How To Prevent Expensive Tesla Wheel Damage

[@EngineeringExplained]

I heard KZbinrs are supposed to shill their Tesla referral codes. If you're considering buying one, you can get some free supercharging using my code. Buy what makes YOU happy, don't worry about what others (or myself) think. :) ts.la/jason66047

[@brendanm94]

Engineering Explained what are the exact tire you ordered off their website ? I’m in California and am trying to get the model 3 performance by the end of the year and I would love to get these but idk which I should pick.

[@davidbeaulieu4815]

So really expensive to switch but maybe switch and sell the original unused tires for a slight discount to another tesla owner. Make the switch alot cheaper. Its not a cheap car so ya.

[@martina.arbizo342]

Hello Jason, Had a question about the dual motor verses the performance package? I saw your Video on the motor mid-range verses the performance package. I was thinking of getting the dual motor one due to the extended battery/ extended miles. Can you give the spec difference from the performance package. Thank you in advance

[@donaldburgess7230]

When the pothole did that much damage to the wheel, what did it do to the wheel alignment?

[@Big_Red_Dork]

@@donaldburgess7230 He said in the other video that it threw the alignment completely off, so they had to do a 4 wheel alignment. It's included in the ~$2600 price that price receipt he flashed showed

[@MySalsaSingle]

You should go back to the pothole you took and do a comparison with the new wheels

[@arthdenton]

Naughty!!! :))

[@EngineeringExplained]

Hahaha, I actually drove over the exact same road, they have repaved it since my first visit. Ugh!

[@DouglasRosser]

@@EngineeringExplained That's... that's some dedication!

[@TVmadethemdoit]

@@EngineeringExplained At least they're doing the infrastructure repairs our roads so desperately need! 👍😉

[@Miv51miv51]

That is why I like, that we can get vehicle damage due to potholes and the like, reimbursed by the various cities or counties in Denmark. If there is an apparent negligence in upkeep.

[@johnfitzgerald1131]

I have developed a similar hatred for low profile tires.

[@timmccarthy1780]

I do like how low profiles look but they are just too fragile

[@batialexis9339]

After getting 45 size profile on my brother's car no cracks or side bubbles or w/e you call them

[@4G12]

@@batialexis9339 It's not the profile that matters, it's the effective sidewall height. For instance, 205/40/17 is worse off than a 315/35/19

[@ConanOG]

Low profile is something to use in your weekend car, not good for every day/travel car and 18' already looks great

[@batialexis9339]

@@4G12 you mean wider tires? Sorry not getting it

[@wburger2178]

Next up, 24" with sprayed on rubber

[@moi01887]

My mechanic boss used to refer to those crazy low-profile setups as "rims wrapped with electrical tape"

[@erick4188]

Next up: cast a mold of a wheel and fill it with rubber, making a solid tire with no sidewall

[@Jimmmmmmmy]

Using the power of Flex Seal I'm going these 28" rims.

[@DENicholsAutoBravado]

@@jth_printed_designs I call them rubber bands too!

[@FuttBuckerByMutt]

Naw, naw, naw... you gotta do 5 inch rims on 235/185/r5’s

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

Casually talking about his 3 second 0-60 times... What a time to be alive!

[@aguman]

this comment has 60 likes so, i will like my own comment instead

[@bobgilbert7362]

Gasp! Finally, a rational, quantitative, sensible discussion of wheels and tires. The "rubber band" type of wheel and tire combinations is nuts, from both form and function perspectives. Thank you, Jason.

[@vroomgc]

Actually what he forgot was that a lower profile tire handles better in turns than a larger profile tire. So to me it depends on what your wanting, better handling in turns or better absorption with bumps and the such.

[@amberionik]

@@vroomgc to feel that difference you have to be a racing driver and push the car to its limits

[@Aririnkitaku]

@@vroomgc thats why all race cars have high profile tyres. because they have worse handling.

[@vroomgc]

@@amberionik Not really, if you drove a car with a 165/60/17 vs a 225/45/17 which gets you about the same tire height but obviously a wider and lower profile. You will for sure notice a difference in making turns.

[@linmal2242]

@@amberionik Exactly! Horses for courses.

[@Poxenium]

Jason: [mathematically proves the new wheels are 10x better] also Jason: "I can't feel any difference"

[@alexandruilea915]

Math is math and math is usually right

[@michalkowalik89]

0.00001 vs 0.0001

[@tarstarkusz]

I don't understand why the new wheels are any different than the old ones. Why is this moment of inertia being measured at the wheel level and not the wheel AND tire level? The total of both of them appear to be either the same or slightly larger for the aftermarket combo. This just makes no sense to me.

[@nfcknblvbl]

@@tarstarkusz The mass of the aftermarket wheel itself, not counting the tire, has a shorter circumference. This makes that difference.

[@rogerhinman5427]

@@tarstarkusz I'm just guessing here but because the majority of the weight will at the wheel level and the difference between the tires isn't much at all. Maybe.

[@Lambo6fo]

Finally, someone going down in wheel size. Comfort is far better than "looking cool"

[@NoorquackerInd]

And, most importantly, reliability

[@peglor]

Also you can drive the car hard on back roads without breaking anything.

[@lolatmyage]

Smallest wheel possible, largest tire possible, always.

[@jonathangwynne1917]

I reject the idea that low profile tires “look cool”.

[@VoodooGMusic]

besides, it doesn't even look cool if I'm honest. Big wheels do look cool yeah, but a good ration between rim and tire looks just as cool. I find a big tire looks better actually.

[@ColonelRPG]

Black rims AND high-profile tires? You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

[@Casters4]

45 isn't high profile

[@ColonelRPG]

​@@Casters4 Good point. Higher profile, I guess.

[@austinpaxman503]

Jordan Hillard these are a 235/45 which is s low pro tire. I have changed tires for s living I know what I’m taking about but a 235/35 is a extremely low pro tire in fact I have came across only a handful of 35 profile tires

[@mikecheeze4312]

And rambled on for almost 30 minutes about nothing.. well done

[@carbrickscity]

I switched from 215/45/R18 to 195/65/R15 on my 2019 Mazda3.

[@pavel00995]

I've been watching your videos for a long time now, have watched probably more than 50% of them ( including most of your earlier videos) and i'm genuinely impressed by how deep you go into each and every aspect of the problem and by how you're constantly pumping out great educational (and also entertaining ( at least for me ) ) content. Great work man.

[@Assimilator1]

The aftermarket wheels seem like an all round win to me, and they look better too :)

[@MrPruske]

All 'round'

[@somedude2492]

@@MrPruske unlike the original ones after that pothole...

[@GoodMenstruationAttitude]

yes those big white stilettos are fugsly

[@physicslawyer9845]

Which model wheel are these?

[@The_Lone_Aesir]

this is an expensive upgrade but you should be able to recoup some of the cost by selling the factory rims to people whose rims are cracked. xD

[@mlee6050]

Factory ones cost a lot, I’m looking at 12kg less for £2500 (19” aftermarket, weight difference includes tyre being heavier) vs £4-5k oem ones (20” that come on car)

[@rjherche]

He got those wheels for free, it’s implied

[@mlee6050]

in case you think I misheard yes I know since they normally do that sort of thing to about 4 people to help advertise them more

[@markmeloney2643]

I was thinking the same thing. He can save 3 people from getting ass raped by tesla parts and services.

[@EePingLiang]

on long term he saves on tyres cost, 18inch tyres are much cheaper than 20inch

[@davidsadowski6295]

i feel like this video should have been titled "why tesla should let you get smaller wheels on the model 3 with the performance package"

[@KiyoshiAphelion]

david sadowski Tesla DOES let you buy the smaller wheels with the Performance Package. It’s just not available online and you have to go in to the store to order it off the “secret menu.” It’s like In-n-Out... only cars. :(

[@Yakov916_]

That what we did!

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

They have large wheels because larger wheels (with low-profile tires) improve handling at the limit. This is because low profile tires are less likely to deform under high forces. Large wheels also let you use wider tires, which drastically improves grip.

[@drew9312]

@@KiyoshiAphelion Can you still do that?

[@ThePentosin]

Excellent. I really dislike the 20" wheels. The 18" is much more suitable and sensible. Looks better to imho.

[@MK-je7kz]

I saw somewhere comparison of wheel sizes and they had conclusion that 18" is at sweetspot between performance and comfort.

[@michelangelobuonarroti916]

To what?

[@ericpmoss]

@@michelangelobuonarroti916 "better, _too_ imho." English is so inconsistent.

[@campkira]

i prefer 19"..... 18 just too small... for the price of the tires.

[@camberwellcarrot420]

I like the black wheel with more rubber look better as well. Those old classic Ferraris had much taller tires than you see today and they looked great.

[@LazerLord10]

Meanwhile I have 14 inch wheels on my car, lol. Like 50% of the radius is rubber and it's great.

[@ivlark1]

My car also has 14s lol

[@casperas2]

LazerLord10 same here

[@AjrAlves]

Mine haves 175/75 r13 hahahaha

[@surferdude4487]

Yep. I have 15 inch wheels on my car and I'm very happy with them.

[@franciscotorres1005]

How do you guys like the 14 feel and look? Whats you tire preference on them?

[@Chipnolan6]

I'd guess the 18" wheel also gives many more options for winter tyres.

[@Pnner1]

You guys don't swap to winter tires on it's own smaller wheelset?

[@Craig0935]

Exact reason I went with the no cost 18" Aero wheels

[@mikebroom1866]

So much more comfortable ride with a reasonable sidewall.

[@EngineeringExplained]

I didn't feel any difference, but theoretically it would be improved. Suspension plays the larger role, especially with high weight vehicles with high pressure tires.

[@ujiltromm7358]

@@EngineeringExplained At least there's peace of mind ^^

[@MrTaliz]

Engineering Explained what about road noise?

[@tron121]

@@EngineeringExplained lower your pressure to around 32, will make a big difference.

[@videodistro]

@@EngineeringExplained the difference in your profile was trivial. Increase it more and you will feel a difference.

[@wizeguiz]

My preference is the black rim with the higher sidewall. It's not only more cost effective, but much easier to replace and a little safer. Great Video! 👍

[@NorthParrot]

You touched on a range increase but you didn’t measure it, I and I’m sure many people would like to see the data. Can you do this for a future video please!

[@EngineeringExplained]

Something to keep in mind! I'll probably be selling the OE wheels, but will think about future testing.

[@HillOrStream]

I was waiting for that too. I would think there would be a significant improvement, that rotational mass causes a loss every time the car changes direction. ?

[@danwhiffen9235]

Could this not be done by observing energy consumption in similar conditions? I don’t have a Tesla (yet) and am not sure what data is fedback

[@scurfie2343]

@@HillOrStream I would think a smaller contact patch with the 18's would equal less tire friction and therefore better mileage.

[@jasonyoung6420]

@@scurfie2343 same contact patch, but less rotational mass.

[@thedreadedgman]

I agree with the message and have also downsized my wheels and tires on my personal vehicle... however the only thing I can't get behind is this trend for black wheels... I prefer silver

[@KendrickMan]

agree with the wheel size, disagree on the colour. Flat black is sexy

[@poiiihy]

idk those black rims look ugly, also with the slight tire stretch.

[@billcoulter9879]

thedreadedgman agree !

[@physicslawyer9845]

I love black wheels.

[@Alexi7666]

Black wheels are for people that don't like to wash their cars, i.e., all of Michigan.

[@_username_unavailable]

Don't bother getting T-sport line. I ordered from the recommendation here, and one of the rims arrived visually ok but bent enough to have noticeable wobble. If you put a tire on at all, they will void any returns/replacements, even if you can't tell there is a defect until after attempting to balance the tire. They pretty much just went lol too bad, you put a tire on so not our problem anymore.

[@DisabilityExams]

I predict the 2020s will be the decade sanity returns to wheels/sidewalls.

[@EngineeringExplained]

I hope so, but I highly doubt it.

[@b4804514]

@@EngineeringExplained It seems to be about making more money just like you found out the hard way. Great job with this

[@angelgjr1999]

I doubt it. All new cars look overly sporty and childish now. I do not like the way all new cars look alike. I prefer the smoother looks of the 90s cars.

[@AgneDei]

Likely true. You just have to look at the concept visions of new cars. They often have literally zero rubber on the wheels drawings.

[@MrTaliz]

Probably because of self driving cars. Who cares what wheels they have when it's not yours. 😁

[@TubieMcTubington]

You just saved me some money. I have the 18s and was planning on “upgrading” to the 19s or 20s until I watched this video.

[@mayuquitomayu4743]

This is the best modification for this car. After three weeks of using the 18” wheels I can say the car just rides incredibly. And also the shape variability of a higher profile tire allows the car to maintain contact over rough pavement. I cannot think of a mechanical reason I would use the 20” wheels other than for wanting the ultra thin tire look. I strongly recommend going to the 18 wheel.

[@AlienLivesMatter]

I love how trends dictate manufacturing rather then function. Good work on your independent thinking.

[@ariip]

They are trends which are often dictated by the foolish and easily led. They are pushed as trends because they are more profitable for big industry.

[@Angry-Lynx]

Big wheels are actually good idea, and has advantages(better handling), its just that 20' for daily car is definitely overkill.

[@mjr0823]

You brought up the question "...why low profile tires?". To the best of my memory, LPTs came on high performance sports cars, decades ago. I read up on them and learned they were designed for high speed turns. The low side wall was meant to resist lateral inertia and not roll to the side thus keeping more tire tread on the pavement. (at the time I thought, Oh, cool...) Knowing this and and seeing how many cars now have them, needlessly, I've concluded they are there just for aesthetics, period. Furthermore, I've since purchased a (new) 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid with (you guessed it) LPTs. Not the lowest profile but low enough to be a pain in the pocket book. LPTs do not hold up to daily driving and should not be on family sedans. One tire was ruined by a bad railroad crossing, one ruined by low air pressure causing the inside of the sidewall to become shredded (after 52 years of driving, I'd never heard of such a thing with standard tires...). When it's time to purchase my next car, I will be avoiding, as much as possible, Low Profile Tires! PS, ...good videos, very comprehensive.

[@KG_BM]

"too much rim make the ride too hard" -someSingingBoi

[@reyfuentes4572]

Tyga?

[@jahimuddin7380]

@@reyfuentes4572, Yes, Tyga.

[@gtbigdog3507]

That’s why I like my 18s. I like the look of the 20s though

[@iloveamerica1966]

I like big walls I like big walls and I can not lie You other brothers can't deny That when a Tesla drives by with an itty, bitty wall And a round thing in your face You get sprung, wanna pull up tough 'Cuz you notice that tire was stuffed Deep in the wheels she's wearing I'm hooked and I can't stop staring

[@fakyee]

Can we please have metric units as well as freedom units?

[@DarthCiliatus]

'Murica

[@zasadacrew]

@@vitornuevo , you didn't get the sarcasm. :)

[@Belrmar]

@@vitornuevo it's a meme

[@tomlololRS]

engineering = metric

[@fgsaramago]

@@vitornuevo not sure what French has anything to do with freedom

[@Swerval]

Also considering how high your tyre pressures are on the 18" it's no wonder you're not experiencing an improved ride quality. The best part of using a taller sidewall is being able to reduce the pressures slightly

[@vnyggi621]

But then the range goes down :/

[@Gibson99]

​@@vnyggi621​yes, and you also wear out the shoulders of the tire quicker than then center. There's a reason the manufacturer has a recommended tire pressure.

[@davidstg2]

Shouldn’t have to run quiet as high of pressure since the tire profile is convex, instead of flat like the OE tires.

[@mylesgray3470]

Prayer yep, pressure should go down a lot, probably 25% as your getting about 30% more volume.

[@TheSergeiFranco]

Disagree, maybe drop it to 40psi, but he is not running "high" pressure. Over the many years, on similar size 18" I ended up running 42psi (40 on cold in "winter" here in NZ). I run treadwear 240 tyres, and they last about 40,000kms on terrible chip seal roads with lots of tight corners. Dropping to 36psi leads to excessive outside wear. There is no performance sacrifice in going from 36 to 42. The tyres I normally run are 245/45/R18 Bridgestone RE003 (before I ran RE002 and RE001 with similar results). Of course this is very tyre dependant, but I don't even bother looking at anything above treadwear ~300. The RE003 have very thick sidewall.

[@MrFatpenguin]

The quality of your content is still top notch, and you still look happy talking about the engineering of all things, congrats on changing only for the better over the years! You deserve everything good that comes your way.

[@zacharymilos392]

You're my new favorite channel. Finally, explaining things as they really are from an engineering perspective.

[@anderslolle2147]

Jason it’s about time we nerd out with motorbikes.... tires and wheels make so much difference for bikes. 🤔

[@wumpusthehunted2628]

Even more for motorless bikes... 700mm wheels mean mass has all kinds of moment of inertia.

[@mitchellsteindler]

@@wumpusthehunted2628 moment of inertia is inconsequential for road cycling.

[@u9Nails]

Let's hear it for EE and Motorcycles!!! I'd hit the notification bell for that stuff right there!

[@whili225]

It would be a good idea to decrease the tire pressure on the 18s, thus increasing the contact patch, which should lead to decreased braking distance and a better comfort. Thumbs up for the upgrade!

[@adamsmith-bg5wq]

would increase the rolling resistance so decrease the range. as he mention in the video, electric cars are very sensitive to efficiency changes.

[@pkonneker]

Mathematically correct. The only correct that matters.

[@jordan59961]

9:11 Wow I immediately gained a lot more respect for you when you admitted that you can't feel the difference in improvement between the different wheels. Props to you for being straight forward and honest.

[@tylerk6543]

Hi Jason, I'm a long time viewer/fan and I have the exact same issue with wheel damage on my P3D. I've gone through 3 wheels and 4 tires since taking delivery in November 2018 and this video had made my week. After just replacing another wheel and tire yesterday T Sportline can credit at least 1 full set purchase to you. Thank you so much for such an informative video.

[@Grammostola]

"3 wheels and 4 tires" in less than a year. Jesus dude, what roads do you drive on? ;)

[@cmoullasnet]

This is actually a huge upgrade from the stock setup with a great explanation as to why!

[@Dexfire20]

Sigh..every one knows that buying a Civic will prevent any Tesla damage

[@Yakov916_]

Ok, now that's funny

[@jeffbransky6499]

Dexfire Peace of mind but way less fun!

[@scottbreseke716]

So will riding a tricycle.

[@chidude]

Wow, thanks for all the work that went into this video! That was a lot of preparation, analysis, tire swapping, measurements, etc. Now I feel like I have a PhD in Tesla Tireology.

[@SCWgreg]

Dude! You thoroughness on the subject is the best. Thank you for this break down. One thing... lower sidewall, better cornering (less sidewall give). But man I’d love to have these wheels!

[@bluestraw7412]

Finally some common sense about tires. Well done!

[@zadeanrobinson1608]

Meanwhile I’m hitting over 1000 pot holes with my Toyota Corolla like it’s nothing.

[@Taooflu]

Zeekwayne 1000 per day?

[@awo1fman]

Meanwhile, you're driving... a Corolla... 😝

[@luizlozano1197]

Not like you had a choice About what you drive Peasant lol

[@zadeanrobinson1608]

Luiz Lozano works for me, I see u hating 👌

[@campkira]

Are you sure that corolla is driving straight?

[@MrBearProduction]

Come on Jason, we are waiting on that Engineering Explained video on the Bugatti hitting 304 mph

[@EngineeringExplained]

I explained it 2 years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGiZXqGmr5V2m6s

[@wumpusthehunted2628]

@@EngineeringExplained Number 5: Tires certainly played a pivotal role. Tires. And don't ask how much you pay in rubber for each trip over 300mph. Seriously, buy/rent an airplane for anything that fast. Road friction keeps telling you to stop being so silly. Never mind the car simply can't turn at all significantly over 200mph (and won't make any real turn well under that). Also Bugatti/VW has to sell a lot of upgrades to homulugate the car to qualify for the record. It isn't in the books yet.

[@theflyingcrewchief]

The standard chiron tires cost around $30,000 and need to be replaced every 2500 miles. That is for driving up to the 260ish mph limit. So to answer your question, a small fortune for 300mph

[@ErebosGR]

A pointless record for impressionable people.

[@petercowdell1328]

Joshua Brecke nope, that was veyron because they run PAX system. Chiron is relatively normal Michelin tyres which are much cheaper

[@MrTuberguy9]

Really rational and articulate discussion, thank you! There's a sweet spot for wheel size/tire ratio that balances performance/responsiveness with resilience from road damage, and comfort. An 18 inch wheel with a 45% aspect ratio works for me in most applications and it's hard to justify a bigger wheel with all the drawbacks, unless you prefer and prioritize the looks or need that last bit of responsiveness. Yes, a smaller sidewall generally results in slightly quicker turn in response and perhaps a more accurate, connected feel, but for road use, I feel a 45 aspect sidewall offers the smartest balance of responsiveness with durability and ride quality - along with more efficiency. Also, the Michelin pilot tires (and others) have such great sidewall performance, it feels unnecessary to choose an even thinner sidewall unless you are tracking the car regularly. For a DD, anything more than 18 just seems like overkill; impractical and mostly for aesthetics.

[@michaelcurtis2366]

Prediction: In 2021 car makers will up charge for extra sidewall and lighter wheel-tire combinations.

[@jamiefenner123]

I doubt it the average consumer sees larger wheels as more “sporty”

[@colorblindkid720]

Oooof didn’t happen :(

[@NOrlando952]

I love sidewall too, I love thick side wall and black rims, I’m gonna outfit my focus with them lmao. I think they look classy but cool at the same time.

[@mikewright2858]

I don't even think ultra-low-profile tires on over-sized rims even look good.

[@ariip]

Amen. (I am an athiest LOL). It is a fools errand and big auto loves low profile because they make more money on those fools who buy them. I actually think it does not look like you are driving on wheels, but on rings. What is even more funny if you go back to the cars in the early 1900s and on horse wagons before, the wheels were just big rings with no height and no comfort.

[@LnDSuv]

@ss Most race cars have higher profile tires than this Tesla. These wheels are just for looks, like oversized front grilles.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

@@LnDSuv That's because many/most race cars have extremely stiff suspensions and the additional compliance from somewhat higher profile tires is necessary for at least a modicum of driver comfort. Road cars have lots of extra suspension travel and there isn't nearly so much need for the cushioning effect of higher profile tires. Moreover, track tires are generally stiffer in the sidewall and have no tread squirm to contend with, and are inflated to much higher pressures than street tires. They are also, generally, not used in the rain or cold and there are many other compromises that have to be engineered into road tires that are not a part of most race tire engineering and construction. Long story short, aspect ratio is only one of MANY variables that are part of the total equation. But it is indisputable that all other things being equal, a tire with a lower aspect ratio will handle transient conditions (corner) and stop better than one with a higher aspect ratio.

[@udontknowmeg7254]

Over-sized wheels look ridiculous, but ones that compliment the car look 👌.

[@andreiarama8745]

WOW !!! An american that says "bigger it's not always better" 😂😂😂 Good job Jason,love your channel

[@EngineeringExplained]

Okay but this logic does not apply to pizza. Bigger please!

[@nestoNESTOnesto]

@@EngineeringExplained And telescopes.

[@markoz673bajen8]

@@EngineeringExplained and meat sceptre

[@Waas]

Born and breed American from MN. I personally really hate the route that car companies are going with rims/tires for a number of reasons. The biggest is that I actually change tires for a living. Low profile tires can/are a huge pain in the ass to work on.

[@beejus6756]

I came back 2 years later and I skipped way back when, but this time, I watched the whole thing, he seems so ecstatic to share the numbers, fantastic video

[@ltkwok]

Thanks for this video. Explains a lot. I just got the M3 sleeper performance which comes with the stock 18” wheels partly because of you road trip video loosing 2 of your wheels/tires. Keep maxing out the nerdiness. It stretches the brain and I love it.

[@wasilibarka4855]

I replaced my 195/60 99H r16 tires on steel on my Ford Galaxy with 215/55 97H r16 on aluminum and it totally transformed the car.

[@ArunArun-rv5bn]

That's just a 1.25mm increase in sidewall.

[@ronindebeatrice]

@@ArunArun-rv5bn Yeah, but the switch from steel to alum was definitely the biggest factor.

[@wasilibarka4855]

@@ArunArun-rv5bn *decrease also 99h are truck tires and 97h are car tires.

[@ArunArun-rv5bn]

@@wasilibarka4855 Mmm. But it is an increase in side wall, not decrease. 195*60/100=117mm. 215*55/100=118.25mm. It's almost the same.

[@wasilibarka4855]

@@ArunArun-rv5bn its radius/hight Nevertheless, its only like 8mm difference and I got TÜV on it, which is nearly impossible to get in Germany for anything aftermarket

[@AngeloSignorelli]

I appreciate the use of the free Harbor Freight tape measure.

[@Onewheelordeal]

I see that free blue square flashlight all over KZbin. From dragsters to track cars, muscle cars to imports, a free flashlight transcends all opinions

[@AngeloSignorelli]

yeahitskimmel especially since they updated them a year or so ago, they’re actually pretty awesome. But my favorite is the 6-in-1 screwdriver.

[@gtbigdog3507]

I have 4

[@icsamerica]

245/45/R18 would have been a better choice. The diameter error would have been about .20 larger instead of your smaller choice. This size (26.68 in ) or slightly larger would have been more advantageous towards you stated goal of to "reduce likeihood of tire / wheel damage", while providing the same absolute error in size. The 245 would be 10MM wider and 8mm taller. That's usually not an issue for clearance and the wider aspect could increase grip. The slightly larger wheel would also visually fill the wheel well while giving the car a lower look while actually increasing ground clearance 4mm. Opportunity lost.

[@randomvideosn0where]

Wider might mess with the aero of the car though, 5mm x 23" sticking out the side of the wheel well. Also larger size reduces acceleration.

[@TurboS-gh5wc]

One of the best videos yet. A taller tire will make a ride much more compliant and street friendly with a car that has a sportier seat and stiffer suspension. Like an S2000.

[@TheTyisawesome]

The man was about this LAST year too?!! True passion

[@pandemik0]

I've never liked overly low profile tyres, a bit more rubber looks tougher. There's an ideal profile I think before it actually doesn't look right anymore.

[@ldhelitube]

Thanks for all your research and effort. I have a M3P as well and I've been concerned about damage after seeing your pothole experience. When it's time to change tires, I think I'll switch to the 18" rims as well.

[@wertyamatz22]

Rev up your Tesl.... ohsht wrong channel

[@MrJObajobas]

This one has less 1994 toyota celica and cocaine

[@naufalap]

And more safety concern for general wellbeing

[@iloveamerica1966]

Oh, you mean the buy Toyota Tesla sux channel?

[@williamy.8390]

Considering that the original tire has more grip, the effect of lower unsprung rotational mass should be more significant 🤔

[@zilogfan]

Beautiful commentary. I wish you had also commented on the linear acceleration impact of the wheel mass change, even though it is tiny. Also a comment on the added side wall causing some extra lateral squish in handling. I completely agree that the added sidewall is a net positive but it does allow the car to squirm a bit in entering and exiting an aggressive turn maneuver. Your review of the tire change is the best I have seen anywhere, you do an awesome job!!

[@twinscrolled]

A perfect example as to why the numbers on a tire are more of a general guide, actual measurements and weights will vary.

[@kevinheckeler]

The acoustic foam is likely necessary with the 20", whereas the 18" will absorb more of the noise with the taller sidewall and overall more mass.

[@davidbeppler3032]

Without added engine noise all tires need the acoustic foam. On that same note... for about $200 you can greatly reduce road noise in a TM3 with aftermarket noise cancelling rubber stripping.

[@kevinheckeler]

@@davidbeppler3032 Jason didn't notice any additional road noise, so there's no necessity for the foam (unless using skinnier tires).

[@jah26027]

there is a report somewhere that it only dampens 200hz road noise effectively, didn't look for the article, but there is NO silver bullet to all noise

[@camrsr5463]

Awesome job! I wish more people understood how much money they can save by going to a smaller wheel and tire. I also wish car companies gave the buyer a choice between everyday or sport tire and rim combos. A higher trim level shouldn't force me into a tire wheel combos that doesn't suit me driving needs.

[@jeffreyhellinger1704]

Just ordered my 18" replacements after popping my 2nd 20" Uberturbine in a month. Nicely done!

[@Chipocheet]

The tire slap noise get me every time XD “this tire here is everything you’ll ever need”

[@MiaogisTeas]

"Harder, daddy!" 🤤

[@DionLewiis]

Off topic, but please can you do a video on the Chiron reaching 304mph, the differences between the stock Chiron and the one used, and how Bugatti overcame the obstacles to allow them to reach such a speed.

[@EngineeringExplained]

I made a video about it two years ago, basically, they just did it. Some small tweaks to the tires, but power seems to be very close to predicted: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGiZXqGmr5V2m6s

[@prostheticaim8030]

You know what is halarious, they look like the standard 18” aero wheels when you take the hubcap off

[@ariip]

They can change the look at make them look like any other rim. That does not matter. They just happened to do that.

[@QuickQuips]

I'm glad the biggest issue with electric cars is not range anxiety but casualties from a wheel size arms race. The Infiniti FX and the Escalades come to mind as the biggest offenders.

[@Yourfriendwasmagnificent]

Interesting / great video Jason. I'm with you, I prefer more sidewall than most people, both from an aesthetic and performance standpoint.

[@Tony-rn8on]

Impressed by the amount of detail and thought you put into your videos. Just watched like 3 of your videos in a row. On that note... I wish you had more content about tires.

[@Conservator.]

I like the 18” size better than the 20” but I like the 20” color better than the 18”

[@jimadams2113]

Great video! Thanks. I love my P3D- with the 18 inch wheels. Hoping someone will make a carbon fiber aero cover.

[@simonreeves2017]

I agree with other comments here, the 18 inch wheels look better too, as well as all the other advantages.

[@LostBeetle]

Function over form, every time. Good call.

[@nickopedia5669]

On my dad's used pickup truck, he got rid of the goofy 22" chrome wheels (with maybe 2" of sidewall) for regular 17" OEM wheels with 5"+ of sidewall and the ride difference was VERY noticeable. It made it actually feel like the Cadillac it was and not some slammed garbage.

[@rogerhinman5427]

At last I have some data to support my argument about low-profile tires with my buddies. Thanks Jason!

[@ethangrubbs1032]

You know hes a real engineer when he swaps 20s for 18s to increase performance 😂

[@scottxp800]

They were swapped for reliability not performance.

[@ethangrubbs1032]

@@scottxp800 What I was really pointing out is the fact that most would swap up in wheel size, not down. He's willing to go down for the overall increased benefits.

[@dizzywow]

@@ethangrubbs1032 With MOST cars you'll do fine if you just stay with the same size that it was designed for. A quality aftermarket wheel, even cast, will weigh less. But most people who go aftermarket also upsize. I did not.

[@RickJohnson]

Those 20" wheels are one of the biggest things keeping me away from the P3D and considering a P3D- instead if I can find one. This is a smart alternative, assuming one can resell the 20" wheels.

[@BlueDually4x4]

Usually OEM wheels fetch a pretty high price even in salvage yards, just because people hit pot holes or curb them and need just one.

[@johnlloyd2390]

Interesting look at the difference between higher profile tires on smaller rims, and low profile tires on bigger ones. But you did make one glaring omission, and that was the effect of sidewall flex and twist in braking and handling. When you turn a tire, or put a side load on it. the sidewall will flex. If that load is at something other than a 90° angle to the axle, you also twist the tire about its vertical axis, or in the case of the front wheels, about the steering axis (through the kingpin inclination in both caster and camber). If the tread is still fully gripping the pavement, that twist means the TREAD centre plane is pointed a different direction from the WHEEL centre plane. The difference is called a "Slip Angle" (and has nothing to do with the tire sliding.) The more the sidewall can twist, the greater the slip angle before the tread loses grip. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, it means the tire can take a higher side load (up to a point) before letting go. Second, the greater the slip angle, the more warning the tire gives before it does lose grip; the steering feel gets "looser" and "sloppier" before ultimately going away. A very low profile tire may have more ultimate grip because there is less twisting force on it caused by sidewall twist, but the difference between gripping and sliding -- the difference between "WOW" and "OOPS!" gets very narrow. Something similar happens under braking. Here, the sidewall twists about the axle centre line. As the brakes take hold, the twist at the leading edge of the contact patch takes most of the load, while the trailing edge is lifted. This reduces the amount of tread interlocking with the pavement, and ultimately reduces braking performance. Here, a lower profile tire has the advantage because it won't lift the tread quite so much. More of the tread stays interlocked with the pavement, grip is a bit higher and braking distances are shorter. Food for thought.

[@mayuquitomayu4743]

TBH under most hard cornering an M3 feels so much better. The Tesla is great but at the limit it suddenly loses grip and then the nannies kick in and end the experience. I had the M3 and now drive the Tesla and it is simply less gradual in its loss of grip. Also the dampers are ok, but not great. The M3 is much better at handling road imperfections in a sweeper for example. And these 20 inch tires don’t help these issues. But also to be honest, I would never go back to the ICE car. I hope someday Tesla will hire an engineer from BMW or Porsche to help them suspend the car. Otherwise the Tesla PM3 drivetrain is incredible

[@microcolonel]

I got some 16" steelies for winter, and I've got to say the ride is so smooth (over stuff that you could feel through the already quite plush suspension); perfect for winter when you're not pushing it anyway.

[@idray986]

My biggest recommendation with after market wheels is.... Purchase Five! Just Incase they discontinued that model/Finish

[@snviper]

Or six as in Jason's case.

[@chrisk853]

Probably why you never see dragsters with low profile tires😉

[@adamsmith-bg5wq]

because of all the potholes at the dragstrip? lol. For dragsters it's for heat dissipation and soft sidewalls deform to increase their diameter/gearing at high speeds.

[@Broadpaw_Fox]

@@adamsmith-bg5wq - actually, the squat when a dragster launches is a far more important consideration with regard to sidewall height. Look at close ups of the tire during launch - it squats down a lot and has enough torque going through it to wrinkle the sidewall. The diameter increase at speed is kind of a bonus, but it's also why some guys spin at half track. It does reduce the contact patch size as they balloon, and with all that power sometimes it breaks free. ;)

[@secrethandlehuhu]

yeah but lower profile are more "performance" in terms of cornering handling.

[@chrisk853]

Freedom Good thing they’ve taken out all the turns on the drag-strips and added parachutes to stop

[@Broadpaw_Fox]

@@secrethandlehuhu - well, yes, sort of. There are limits at either extreme. Super tall tires have issues of their own, often including ultimate cornering grip. But super low profile tires also have their issues. What our illustrious host did here is take the middle ground. A 45 profile tire is absolutely perfect for street use in a performance case. Even for track use it would be great - enough sidewall to soak road imperfections, but still a lower profile so it doesn't roll over too badly. And if they'll often leave you with an almost square contact patch, which is excellent for all around use (both acceleration/braking and cornering). For instance, look at the tires they use in F1. They're not super low profile, are they? And those tires are the most extreme use case there is... low profile isn't always the best answer. Balance is the point. ;)

[@ThomasGillot]

Made me glad I stuck with the 18" on my Model 3.

[@TC-dk6do]

@@RadScorpius only in your mind..lol

[@Dave5843-d9m]

Switch to steels and put your a Tesla alloys in storage. They are stronger and easily straightened if they do get dinged. The full set will be cheaper than one alloy. Fit Tesla aero covers and nobody will know.

[@CC-te4jz]

David Elliott where do you find the steels?

[@ArcherWarhound]

Thanks; this excellent breakdown strongly reaffirms my desire to go with the long range rather than performance model when I get a Tesla!

[@jdear97]

Thanks Jason, I have found the lower profile tires much more likely to cause problems. As car makers remove spare tires it really amplifies the pain. Another nicely done video.

[@Flyinghook]

Can't help but picture Jason as an ice skater, now

[@EngineeringExplained]

Get on my level, Rippon!

[@phattacorider]

Great, some things cant be unimagined...

[@somestuffithoughtyoumightl6985]

I remember years ago my BMW 318IS had 65 series and wanting 55 while all the super cars were going 45. 35 R20 on the Tesla, wow that’s very little cushion.

[@JustAnotherBigAl]

I couldn't believe that with all Jason's background and understanding of mechanical engineering, he didn't understand the standard tyre (tire for you Yanks) codes. For a 245-45-20 tyre the codes are; 245 - the width of the tyre in millimetres, 45 - the height of the profile expressed as a percentage of the width and 20 - the diameter of the rim in inches. What's also important when changing tyres that the circumference remain constant. Any differences will affect the speedometer and acceleration. When you do the maths bwtween the 20" and the 18" tryes there is only a difference of about 12mm in circumference, therefore almost identical.

[@alveydoug]

“Rubber band style tires.” That’s what I’ve always (and I’m OLD) called them too. (My third viewing of this episode. It’s really good; Engineer Boy is so excited, he hardly breaths.)

[@Raptorman0909]

The tire and wheel makers want the industry to go 100% on the big wheel and ultra low profile tires BECAUSE they know you'll damage them more and have to replace them more AND they cost more to begin with. For them it's all about taking more of your money. As you rightly pointed out the smaller wheels with higher profile tires generally out perform the low profile setup and the difference is quantifiable. The smaller wheel higher profile combo will tend to be lighter with lower moment of inertia which will improve acceleration and if the contact patch is the same will also improve braking, not just by lowering the stopping distance but also by lowering the heat build up on the track. And finally, the better aerodynamics and smoother ride are a nice benefit as well. None of this matters to the majority of motorheads as they love the rubber band look and don't care about performance or cost. How many of you have seen a beater car with $5K in huge rims and ultra low profile tires?

[@dizzywow]

So you admit that customers want the low profile tires. So it's not some industry conspiracy to sell you replacements when they break.

[@Raptorman0909]

@@dizzywow -- The industry has spent lot of money pushing things and sheep fall for it!

[@dizzywow]

@@Raptorman0909 Funny, I've seen no ads pushing "big wheels" on cars. You're not the master of the market who knows that people are "sheep". People want it.

[@TexMex421]

Love the Show! But!, most of the protection for the wheel is not provided by the tire sidewall, or the tire period. It's the air in the tire. And as the tire hits a bump or falls into a pothole, you are compressing a volume of air that increases with the growth in sidewall squared. (essentially use the formula for area of a sector of a circle.) So you said 2.75/2 = 1.375 so 37.5% more sidewall. But 2.75^2/2^2 = 1.89 so 89% more protection. And, knowing that the air is the main protection, you may want to point out how important it is to keep your tires properly inflated, maybe use the maximum pressure listed on the side of the tire, especially on low profile tires.

[@jamesbisset9891]

Yes but if you have a bigger sidewall you can have more air in the tyre. All he’s saying is that tyres with bigger side walls ofter more protection not that it’s just the bigger sidewall that give you the protection.

[@bradleyrex2968]

@@jamesbisset9891 I think Tex-Mex covered bigger sidewall means more air, which the video did not mention. Especially as you can just put more air in the tire. Inflating the tire to is maximum presage as listed on the tire is going to provide more protection than siting at the minimum, even though the TPS will say both are properly inflated.

[@TexMex421]

@UCC1GkaWCHpeyu6xC6vPeqQQ I get that, but he never mentions air. And he implies it's a linear relationship when it is an exponential one. And you can of course just put more air in the existing tire. After watching his original video where he watches car after car hit the same pothole with no problems, I wonder if his damage was due in part to under-inflated tires.

[@QuickTrickTools]

Oh, wow. We're here early. Those pilot sport s' are great tires!

[@joshuabarkey4554]

I went from spinning through second to full traction in first, even in damp conditions. My heart recommends the pilot sports, my wallet does not.

[@JoeRader]

If I had performance I'd do this in a heartbeat. I just have the LR AWD with stock 18s, though. I'll stick with them as I chose them for most of the advantages talked about in the video. And a new set from Tesla is 2 grand with free install.

[@dil6969]

This is a very good idea. For the two years I've been an auto tech, i cannot even count how many large wheels with low profile tires I've seen damaged, bent or otherwise destroyed. It's one of the worst trends in modern vehicles. The marginal increase in steering response and handling is usually not worth the rough ride, expensive tires and risk of damage. I hope fat sidewalls will make a comeback in non-base model vehicles.

[@7spower998]

Thanks for the video review of the 18 in vs 20 in wheels. Agreed with your 18" wheel choice, and I'm not surprised by the results. Formula 1 is switching to 18" wheels in 2021, while the 24hr Le Mans LMP1 class has been using 18" wheels since 2000.

[@Jinppa]

Yeah, but the 18" wheels on Formula 1 cars make them slower, not faster. It's all about technology transfer from race to road, since not a lot of road cars use 13" wheels anymore.

[@Xerdoz]

Also if you have a smaller diameter, wheels you basically put more torque to the ground.

[@hcoyhis]

Um no. The wheel is smaller yes but the overall diameter of the tire is the same (or very close)

[@Xerdoz]

@@hcoyhis That's what I meant. The whole damn wheel assembly, tire and the rim is smaller in diameter. Just watch the video and he clearly has the measurements at 17:06. Not a huge difference but in theory you put down more torque to the ground with a smaller diameter wheel since the "torque arm" is shorter from the centerline of the wheels.

[@GrecoRoman123]

5:33 Meanwhile, I recently bought a couple of new tires (225/65 R17) for around $60 each.

[@campkira]

pretty sure it can not take a teala torque...

[@KiyoshiAphelion]

Can’t fit a 17” wheel over those brake calipers.

[@thebeetalls]

I've purchased similar size tires for a similar price in the past; I won't do that again. They just didn't perform as well as more expensive tires and I needed more weights for balance. I think $100-$150 is the sweet spot for that size tire.

[@ZVPieGuy]

Those tires will probably ride like crap have terrible grip and burn out really quick. It you had ponied up about twice the money for some substantially better tires they’d probably last 3-4 times longer and be better in all metrics.

[@srinitaaigaura]

That's a lot of sidewall.

[@samtoshner8002]

I've always heard the low profile sidewall deflects less during cornering which is supposed to improve handling, and that's the reason given for why they show up so much on performance cars. Not sure if that's true or not.

[@galardmills5306]

Sam Toshner Yes! I didn’t hear any mention of squirm. Nor any measure of cornering transients.

[@johndicarlo3634]

Yes! The manufacturer engineers know what they are doing. They measure lateral acceleration and do a lot of handling track tests. There is a real non-aesthetic trade off here. So educate yourself elsewhere before you swap out your wheels. The improvements from lower unsprung weight are real, but so are the downsides for handling, especially for such a heavy car.

[@beltrams]

It's true that sidewall deflection is undesirable. That's why car and light truck/SUV tire/wheels have been moving towards lower profile combinations over the past 20 or 30 years. I'm old enough to have started driving on 70 series tires and I appreciate what the engineers have done. Still, I think most of the improvement has already been had by the time we get to a .50 profile or so. Beyond that, the potential for impact damage and curb rash to me outweighs any further reduction in sidewall flex. I have to laugh when I see SUVs and light trucks in rural areas running around on massively expensive 30 series tires and wheels. At this point, people are moving to these ultra-low profile designs simply for perceived looks, imo. We aren't driving race cars on a track meaning that there are other considerations for road use beside ultra-max handling.

[@scottbreseke716]

@@johndicarlo3634 I try not to drive laterally usually. Worrying about driving laterally might be more of an issue when you're going 160 mph and doing a lot of tight corners at that speed.

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

Yep it's definitely true. Part of the reason low profile tires are getting so common is because they make a car feel smaller/lighter than it actually is.

[@V12BigBlock]

Smart decision man, i don't understand why some people stubbornly insist on having large rims and low-aspect tires, in countries with roads that look like they just had a meteorite shower...

[@jsleeio]

I'm with you here, the taller sidewalls look great, and the black wheels are lovely too. Winning all over really.