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Best Tires for Tesla Model 3 

Tesla Model 3

Best Tires for Tesla Model 3 : The Tesla Model 3 is an electric vehicle that has gained widespread popularity due to its impressive performance and efficiency. As with any vehicle, the tires play a crucial role in the overall performance, safety, and comfort of the car. In this article, we will discuss some of the best tires for the Tesla Model 3, both in terms of original equipment (OE) and replacement options. Based on the latest market figures, Tesla Model 3 is still going strong with a total America sale volume of over 240,000 in 2022.The most widely used Tesla Model 3 sizes are 235/45R18, 235/40R19 & 235/35R20 with the highest volume concentrated at the 18″ size.

Original Equipment Tires for Tesla Model 3

When purchasing a new Tesla Model 3, the car comes equipped with a specific set of tires from the factory. The most common tire that comes standard on the Model 3 is the Michelin Primacy MXM4. This tire is designed to provide a smooth, quiet ride, and is optimized for long tread life. The Michelin Primacy MXM4 also features low rolling resistance, which is important for maximizing the vehicle’s range.

Michelin Primacy MXM4
  • Primacy MXM4
    • Launch: 2009
    • Press test wins: 0/6
    • Strength: Electric vehicle optimized rolling resistance. High mileage per 100% charge.

Check out our head to head comparison of Primacy MXM4 against its competitors.

Primacy MXM4

Price

Replacement Tires for Tesla Model 3

3 Peak Mountain

3 peak mountain logo

As mentioned in our best 225/65R17 tire article, all season tires have always been the go to tires for the American market and this segment has been well established across the years. There are 2 types of all season tires, one with 3 peak mountain & one with only M+S. We have covered these 2 types of tire head to head with Michelin Defender T+H (M+S) vs Cross Climate 2 (3 peak mountain) and the M+S all season tires usually are worst in winter performances but excel much better in mileage.

If you are in an area which snows quite heavily, 3 peak mountain all season tires would be definitely a good choice. However if you have very light snow or in areas where temperatures do not drop below 45°F (7°C), a standard all season tire with M+S logo would be sufficient. If you fancy a much more handling dominant tire, the ultra high performance all season segment would fit perfectly.

While the OE tires on the Model 3 are designed to meet the needs of the vehicle, many owners may choose to replace their tires with different options to better suit their driving preferences or conditions. Below are some of the best tires for Tesla Model 3 based on the discussed segmentation :

All season tires (3 Peak Mountain)

1. Michelin Cross Climate 2

Michelin once again shows its innovation by revolutionizing the all season segment with its highly successful 3 peak mountain certified Cross Climate in 2015. At that time, all season markets were predominantly sold in America with poor winter performances. Cross Climate showed that it is possible to be marginally worse in summer performances while being extremely dominant in winter performances. After the initial success of Cross Climate, every tire manufacturer scramble to launch their own similar segment products but none are still as well balanced as the latest Cross Climate 2 !

  • Cross Climate 2
    • Launch: 2020
    • Press test wins: 3/6
    • Strength: Well balance summer & winter performances. Excellent wear.

Check out our head to head comparison of Cross Climate 2 against its competitors.

Cross Climate 2 vs

Price

2. Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Bridgestone’s answer towards Michelin’s Cross Climate 2 is a new product called WeatherPeak. This is Bridgestone’s first foray into America’s all season product with a 3 peak mountain certified tire. WeatherPeak was launched in 2022 and boosted a comprehensive line up covering most A to C segment cars in the replacement market. Based on the latest tire rack results, WeatherPeak excels on comfort but still lacks the top contenders in terms of wet & dry performances.

  • WeatherPeak
    • Launch: 2022
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Good comfort.

Check our head to head comparison of WeatherPeak against its competitors.

WeatherPeak vs

Price

3. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Goodyear’s Assurance WeatherReady was launched in 2017 and covers a large range of passenger cars and crossovers. Based on the latest test results, it has strong showing in snow with good comfort but lacks the firepower in wet.

  • Assurance WeatherReady
    • Launch: 2017
    • Press test wins: 0/2
    • Strength: Snow & comfort.

Check our head to head comparison of Assurance WeatherReady against its competitors.

Assurance WeatherReady vs

Price

4. General AltiMAX 365 AW

With many competitors yearning to become the best all season tire, General Tires recently announced their latest touring all season tireline called AltiMAX 365 AW. This tireline slightly differs to its previous all season line up as the AltiMAX 365 AW comes with a certified 3 peak mountain label which makes them effectively a legal snow tire. AltiMAX 365 AW was launched in 2021 while serving the grand touring all season segment consisting of 15″-20″ sizes.

Based on the test results, AltiMAX 365 AW fared well in terms of dry braking & handling but still lacked the wet traction needed against competitors.

  • AltiMAX 365 AW
    • Launch: 2021
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong dry performer

Check out our head to head comparison of AltiMAX 365 AW against its competitors.

AltiMAX 365 AW vs

Price

5. Firestone WeatherGrip

Firestone WeatherGrip was launched in 2019 and covers mostly passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and crossovers sizes from 15″-19″. Based on the test results, WeatherGrip was moderately ok in dry braking & handling but did not perform well in wet.

  • WeatherGrip
    • Launch: 2019
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Acceptable dry performance

Check out our head to head comparison of WeatherGrip against its competitors.

WeatherGrip vs

Price

All season tires (M+S)

Before the invention of the snowflake capable tires, all season tires mostly carried the M+S logo which means mountain & snow. The M+S logo does not require you to pass any test hence it is up to the manufacturer to determine its usage. This segment provides some light snow usage capability but its main focus is on mileage. This is also one of the main reasons that the products generally do not perform well in wet. Below are the best tires for Tesla Model 3 for the all season M+S segment

1. Michelin Defender2

This time around we were happy to pick up the latest successor of the highly popular Defender T+H called Michelin Defender2 ! The defender series has been a household name in the M+S all season touring market by providing one of the highest UTQG wear rating compared to its competitors. This tireline was just launched in 2022 and covers a large range of passenger cars and crossovers.

Based on the test results, Defender showed great mileage while having a slight deficit in wet conditions. With a little drawback in traditional performances, Defender2 is definitely a mileage monster !

  • Defender2
    • Launch: 2022
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Excellent wear.

Check out our head to head comparison of Defender2 against its competitors.

Defender2 vs

Price

2. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

Goodyear Assurance MaxLife was launched in 2018 and falls into the M+S and high UTQG wear rating category. By serving the touring & SUV segment from 16-20″, Assurance MaxLife is one of the most popular tires in this category. Based on the test results, it has a good wet performance however it also trails badly in terms of mileage when compared to Michelin’s Defender 2.

  • Assurance MaxLife
    • Launch: 2018
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong wet.

Check out our head to head comparison of Assurance MaxLife against its competitors.

Assurance MaxLife vs

Price

3. Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3

Pirellis Scorpion AS Plus 3 is relatively new as it was launched in 2021 and it covers a large range of passenger cars and crossovers. Based on the test results, Scorpion AS Plus 3 is quite refined and very good to drive on dry roads while having decent light snow traction. However its wet performances are not on par with the top competitors.

  • Scorpion AS Plus 3
    • Launch: 2021
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong dry & comfort.

Check out our head to head comparison of Scorpion AS Plus 3 against its competitors.

Scorpion AS Plus 3 vs

Price

  • 235/45 R18 : –

4. General AltiMAX RT45

General’s AltiMAX RT45 was launched this year in 2022 and covers mostly passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and crossovers sizes. AltiMAX RT45 was designed and sold specifically in the North American market. This is the general commitment from General’s research & development approach of bringing the best products for the local market. Based on the test results, AltiMAX RT45 had good wet braking but had a higher noise level compared to other tires.

  • AltiMAX RT45
    • Launch: 2022
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong wet.

Check out our head to head comparison of AltiMAX RT45 against its competitors.

AltiMAX RT45 vs

Price

Ultra high performance all season tires

Ultra high performance all season tires are designed to provide exceptional handling, grip, and speed while also being suitable for use in a wide range of weather conditions. These tires are ideal for drivers who want a high level of performance and responsiveness in their vehicle, but also need a tire that can handle light snow or rain. Ultra high performance all season tires feature a unique combination of technology and materials to provide excellent traction, durability, and comfort in a variety of driving situations.

1. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+

Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+

Bridgestone’s Potenza RE980AS+ is a dedicated region tireline specific to the North America market. It was launched in 2021 and covers most of the 17-20″ popular sizes. Based on the head to head results below, Potenza RE980AS+ showed strong ice & noise performance but lack in wet, dry & snow performance. Nonetheless being an all season tire, Potenza RE980AS+ showed the best balance among the rest of the competition and it’s our number 1 choice in this ultra high performance segment !

  • Potenza RE980AS+
    • Launch: 2021
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Ice & noise.

Check out our head to head comparison of Potenza RE980AS+ against its competitors.

Potenza RE980AS+ vs

Price

2. Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate

Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is a dedicated region tireline specific to the North America market. It was launched in 2019 and covers most of the 17-20″ popular sizes. . Based on the head to head comparison below, it has strong showing in dry/wet handling & comfort while lacking in winter performances. Nonetheless a solid ultra high performance all season tire.

  • Eagle Exhilarate
    • Launch: 2019
    • Press test wins: 1/2
    • Strength: Dry & wet handling.

Check our head to head comparison of Eagle Exhilarate against its competitors.

Eagle Exhilarate vs

Price

3. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

Similar to the other top competitors, Pilot Sport All Season 4 is a dedicated North America region tireline and it was launched in 2020 with sizes primarily above 16″ Based on the head to head comparison below, Pilot Sport All Season 4, excels in snow & and dry while slightly losses out in wet, comfort & ice. Overall Pilot Sport All Season 4 has a well rounded balance package.

  • Pilot Sport All Season 4
    • Launch: 2020
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Snow & dry.

Check our head to head comparison of Pilot Sport All Season 4 against its competitors.

Pilot Sport All Season 4 vs

Price

4. Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus

Pirelli’s P Zero All Season Plus is a dedicated region tireline specific to the North America market. It was launched in 2016 and covers most of the 17-20″ popular sizes.. Based on the head to head comparison below, P Zero All Season Plus has strong showing in dry handling & noise but lacks the firepower in other areas.

  • P Zero All Season Plus
    • Launch: 2016
    • Press test wins: 0/2
    • Strength: Dry handling & noise.

Check our head to head comparison of P Zero All Season Plus against its competitors.

P Zero All Season Plus vs

Price

Summary

The tires on a Tesla Model 3 play a critical role in the overall performance, safety, and comfort of the vehicle. While the original equipment tires that come with the car are designed to meet the needs of most drivers, there are many replacement tire options available that can better suit the preferences and driving conditions of individual owners. When selecting tires for a Tesla Model 3, it’s important to consider factors such as handling, comfort, noise, and rolling resistance, as well as ensuring that the tires are the correct size and load rating for the vehicle.

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