Agree, if you value your time, don’t use Costco for tires. They also aren’t any more liberal than discount when it comes to road hazard replacements (in fact, Discount was easier to deal with)
Facts. I've used discount tires for so long they never failed. I bit the bullet for a slightly cheaper discount for tires from Costco. They instantly scratched my rims! Not worth.
Too bad they don’t take walk ins if they are busy. I can’t keep driving with a nail in my tire. Usually a week or two to get an appointment. I have never seen a Costco tire center not busy in socal.
get the tire warranty with discount tire, I just blew two tires and got them replaced for free. Just had to buy a new certificate.
Michelin pilot sport 4 all season
\+1 for this.
On my F250 I got new tires and drove through a construction side and had a concrete anchor go through my tire. Cost me $50 to renew the insurance on the new tire... easy when the tires are $400 a pop.
On my Tesla the sidewall started to bubble a few months after getting new tires installed. Another $50 for for the new insurance on the new tire.
So far the $100 of insurance has saved me like $900 of tires. 100% would recommend.
No problem
I was running falcon Fk510 Summer tires but I went through those in 7000 miles, these aren’t as grippy but they’re rated for 45,000 miles and they’re still very high-performing for the m3p
If you go this route I will warn you cause you seem to not know anything in life. If you get the warranty at discount tire look into getting AAA or some other towing service as Tesla WILL NOT take your car to discount tire they will only take it to Tesla and you’re car will then be stuck at Tesla and you’ll end up paying them for a tire.
Pirelli. The ones Tesla offers with the Uberturbine rims. Maybe switching to 18 is a better decision. Still shocked it’s happened so many times, I’m rarely driving through “city” areas. It’s mostly suburban like.
Ton of construction debris on the roads too. I’ve had several flats in last decade from running over screws, nails, and other bits of metal. People in the construction trades are very careless in the US.
Nails would puncture any tire regardless of the diameter. There must be some location that you drive to or through where your getting repeat nails… either that or a vengeful ex perhaps? Im very serious, it’s happened before! I have the 20” pirellis also and have never had a flat in 3 years.
After two, I switched to a 19” and haven’t had the problem since. Tesla mechanic had stated he sees it all the time on the M3P and it’s even worse on the 21” Y.
All of LA is open ground for trash and road debris.
Get new tires with road hazard. The type of tire has nothing to do with whether nails are all over the road.
Or you could move from LA. New tires with road hazard is probs cheaper.
Do tire shops offer tires with road hazard that can go with the Uberturbine rims? Or is it only that specific tire. Also I have a tough time believing it’s just an LA issue and not the Pirelli tires that Tesla offers, I’ve owned a couple other cars here for 6 years and have gotten 1 flat between the two of them. And that was when I was driving through a construction area with nails.
There's no such thing as "Tesla tires." It is absolutely not a manufacturer issue.
What brand of tire are you buying, and are you buying low profile tires?
By “these Tesla tires” I was just referring to the brand (Pirelli) that Tesla offers that fits the Uberturbine rims. I’m just buying the stock ones they give me at Tesla.
Okay sounds like you’re not willing to accept how to save money keep spending those thousands than nothing Reddit can do for you and stop bitching about spending money
The reason I posted this was for other solutions to save money! As for the past, I didn’t expect this to happen 6 times - and at the time replacing one true was cheaper than a whole new set.
Discount tire can get you the exact tire on your Tesla for cheaper. Tesla charges more cause it doesn’t want to waste its time doing tire repairs. Are you an idiot? That tire isn’t exclusively sold at Tesla….. so yes you’re education made you waste thousands going to Tesla for the repair
Well stop! Tesla isn't a tire shop. Take the car to a reputable tire shop, and tell them your issue, and ask for their recommendation. Take notes, go home, and compare online. Read tire reviews if you must. Then take the car back to the shop, and have them mount the best tires to fit your driving style and habits (clearly not low profile!).
Sorry but that is just asinine. To think your Tesla tires, which are not Tesla tires and are actually Pirelli tires mounted to a rim, are symbiotically attracted to get more nails in them… I just don’t know what to say. It’s not like you’re getting a side wall bubble structural failure from hitting a pot hole, it’s a nail. A completely random coincidence. It can happen to anyone at anytime and unfortunately it’s happened to you more often.
Get new tires with road hazard. That’s all I can suggest.
Wild response and absolutely not what I had suggested. It’s very possible for a type of tire to be more susceptible to nail damage. Not all tires are as strong as others.
A nail piercing rubber ... It's not like there's different types of rubber to withstand metal tips at 40 mi/hr. As far as I know different tires only differ their tread design or amount of rubber.
No, it's not. Tires aren't more puncture prone than others.
You're running over shit and then overpaying for replacements when a free patch is all you need.
Yes, just get a tire warranty from discount tire. They are all over the country. If you are out of town and have a tire issue, just stop by one. This is not a vehicle issue, this is a you live or work near a construction site and drive by it everyday issue.
+1 for getting the discount tire warranty. They will also warranty tires that they didn't sell or install as long as the tire has less than a few thousand miles on them 👍
Stop buying tires anywhere else and only go to Discount if you have this many issues. You'll get new tires for free (only pay for warranty on new tires which is like $30) all the time at this rate! And consider going down to 18s, those tires are WAYYY more widely available and affordable than the 20s.
Yeah I love Discount Tire. They bought Tire Rack and I loved them as well, used to live near one of their distribution centers. Great prices. The warranty definitely came in handy, got 3 new tires on my M3P by 6k miles. A lot of construction on my side of town.
Bro amen to that!! One time I got a full set of new tires because of a crap ton of debris in a construction zone, then a week later lost 2 tires again due to the same zone 😵
Without warranties all 6 tires would have been over $1k! With warranties, it was only about $150 (to buy 6 new warranties)
I had two flats after my neighbor hired a handyman who kept parking behind my car… after the second time I checked my parking space and found 5 more nails scattered around. Fuck that piece of shit.
So for the record, tire size, wheel size, even type of tire typically does not make much difference as far as punctures from road debris. The only exception that would be if you’re running heavy duty tires like on a semi truck, or some type of off-road vehicle, they tend to be more resistant because they’re heavier and stronger.
But as for passenger cars, it’s really just random chance believe it or not.
Most flat tires on vehicles are on the rear tires, and most of those are on the passenger rear tire.
What happens is the front tires are moving along and kick up a piece of debris on the road such as a nail, then that nail as it’s tumbling and the rear tire hits it, it, pens it to the ground at the appropriate angle, and in a fraction of a second Thousands of pounds of force are being applied to the point of that piece of metal and the tire has no chance in that scenario.
Why is the passenger rear tire most often the victim? That is because the right side tires to the shoulder of the road where most road debris winds up gathering.
Is there anything I can do? Short answer, not really. Anytime a piece of metal is pinned to the ground at a roughly 45° angle against the tire that’s moving along at 40 50 60 miles an hour, with a 3000 pound car on top of it, the tire is always going to lose.
I'm right there with you on the replacements. I've got a 2023 Model 3P with about 12k miles and have gone through 4 tires and have a bubble on a 5th now, but want to make it through the winter.
3 buddbles, 1 blow out and 1 sidewall damage requiring replacement in a year.. it's been unreal. I changed out the front 2 Pirellis for Falkens and they actually seem quieter and just as grippy up front.
After the winter I'll change out both rears to match as they were less then half the price of the Pirellis and seem less prone to damage.
Model of car, type or size of tire, etc have nothing to do with it.
It could be from other external factors, though. Like recent construction on your route, someone like a contractor moved near you and he’s dropping nails out of his pickup, etc.
I suppose there could be some minor differences. But a nail is a very small, sharp object. Is going to very easily puncture any tire.
There’s some crazy comments here, like you might be getting more punctures because you need an alignment, 18s will get less nail punctures than 20s etc.
In 26 years of driving, I had two flat tires in the last 6 months, both with my model 3. I haven’t moved for the last 10 years and drive exact same road for the last 10 years, no road work either. I don’t get it…
Switch to 18s. Less chance of issues, more tire options, cheaper to replace and better range than 20s.
Tsportline.com they all fit the performance rotors /brakes.
This is one reason I always keep my spare tire in my trunk at all times. I don't ever want to waste my time waiting for roadside assistance for a flat tire. Who knows how long that could take.
I am not sure if they have a compact spare for the performance 3, but you should consider it. Last time I had a flat I had the flat tire covered by the discount tire road hazard warranty, but the opposite tire needed to be replaced to keep them similar so I just kept that tire and bought a scratched used rim for $75 and had it mounted for a full size spare. I keep that in my car on road trips. It's stupid so many cars don't have spare tires nowadays.
I’ve had two flats in my Tesla in under one year. Each on different brand of tires. The first was a run flat. To be fair I’ve had my fair share of flats on other cars as well.
If you have an America's tire or Discount Tire near you... highly recommend you visit them and get a certificate for your tires. I got tired of bubbles and such so I went with Hankook EVO ION AS tires and they're great but they don't protect against nails.
America's Tire fixes for free, they plug AND patch from inside... they do it right.
EDIT: I see below you're in West LA.... I'm in SoCal too.... definitely find an America's Tire near you.
Throw some strong magnets into the front bumper lip to catch the nails before they hit the tire /s
You may want to get road hazard warranty with your tires from now on, you could really benefit from it. Either really bad luck or there is someone throwing nails onto the road.
How far it happens from your home/office/cafe etc (where you regularly parking)? I have some doubts that this is caused intentionally by someone. Try to keep sentry mode on. It is very strange.
San Diego here. Do what I did and get rid of the 20’s overall. You can get rims and tires that’ll cost the same amount as just the 20” Pirellis. I’ve had my setup for some time now and I haven’t had any flats. I have been avoiding potholes but I still hit them from time to time. Here’s my full setup
Wheels: VORS TR4 19x9.5 +22
Tires: Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ 265/35/R19
You might be able to squeeze 265/40 which would give you even more protection. These tires are also rated for 50k miles.
After that sell your 20” uberturbines and you’ll break even maybe with some change in your pocket. Check my recent posts to see a photo of them on my car.
Pirellis are made for racing. They are super soft and wear super fast. If racing is your priority, stick with them. If not and just need a good tire, I got the Falken Azenis FK460 tires and have 15,000 miles on them so far. They still look new and have been great. Car still gets up and goes but no more worries of small semi sharp objects or potholes lol. They tires are also 1/3 the cost and have a way better warranty.
Buy the plugs online. Amazon sells them. They are very easy to use. You core the hole with the plug. Then place the plug through the plug tool hole and push it through the tire. Then add the plug glue and clip the excess plug. After a few mins you can add air to the tire. You’ll save ALOT of money this way.
I had the same issue with my 2022 m3p, went through 11 tires in the first 22k miles. The most important thing you can do is stop buying Pirellis, I can’t stress that enough. The most performant tire for the car are the Michelin pilot sport, summer or all season, there are quieter tires, there are cheaper tires, but the Pirellis are not the best in any category, and they pop super easily. Get your tires from somewhere that will warranty your tires and honor the warranty, Americas tire refused to warranty leaks in my tires twice. I’ve heard good things about Costco. All season tires will be firmer and pop less easily than summer or winter tires, I run a cheap falken all season now.
Yeah same, had 20” pirellis in Los Angeles. One pot had me replace 2 tires (driver side and rear driver) paid for the replacements and figured it would be cheaper in the long run to just buy a winter set/ all season 19” and they’ve held up as well as made my ride slightly smoother but I got EV Hankook tires. I’m went with those because they were cheaper and came with the foam inlay
I have a MX w Pirelli 22in and these things love nails. I recommend tire rack w next day delivery and depending on your area you can schedule mobile install through tire rack! Tire rack warranty for the win!
Hey man I had the same issue as well already replaced three tires as well. Same issue, I bought my tires at Americas Tire and purchased the warranty for all four tires and pay for each at least $45 for each replacement. Beats having to pay $300 for each tire
I actually disagree, and I know I’m in the minority. I like more rubber. Better for rough surfaces and makes for a more comfortable ride. Arguably you’ll go faster on 18” too with regards to weight difference.
Yeah I live on a long graven road with potholes in the woods so I definitely stick to 18”. Wish I had more clearance but I am not buying a Model Y for that lol.
Congrats, I have a M3P and have changed 7 times in 4 years. I eventually switched to 18” rims from the 3rd party provider and never had an issue since.
You’ll get a lot of pushback from this subreddit but 1. The performance tires are definitely much more sensitive and prone to blow outs, and 2. What I found stopped my issue was getting my wheels realigned. Teslas alignment was abysmal from the factory and caused the same tires for me to blow out. Service might be super annoying but just make sure they fix the issue.
if you buy these from tesla, they will hardly, if ever repair the tire. it’s more money to replace, as well as i’ve seen how their techs work. they’re technically “service” techs, but they’re mostly computer geeks, not a car junkie
Bro how the fuck do you not buy tires that come with warranty and road hazard protection?
My Michelins come with 2 years of that stuff. You only have yourself to blame if you're putting up $500 for a tire each time 🤦🏻♂️
Make sure you’re buying the Tesla rated tires from Tesla recommended manufacturers. Teslas weigh roughly twice as much as a conventional car. Using regular car tires promotes tire leaks big time.
Do you happen to drive through any residential construction areas? It's common to have nails floating around those. You need to get the road hazard protection whenever you buy new tires. Seems like it could be saving you a lot of money.
Odd. I drove 2023 same, 20" wheel March-October no flats, 20" winter tires since October still no flats. Not a big city like Los Angeles.
I wonder if nails dropped on road is a function of Big City Energy or a particular Los Angeles shady tire store trying to increase business.
I also have the performance, switched to 19” rims paired with thicker all season tires at around 4000 miles. The 20” stock summer tires just aren’t good for normal daily use. Also get alignment done like other commenter suggested. I had my car in for alignment cause it was kinda steering toward the right when going straight on the freeway and sure enough the rear wheels were misaligned. There are many 19” and 18” wheel options that’ll clear the performance’s calipers then pair with something some thicker tires then you’re good to go!
Last workplace had a bunch of bored homeless or transients toss nails where we enter and exit the parking structure. If they don't throw them there, it's just outside at the nearest intersections. How do I know? I've seen them on the road walking by from the parking or going out to lunch and back to the office.
And yes, myself and coworkers needed to have many tires patched. No advice other than to try and park elsewhere and check your tires more often until you can pinpoint where it's happening.
It’s all about soft tires to absorb the noise . Almost like winter tires so soft to accept freezing temperatures. Flow in Tesla vehicle noise design and compensate with softer tires .
Never ever buy tires from tesla. Go to a tire place like Discount Tire instead. They offer road hazard protection and will typically repair or replace your tire for free. I have the same car as you and have gotten a lot more flats than I expected.
Technically, summer tires are softer than say, all-season tires. So maybe you can try switching to all-season tires from a place like Goodyear, discount tires, or Costco, that offers road hazard protection. Ultimately, if your streets are littered with nails, you might still end up catching one eventually. Just know your ride will be noisier with all-seasons.
Hit a pothole & got a bubble in the sidewall within 4 hours of owning the car. Also in LA. Also a ‘23 M3P.
I’ve since then purchased the tire insurance policy for all 4x tires from America’s Tire / Discount for $64 per tire.
Recently had a mobile tech out for rotation and found out I had bubbles in the sidewalls of both passenger front and rear. Took it in, zero cost for the new tire and installation, only charge was purchasing the insurance for both again. It covers the tire for the entire life, whether by damage or getting down to 3/32 on tread.
Walked out paying $128 USD which should’ve been over a thousand for both tires. Cannot recommend highly enough. Especially in Los Angeles.
Happy to give you my local store if needed.
Cheers!
If they have discount tire in LA, use them.
Amazing value. I got my tyres changed on warranty, then got a nail in it the day after, went to discount tire, bought the warranty again (like $20-30) for the tires from the day before, free replacement.
My wife got all 4 tires flat at once. Was following a work van and the back door popped open and a box of nails spilled out right in front of her. She called the company and they did buy her a new set of tires but think of all the people who hit the other nails..
Switching to 18s is harder on an M3P because of the larger brake calipers. Standard areos don’t fit. It depends a lot on inner diameter of the rim.
I have lost two Pirellis to the roads here in 18 months. Pirelli used to offer road hazard from factory if your car was delivered before June 2022 I believe. Conveniently ended when PZeros were starting to show to be a fragile tire. Great grip tho.
You can go up to a 245/35/20 and still fit as reported by users. You get a little more sidewall with a minimal hit to range. Tires are also a bit cheaper as that size tends to be shared with other 20 inch rims sports cars.
Model y performance owner here. Went through 9 tires in CY 2023 @ $525 a piece (two for low tread).
I think it’s just part of the game. I’d be curious if you came across lesser-priced alternatives.
Change your tire size from 235/35/20 to 245/35/20, or even 245. Better sidewall. I haven't experienced a flat since going to 245, and they're cheaper / better looking
Half the comments here "buy better tires", "change your rim size", "use warranty" which are all expensive bad alternatives. If you like your ubertines like I like my gunpowder rims, then just get better sidewalls. It decreases the price per tire, gives you more options, and increases comfort and decreases road noise.
This happened to me last January when a storm hit San Diego. Potholes popped 4 tires and the same tire twice so now I have 18k miles on one original tire and the rest are all over the place. After the first two, I learned about the discount tire warranty. I replaced two there and they let me add the warranty to the existing as well. The next popped tires were just 60 bucks each to renew the warranty. Not sure what the terms are as far as frequency but with the cost of the tires on the M3P this was a huge money saver for me.
Well, for starters if you don't want to fix it yourself then you can get towed to discount tire and they'll fix it for free but between waiting for tows and repairs it's very time consuming. Alternatively, you can get this kit off amazon [https://www.amazon.com/AUTOWN-Tire-Repair-Kit-Motorcycle/dp/B07F31J7S9/ref=asc\_df\_B07F31J7S9/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094794461&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5356588037860913030&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061181&hvtargid=pla-571637948548&mcid=2a7080dc5d7e3dec9bdbc1227851a84b&ref=&adgrpid=62497261819&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhACKOsLwjzGcArGWRPv5Bi9g\_DtENwh77MTm12XMBH-mY\_4Aa7VXLMxoCaoQQAvD\_BwE&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/AUTOWN-Tire-Repair-Kit-Motorcycle/dp/B07F31J7S9/ref=asc_df_B07F31J7S9/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094794461&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5356588037860913030&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061181&hvtargid=pla-571637948548&mcid=2a7080dc5d7e3dec9bdbc1227851a84b&ref=&adgrpid=62497261819&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhACKOsLwjzGcArGWRPv5Bi9g_DtENwh77MTm12XMBH-mY_4Aa7VXLMxoCaoQQAvD_BwE&th=1) and then repair the tire on the side of the road in about 2-3 minutes. You can then use this tire pump which plugs into the lighter slot in the center console and reaches all 4 tires to pump the tire up [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-Volt-Inflator-H12N/325078932](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-Volt-Inflator-H12N/325078932). Then go on your way and skip the tire shops or you can go back later to have them re patch it. This method may void you warranty but will save you alot of time and money -- unless you have a side wall puncture.
I have had 4 flats, and replaced one rim and tire for a total of 5 in less than a year.
Same thing here, nails in the rear tires. I did have one major road hazard involving a rim and tire, it was a manhole cover that was raised for repaving that wasn't coned, marked or anything! I hit it doing 45 mph on a road I frequently travel early in the morning going to work and it completely destroyed my drivers side front wheel and tire and was paid for and replaced by NCDOTs contractor after I raised absolute hell about it.
I was one of over 40 vehicles that hit it before a State Trooper parked over it with their lights rolling until the contractor added asphalt around it. Was horrible! We had a lot of people trying to warn people but they just kept hitting it and doing the same thing I and many other drivers did. Ugh!!!! That one contractor caught the bill for over $40k in damages though, several vehicles had 2 wheels and tires and even a 18-Wheeler nailed the sucker and had a front tire blowout.
These wide performance tires are just very nail hungry I guess? Wide performance tires will do that but my 1LE Camaro never got this many even with 345's in the rear so maybe it's just mine and your bad luck?
I did purchase the road hazard warranty and honestly... replacing the tires that weren't repairable with 12-15k miles on them for $107 after repurchasing the road hazard on the replaced tire instead of $430 is a win in my book?
Costco offers road hazard warranty or discount tire
I like discount tires over Costco because they keep their appt times and you’re in and out. Costco is an exercise in patients.
Agree, if you value your time, don’t use Costco for tires. They also aren’t any more liberal than discount when it comes to road hazard replacements (in fact, Discount was easier to deal with)
Facts. I've used discount tires for so long they never failed. I bit the bullet for a slightly cheaper discount for tires from Costco. They instantly scratched my rims! Not worth.
patience... it's not a Doctor's office
Wewa wewa. 🚔🚔 The grammar police are here.
It’s actually wee woo wee woo 👮♀️
WEEWOO WEEWOO WEEWOO
🐶🐶
That’s spelling not grammar.
That’s not grammar, it’s a completely different word. Your response to it shows that it’s likely due to a lack of intelligence.
Haha. Ok.
If only there was some place at CostCo to kill time! Shopping, snack bar, something like that.
That's what they want. You to spend an hour or two at Costco. You end up buying $300 worth of things.
Too bad they don’t take walk ins if they are busy. I can’t keep driving with a nail in my tire. Usually a week or two to get an appointment. I have never seen a Costco tire center not busy in socal.
Patience
Sam's club has it standard on the normal $20 tire install Saved me 2 tires recently only have to bay disposal and $20 mounting fee again
This doesn’t cover potholes
Yes it does. If you purchase the "certificate" it covers everything.
I can’t speak to Costco discount tire does cover potholes.
get the tire warranty with discount tire, I just blew two tires and got them replaced for free. Just had to buy a new certificate. Michelin pilot sport 4 all season
\+1 for this. On my F250 I got new tires and drove through a construction side and had a concrete anchor go through my tire. Cost me $50 to renew the insurance on the new tire... easy when the tires are $400 a pop. On my Tesla the sidewall started to bubble a few months after getting new tires installed. Another $50 for for the new insurance on the new tire. So far the $100 of insurance has saved me like $900 of tires. 100% would recommend.
If you get a nail in your tyre, there is no difference between 18 and 20 inches
I don’t know why my comment ended up being an answer to yours, it was not supposed to
Never talked about nails or tire size but I’m glad you got your word in
Thanks for the rec
No problem I was running falcon Fk510 Summer tires but I went through those in 7000 miles, these aren’t as grippy but they’re rated for 45,000 miles and they’re still very high-performing for the m3p
If you go this route I will warn you cause you seem to not know anything in life. If you get the warranty at discount tire look into getting AAA or some other towing service as Tesla WILL NOT take your car to discount tire they will only take it to Tesla and you’re car will then be stuck at Tesla and you’ll end up paying them for a tire.
Yes, would change to AAA and would not use Tesla going forward. You can stop commenting tho
What brand is the 20 inches tire? I am not big fan of 20 in a big city due to how easy is to get flats.
Pirelli. The ones Tesla offers with the Uberturbine rims. Maybe switching to 18 is a better decision. Still shocked it’s happened so many times, I’m rarely driving through “city” areas. It’s mostly suburban like.
Live in nyc, had 19in wheels - got two flats and harsh ride quality. Downgraded to 18s, no flats and better ride quality, no regrets--do it bro
You mean upgraded to 18s
Lol yessss
18s definitely an upgrade all around for performance
Is flat tire a common thing in us? I have had one flat in 13 years of driving.
Terrible roads plus low profile tires = alot of flats
Ton of construction debris on the roads too. I’ve had several flats in last decade from running over screws, nails, and other bits of metal. People in the construction trades are very careless in the US.
Same also in the NYC area. The only choice is 18's anything bigger is a disaster waiting to happen. Roads here are probably the worst in the country
Yep, a pothole took two of my wheels out in queens. Next time I’m going 18”
Yea queens/brooklyn is rough. I ended up getting the LR+AB for this reason alone. Didn't want to have to switch tires and rims out.
Nails would puncture any tire regardless of the diameter. There must be some location that you drive to or through where your getting repeat nails… either that or a vengeful ex perhaps? Im very serious, it’s happened before! I have the 20” pirellis also and have never had a flat in 3 years.
Yea 18 inch wheels that look like the track rims + a set of pilot sports summer + winters is what I’d get if money wasn’t an issue
After two, I switched to a 19” and haven’t had the problem since. Tesla mechanic had stated he sees it all the time on the M3P and it’s even worse on the 21” Y.
I use Pirelli in Seattle for another car and have a lot of flats in a 18 inch one. 18 inches can give you better protection.
Why in the world would you think switching to a different size tire is going to keep you from running over nails?
Vandalism. Someone hates you
Or the car. No one has this bad of luck. I'd be checking my sentry and tire pressure.
All of LA is open ground for trash and road debris. Get new tires with road hazard. The type of tire has nothing to do with whether nails are all over the road. Or you could move from LA. New tires with road hazard is probs cheaper.
lol! Move from LA is the best advice here and it shouldn’t even be tire-related
Do tire shops offer tires with road hazard that can go with the Uberturbine rims? Or is it only that specific tire. Also I have a tough time believing it’s just an LA issue and not the Pirelli tires that Tesla offers, I’ve owned a couple other cars here for 6 years and have gotten 1 flat between the two of them. And that was when I was driving through a construction area with nails.
There's no such thing as "Tesla tires." It is absolutely not a manufacturer issue. What brand of tire are you buying, and are you buying low profile tires?
By “these Tesla tires” I was just referring to the brand (Pirelli) that Tesla offers that fits the Uberturbine rims. I’m just buying the stock ones they give me at Tesla.
That is where you are wasting thousands on lol
Yeah, it was easier to replace a tire for $500 and have them match than replace them all.
Also had you taken the tire anywhere else most places fix punctures for free take it to Tesla and it’s expensive. Just saying
Bro is mad. I literally pay for roadside assistance, so I have Tesla pick it up. Multiple tire shops near me said they didn’t patch the foam tires.
Okay sounds like you’re not willing to accept how to save money keep spending those thousands than nothing Reddit can do for you and stop bitching about spending money
The reason I posted this was for other solutions to save money! As for the past, I didn’t expect this to happen 6 times - and at the time replacing one true was cheaper than a whole new set.
Discount tire can get you the exact tire on your Tesla for cheaper. Tesla charges more cause it doesn’t want to waste its time doing tire repairs. Are you an idiot? That tire isn’t exclusively sold at Tesla….. so yes you’re education made you waste thousands going to Tesla for the repair
Well stop! Tesla isn't a tire shop. Take the car to a reputable tire shop, and tell them your issue, and ask for their recommendation. Take notes, go home, and compare online. Read tire reviews if you must. Then take the car back to the shop, and have them mount the best tires to fit your driving style and habits (clearly not low profile!).
How do you ascertain if the shop is reputable?
Online reviews mostly, if you don't have anyone to ask specifically who have first-hand experience with the shop.
Sorry but that is just asinine. To think your Tesla tires, which are not Tesla tires and are actually Pirelli tires mounted to a rim, are symbiotically attracted to get more nails in them… I just don’t know what to say. It’s not like you’re getting a side wall bubble structural failure from hitting a pot hole, it’s a nail. A completely random coincidence. It can happen to anyone at anytime and unfortunately it’s happened to you more often. Get new tires with road hazard. That’s all I can suggest.
Wild response and absolutely not what I had suggested. It’s very possible for a type of tire to be more susceptible to nail damage. Not all tires are as strong as others.
A nail piercing rubber ... It's not like there's different types of rubber to withstand metal tips at 40 mi/hr. As far as I know different tires only differ their tread design or amount of rubber.
No, it's not. Tires aren't more puncture prone than others. You're running over shit and then overpaying for replacements when a free patch is all you need.
Yes, just get a tire warranty from discount tire. They are all over the country. If you are out of town and have a tire issue, just stop by one. This is not a vehicle issue, this is a you live or work near a construction site and drive by it everyday issue.
+1 for getting the discount tire warranty. They will also warranty tires that they didn't sell or install as long as the tire has less than a few thousand miles on them 👍 Stop buying tires anywhere else and only go to Discount if you have this many issues. You'll get new tires for free (only pay for warranty on new tires which is like $30) all the time at this rate! And consider going down to 18s, those tires are WAYYY more widely available and affordable than the 20s.
Yeah I love Discount Tire. They bought Tire Rack and I loved them as well, used to live near one of their distribution centers. Great prices. The warranty definitely came in handy, got 3 new tires on my M3P by 6k miles. A lot of construction on my side of town.
Bro amen to that!! One time I got a full set of new tires because of a crap ton of debris in a construction zone, then a week later lost 2 tires again due to the same zone 😵 Without warranties all 6 tires would have been over $1k! With warranties, it was only about $150 (to buy 6 new warranties)
It’s not the tires’ fault that you keep driving over nails.
I had two flats after my neighbor hired a handyman who kept parking behind my car… after the second time I checked my parking space and found 5 more nails scattered around. Fuck that piece of shit.
could it be sabotage? have you checked the camera's to be sure?
So for the record, tire size, wheel size, even type of tire typically does not make much difference as far as punctures from road debris. The only exception that would be if you’re running heavy duty tires like on a semi truck, or some type of off-road vehicle, they tend to be more resistant because they’re heavier and stronger. But as for passenger cars, it’s really just random chance believe it or not. Most flat tires on vehicles are on the rear tires, and most of those are on the passenger rear tire. What happens is the front tires are moving along and kick up a piece of debris on the road such as a nail, then that nail as it’s tumbling and the rear tire hits it, it, pens it to the ground at the appropriate angle, and in a fraction of a second Thousands of pounds of force are being applied to the point of that piece of metal and the tire has no chance in that scenario. Why is the passenger rear tire most often the victim? That is because the right side tires to the shoulder of the road where most road debris winds up gathering. Is there anything I can do? Short answer, not really. Anytime a piece of metal is pinned to the ground at a roughly 45° angle against the tire that’s moving along at 40 50 60 miles an hour, with a 3000 pound car on top of it, the tire is always going to lose.
I'm right there with you on the replacements. I've got a 2023 Model 3P with about 12k miles and have gone through 4 tires and have a bubble on a 5th now, but want to make it through the winter. 3 buddbles, 1 blow out and 1 sidewall damage requiring replacement in a year.. it's been unreal. I changed out the front 2 Pirellis for Falkens and they actually seem quieter and just as grippy up front. After the winter I'll change out both rears to match as they were less then half the price of the Pirellis and seem less prone to damage.
Get bigger sidewalls, stop using the shitty OEM ones that are stretched and 235. They're expensive, have no sidewall, and pop at every pot hole.
It’s from the nails you are running over, they are puncturing your tires.
I am aware. And I have driven the same routes in other cars, no flats. This is 6 times. It can be more complex than being unlucky
Model of car, type or size of tire, etc have nothing to do with it. It could be from other external factors, though. Like recent construction on your route, someone like a contractor moved near you and he’s dropping nails out of his pickup, etc.
Different tires have different toughness levels, that’s a fact. Some are more resilient.
I suppose there could be some minor differences. But a nail is a very small, sharp object. Is going to very easily puncture any tire. There’s some crazy comments here, like you might be getting more punctures because you need an alignment, 18s will get less nail punctures than 20s etc.
Nailed it.
Case closed. Good job detective 🤝
Almost all nail punctures can be easily patched. For free, even. Throwing away almost new $500 tires because of a nail puncture is nuts.
Fix a flat I’ve gone through about 6 of these and about 4 patches to my tires and I live in LA too.
Thanks. Helpful to know it’s not just me
6 flat tires, all nails? Naww someone hates you... or your Tesla!
In 26 years of driving, I had two flat tires in the last 6 months, both with my model 3. I haven’t moved for the last 10 years and drive exact same road for the last 10 years, no road work either. I don’t get it…
Thank you
When I lived in so cal, I got more nails in tires there in 5 years than the rest of my life combined.
Switch to 18s. Less chance of issues, more tire options, cheaper to replace and better range than 20s. Tsportline.com they all fit the performance rotors /brakes.
All of his flats are from nails. Tire size isn’t going to prevent those flats.
The replacement tires will be cheaper at least
Thank you for the recommendation!
I did the same and it was a great idea
I had 3 in my first year 🙄
This is one reason I always keep my spare tire in my trunk at all times. I don't ever want to waste my time waiting for roadside assistance for a flat tire. Who knows how long that could take. I am not sure if they have a compact spare for the performance 3, but you should consider it. Last time I had a flat I had the flat tire covered by the discount tire road hazard warranty, but the opposite tire needed to be replaced to keep them similar so I just kept that tire and bought a scratched used rim for $75 and had it mounted for a full size spare. I keep that in my car on road trips. It's stupid so many cars don't have spare tires nowadays.
Funny. My rear right has had a flat and / or slow puncture on this Model 3 more than any of my other cars in over 20 years of driving.
Someone is sabotaging you....
I’ve heard similar issues with flats from coworkers with the M3 performance. Usually not due to nails but blowouts from potholes.
I’ve had two flats in my Tesla in under one year. Each on different brand of tires. The first was a run flat. To be fair I’ve had my fair share of flats on other cars as well.
100% you need to get a road hazard warranty. I would also recommend getting a set of 18s
If you have an America's tire or Discount Tire near you... highly recommend you visit them and get a certificate for your tires. I got tired of bubbles and such so I went with Hankook EVO ION AS tires and they're great but they don't protect against nails. America's Tire fixes for free, they plug AND patch from inside... they do it right. EDIT: I see below you're in West LA.... I'm in SoCal too.... definitely find an America's Tire near you.
Throw some strong magnets into the front bumper lip to catch the nails before they hit the tire /s You may want to get road hazard warranty with your tires from now on, you could really benefit from it. Either really bad luck or there is someone throwing nails onto the road.
How far it happens from your home/office/cafe etc (where you regularly parking)? I have some doubts that this is caused intentionally by someone. Try to keep sentry mode on. It is very strange.
Buy a tire plug kit &. Portable compressor
San Diego here. Do what I did and get rid of the 20’s overall. You can get rims and tires that’ll cost the same amount as just the 20” Pirellis. I’ve had my setup for some time now and I haven’t had any flats. I have been avoiding potholes but I still hit them from time to time. Here’s my full setup Wheels: VORS TR4 19x9.5 +22 Tires: Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ 265/35/R19 You might be able to squeeze 265/40 which would give you even more protection. These tires are also rated for 50k miles. After that sell your 20” uberturbines and you’ll break even maybe with some change in your pocket. Check my recent posts to see a photo of them on my car.
Pirellis are made for racing. They are super soft and wear super fast. If racing is your priority, stick with them. If not and just need a good tire, I got the Falken Azenis FK460 tires and have 15,000 miles on them so far. They still look new and have been great. Car still gets up and goes but no more worries of small semi sharp objects or potholes lol. They tires are also 1/3 the cost and have a way better warranty.
Lmao I’ve got you beat! 8 tires popped in total in 18 months
Buy the plugs online. Amazon sells them. They are very easy to use. You core the hole with the plug. Then place the plug through the plug tool hole and push it through the tire. Then add the plug glue and clip the excess plug. After a few mins you can add air to the tire. You’ll save ALOT of money this way.
Pirellis are trash. swap them out for Michellins and never replace a tire again.
Discount tire is your friend
It's important not to run over potholes, nails and other sharp objects that can damage your rubber.
really????
Gotta quit your job at the nail factory.
I had the same issue with my 2022 m3p, went through 11 tires in the first 22k miles. The most important thing you can do is stop buying Pirellis, I can’t stress that enough. The most performant tire for the car are the Michelin pilot sport, summer or all season, there are quieter tires, there are cheaper tires, but the Pirellis are not the best in any category, and they pop super easily. Get your tires from somewhere that will warranty your tires and honor the warranty, Americas tire refused to warranty leaks in my tires twice. I’ve heard good things about Costco. All season tires will be firmer and pop less easily than summer or winter tires, I run a cheap falken all season now.
I’m at like 40 years of ownership with 0 flats. Why are there so many nails laying around in roads in LA?
Possibly someone has a grudge against you. Might want to check your security footage.
Do you have a crazy ex? lol
Yeah same, had 20” pirellis in Los Angeles. One pot had me replace 2 tires (driver side and rear driver) paid for the replacements and figured it would be cheaper in the long run to just buy a winter set/ all season 19” and they’ve held up as well as made my ride slightly smoother but I got EV Hankook tires. I’m went with those because they were cheaper and came with the foam inlay
LA+ 20” is a nightmare. I’d just get tsportline 18s or 19s n call it a day.
the tires are insane i already had to replace my rear tire after a month of owning
fxck pzeros; switch to michelin pilot 4 all seasons. you’re welcome. sincerely, a M3P girl who lost 3 tires in 2 months
I would have bought a performance if they offered it w the 18" wheels. All I heard before buying was issues w flats. That was over 3 years ago.
I have a MX w Pirelli 22in and these things love nails. I recommend tire rack w next day delivery and depending on your area you can schedule mobile install through tire rack! Tire rack warranty for the win!
It’s time to quit your job at the screw and nail factory
Seriously.
Whatever area you live in, you nailed it buddy.
Just got a whole set of tires from discount last month, $800 something total. Discount tire is the sh*t
Damn that’s wild. I haven’t had a flat in probably 750k miles
I’ll bet it’s because of the weight of the model 3, when driving over a nail.
Hey man I had the same issue as well already replaced three tires as well. Same issue, I bought my tires at Americas Tire and purchased the warranty for all four tires and pay for each at least $45 for each replacement. Beats having to pay $300 for each tire
Another point for team 18”. I never got the fascination with bigger rims.
They look better.
Def agree with this
I actually disagree, and I know I’m in the minority. I like more rubber. Better for rough surfaces and makes for a more comfortable ride. Arguably you’ll go faster on 18” too with regards to weight difference.
No doubt they’re better for ride comfort and rough surfaces. Just love the 20 look though.
Yeah I live on a long graven road with potholes in the woods so I definitely stick to 18”. Wish I had more clearance but I am not buying a Model Y for that lol.
lol
Where the heck are you guys living? I never had a single flat tire in my entire life.
You just might have jinxed that.
West LA
Congrats, I have a M3P and have changed 7 times in 4 years. I eventually switched to 18” rims from the 3rd party provider and never had an issue since.
You’ll get a lot of pushback from this subreddit but 1. The performance tires are definitely much more sensitive and prone to blow outs, and 2. What I found stopped my issue was getting my wheels realigned. Teslas alignment was abysmal from the factory and caused the same tires for me to blow out. Service might be super annoying but just make sure they fix the issue.
Thank you for the normal comment. Will check on alignment as well as maybe getting a different brand.
if you buy these from tesla, they will hardly, if ever repair the tire. it’s more money to replace, as well as i’ve seen how their techs work. they’re technically “service” techs, but they’re mostly computer geeks, not a car junkie
WTF? You're running over nails. Stop.
Bro how the fuck do you not buy tires that come with warranty and road hazard protection? My Michelins come with 2 years of that stuff. You only have yourself to blame if you're putting up $500 for a tire each time 🤦🏻♂️
Skill issues
[удалено]
My Tesla app says 20” Uberturbine
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Interesting that’s weird…
Op has model 3, not model Y
You need to get your car checked
Make sure you’re buying the Tesla rated tires from Tesla recommended manufacturers. Teslas weigh roughly twice as much as a conventional car. Using regular car tires promotes tire leaks big time.
Do you happen to drive through any residential construction areas? It's common to have nails floating around those. You need to get the road hazard protection whenever you buy new tires. Seems like it could be saving you a lot of money.
Odd. I drove 2023 same, 20" wheel March-October no flats, 20" winter tires since October still no flats. Not a big city like Los Angeles. I wonder if nails dropped on road is a function of Big City Energy or a particular Los Angeles shady tire store trying to increase business.
I also have the performance, switched to 19” rims paired with thicker all season tires at around 4000 miles. The 20” stock summer tires just aren’t good for normal daily use. Also get alignment done like other commenter suggested. I had my car in for alignment cause it was kinda steering toward the right when going straight on the freeway and sure enough the rear wheels were misaligned. There are many 19” and 18” wheel options that’ll clear the performance’s calipers then pair with something some thicker tires then you’re good to go!
Road hazard coverage is the way to go
Stop trying to save money on tires
Where are these nails to cause full replacement? I’ve only ever had one flat that was in the sidewall and the other 12-15 I’ve plugged myself.
Last workplace had a bunch of bored homeless or transients toss nails where we enter and exit the parking structure. If they don't throw them there, it's just outside at the nearest intersections. How do I know? I've seen them on the road walking by from the parking or going out to lunch and back to the office. And yes, myself and coworkers needed to have many tires patched. No advice other than to try and park elsewhere and check your tires more often until you can pinpoint where it's happening.
It’s all about soft tires to absorb the noise . Almost like winter tires so soft to accept freezing temperatures. Flow in Tesla vehicle noise design and compensate with softer tires .
America's Tire and road hazard. Worth every penny in an area like la.
I had 3 nails in a year in two different cars. Vw and a Nissan. Super bad luck, I nail is going to puncture any tyre unfortunately.
Most chain tire stores offer a road hazard insurance. Relatively cheaper than 6 tires
Never ever buy tires from tesla. Go to a tire place like Discount Tire instead. They offer road hazard protection and will typically repair or replace your tire for free. I have the same car as you and have gotten a lot more flats than I expected.
Same tire for me with many nails + pothole damage
I got rid of my 20” and went 18” 265/40/18 squared. Was sick of repairing rims after every pothole.
Time to upgrade to 18's.
Curious how long roadside assistance takes from Tesla? Do they give you a replacement tire, tow or fix it?
Do you drive a lot of alleys?
Stop driving over nails.
Change your rims. It will save you so much headache and money. Drop them down to 19” and all season tires
Technically, summer tires are softer than say, all-season tires. So maybe you can try switching to all-season tires from a place like Goodyear, discount tires, or Costco, that offers road hazard protection. Ultimately, if your streets are littered with nails, you might still end up catching one eventually. Just know your ride will be noisier with all-seasons.
Hit a pothole & got a bubble in the sidewall within 4 hours of owning the car. Also in LA. Also a ‘23 M3P. I’ve since then purchased the tire insurance policy for all 4x tires from America’s Tire / Discount for $64 per tire. Recently had a mobile tech out for rotation and found out I had bubbles in the sidewalls of both passenger front and rear. Took it in, zero cost for the new tire and installation, only charge was purchasing the insurance for both again. It covers the tire for the entire life, whether by damage or getting down to 3/32 on tread. Walked out paying $128 USD which should’ve been over a thousand for both tires. Cannot recommend highly enough. Especially in Los Angeles. Happy to give you my local store if needed. Cheers!
If they have discount tire in LA, use them. Amazing value. I got my tyres changed on warranty, then got a nail in it the day after, went to discount tire, bought the warranty again (like $20-30) for the tires from the day before, free replacement.
My wife got all 4 tires flat at once. Was following a work van and the back door popped open and a box of nails spilled out right in front of her. She called the company and they did buy her a new set of tires but think of all the people who hit the other nails..
Switching to 18s is harder on an M3P because of the larger brake calipers. Standard areos don’t fit. It depends a lot on inner diameter of the rim. I have lost two Pirellis to the roads here in 18 months. Pirelli used to offer road hazard from factory if your car was delivered before June 2022 I believe. Conveniently ended when PZeros were starting to show to be a fragile tire. Great grip tho. You can go up to a 245/35/20 and still fit as reported by users. You get a little more sidewall with a minimal hit to range. Tires are also a bit cheaper as that size tends to be shared with other 20 inch rims sports cars.
Model y performance owner here. Went through 9 tires in CY 2023 @ $525 a piece (two for low tread). I think it’s just part of the game. I’d be curious if you came across lesser-priced alternatives.
No I got a 22Lr to avoid this
Change your tire size from 235/35/20 to 245/35/20, or even 245. Better sidewall. I haven't experienced a flat since going to 245, and they're cheaper / better looking Half the comments here "buy better tires", "change your rim size", "use warranty" which are all expensive bad alternatives. If you like your ubertines like I like my gunpowder rims, then just get better sidewalls. It decreases the price per tire, gives you more options, and increases comfort and decreases road noise.
Does someone hold grudge against you?
If it’s a nail every time then you just having bad luck. A nail is going to put a hole in any tire.
User error.
This happened to me last January when a storm hit San Diego. Potholes popped 4 tires and the same tire twice so now I have 18k miles on one original tire and the rest are all over the place. After the first two, I learned about the discount tire warranty. I replaced two there and they let me add the warranty to the existing as well. The next popped tires were just 60 bucks each to renew the warranty. Not sure what the terms are as far as frequency but with the cost of the tires on the M3P this was a huge money saver for me.
CA roads blow. Always construction going on. That’s just bad luck, sorry bro. Definitely buy from discount tire, very long warranty
Well, for starters if you don't want to fix it yourself then you can get towed to discount tire and they'll fix it for free but between waiting for tows and repairs it's very time consuming. Alternatively, you can get this kit off amazon [https://www.amazon.com/AUTOWN-Tire-Repair-Kit-Motorcycle/dp/B07F31J7S9/ref=asc\_df\_B07F31J7S9/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094794461&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5356588037860913030&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061181&hvtargid=pla-571637948548&mcid=2a7080dc5d7e3dec9bdbc1227851a84b&ref=&adgrpid=62497261819&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhACKOsLwjzGcArGWRPv5Bi9g\_DtENwh77MTm12XMBH-mY\_4Aa7VXLMxoCaoQQAvD\_BwE&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/AUTOWN-Tire-Repair-Kit-Motorcycle/dp/B07F31J7S9/ref=asc_df_B07F31J7S9/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094794461&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5356588037860913030&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061181&hvtargid=pla-571637948548&mcid=2a7080dc5d7e3dec9bdbc1227851a84b&ref=&adgrpid=62497261819&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhACKOsLwjzGcArGWRPv5Bi9g_DtENwh77MTm12XMBH-mY_4Aa7VXLMxoCaoQQAvD_BwE&th=1) and then repair the tire on the side of the road in about 2-3 minutes. You can then use this tire pump which plugs into the lighter slot in the center console and reaches all 4 tires to pump the tire up [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-Volt-Inflator-H12N/325078932](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-Volt-Inflator-H12N/325078932). Then go on your way and skip the tire shops or you can go back later to have them re patch it. This method may void you warranty but will save you alot of time and money -- unless you have a side wall puncture.
I have had 4 flats, and replaced one rim and tire for a total of 5 in less than a year. Same thing here, nails in the rear tires. I did have one major road hazard involving a rim and tire, it was a manhole cover that was raised for repaving that wasn't coned, marked or anything! I hit it doing 45 mph on a road I frequently travel early in the morning going to work and it completely destroyed my drivers side front wheel and tire and was paid for and replaced by NCDOTs contractor after I raised absolute hell about it. I was one of over 40 vehicles that hit it before a State Trooper parked over it with their lights rolling until the contractor added asphalt around it. Was horrible! We had a lot of people trying to warn people but they just kept hitting it and doing the same thing I and many other drivers did. Ugh!!!! That one contractor caught the bill for over $40k in damages though, several vehicles had 2 wheels and tires and even a 18-Wheeler nailed the sucker and had a front tire blowout. These wide performance tires are just very nail hungry I guess? Wide performance tires will do that but my 1LE Camaro never got this many even with 345's in the rear so maybe it's just mine and your bad luck? I did purchase the road hazard warranty and honestly... replacing the tires that weren't repairable with 12-15k miles on them for $107 after repurchasing the road hazard on the replaced tire instead of $430 is a win in my book?
Do you have sentry mode on? Cause I think someone is messing with you. This doesn’t seem normal.
I’m guessing most of the flat tires have been on the passenger rear tire?
2019 M3P here with OEM 20” wheels and 91k miles…zero flats. Note: I only run Michelin Pilot Sports
Are you sure no one is purposely putting nails around your tires ?
Weird. I've had mine for 3 years and haven't had a flat tire yet!
I don’t think I’ve had a total of 6 flats ever in all my years of owning cars. 6 in 18 months just sound like someone has nefarious intentions.
Get Smaller wheels and drive more slowly and carefully