day. The only “quick” solution I saw was waiting till the next day and go to the nearest tire repair centre. Alas again : impossible to repair the tire because of the foam that makes standard application of a repair kit impossible unless you want to apply the method suggested in the article. That is fun for a Youtube channel such as Rich Rebuilds (great channel btw) but you won’t get away with it in a professional repair shop. Last solution : 2 new tires and of course “TO” tires (Tesla Original). These would cost me 2 times 450 €!!!! And all this for a simple screw that you repair for 20 € in a repair shop. I finally opted for two non-TO tires (Bridgestones). Okay, still 630 € removed from my checking account but at least, these babies can be repaired. And honestly… I don’t hear any difference on the road. So instead of raping my wallet, please consider practical solutions and finally but most important : MAKE SURE TO HAVE SPARE TIRES IN STOCK FOR MODEL X’s!!!
PS : Tesla staff did everything they could to help me but unfortunately to no avail. So thumbs up for the staff and road assistance but without proper stock you can’t do much.
Welcome to Teslatown…
Where the only thing that disappears faster than a P100D in «Ludricris» mode is the $$$$ to operate it…
Lower maintenance costs my eye!
Will avoid these tires.. I am PERFECTLY happy with the 19 inch Michelin Primacy tires I have now.. 30500 miles and lots of tread still left.
I have read many reports of blow outs and cracked trims with the 21 inch MS tires .. even more $$$.
0 likes 4 days ago
0 likes 4 days ago
Got my special contis replaced within an hour on the road by a friendly, expert tire tech via a Tesla Roadside assistance. No complaints.
The specifics please?
How much $$$$$?
& why more than 1?
2 or more? worn out ? damaged? @
How many miles on tires?
0 likes 3 days ago
0 likes 3 days ago
Lets not forget this is the same clown that sold his Tesla because he had bald tires.
Clown or not…
TESLA stock holders refuse to provide specific cost numbers.
This gal abovel comments how great her service was.. but to the tune of what cost?
Tesla is rumored to have lower maintenance costs.
Well if each tire runs $500 installed ..and you need to replace that tire every 25000 miles..and 3 others along with it..
Assuming 12.5K a year , that is like $2300 w/tax every 2 years in tires.
Almost $100 per month in tire maintenance alone, plus your service plan, AND extended warranty..
THAT IS NOT LOWER MAINTENANCE COST.
BTW..DOESN’T buying tires excessively actually help support the OIL INDUSTRY?
NEWS FLASH TIRES ARE MOSTLY MADE FROM OIL AND POLYMER PLASTICS?
Natural rubber is way too expensive to make tires from.
0 likes 2 days ago
Nobody at Tesla forces you to buy the same type of tires that came with it when it was delivered. You can buy for example a Vredestein 275/45 r20 for 270 € (313 $) a piece that is not «TO» (tesla original). I can see you already discovered that on your own Tesla and I support your decision.
I have no idea what this Extended Warranty is you are talking about. You can buy service plans which is actually just paying up ahead for 4 service inspections.
Just the fact that the standard Michelin Lattitide sports R20 3 TO’s are difficult (not to use the word «impossible») to repair in case of a simple screw or bolt that penetrated the outer hull is a downside to the whole Tesla experience.
But still thanks for the tip : in order to avoid helping the oil industry I will manufacture myself new tires from wood. But…won’t this mean I will have to chop down a tree?? O nooooo… the dilemma!! Back to my good old mule and cart!
0 likes 2 days ago
Some last beyond 60000 miles..
If you have tires on a vehicle that only make 25000 or 30000 miles..
Than you ARE buying more oil based rubber.. thus supporting the oil industry.
According to the US rubber manufacturing association, it takes between 7 and 11 gallons of oil to make a single standard tire plus production methane and electric too.
Also..
I am referring to the extended warranty TESlA offers for $4500.00 or so minus a $200 per incident cost…the beyond 50K coverage most would take to muffle a $5000 touchscreen failure say..
Don»t apply to tires.. brakes, etc..
It covers the vehicles parts beyond the factory warranty for defects and failure..
The service maintenance plan doesn’t cover parts … factory warranty to 50K only except for the battery and drivetrain.. and NOT for battery degradation.. only for failure..
TESLA makes that call.
Buy all the tires you want .
I want mine to go at least 45000 or more.. just like all my other vehicles..
I like my Michelin Primacy Green X 19 inch tires.. 31000 and plenty of meat left, and they are quiet.. very quiet. with regular rotations and alignments, I hope they last 50000 miles …
@ $1200.00 a set plus installed.. that is the most expensive 45-60 gallons of oil I will ever buy.. hoping to do that as few times as possible
Try making your homemade tires from plastic bottles and other oil based garbage.. the raw materials are cheap.. they are literally littering the planet everywhere.
I bought the TESLA with a singular purpose of trying to move away from polluting oil and plastics.
Buying tires every 25000 miles would seem to run counter to that goal.
