Factory sizes by generation
Until 2021 the Model S came with 245/45 R19, load index 102 and speed rating W on 8J rims with ET40, and in the larger-rim variant with 245/35 R21 on 8.5J ET40. Both sizes fitted every trim of that period, from the 75 through to the P100D and Performance. After the 2021 update the factory set changed: 255/45 R19 with load index 104 at the front and 285/40 R19 at the rear, both on 9.5J ET40 rims. That is what both the Long Range and the Plaid run.
Different sizes front and rear
On the newer generation the set is no longer four identical tyres. The front axle is narrower than the rear, so the wheels cannot be swapped between axles, and a damaged tyre has to be replaced with the size for that specific axle. The table shows that the 20- and 21-inch options for this generation also come in pairs - 255/40 R20 with 285/35 R20, and 265/35 R21 with 295/30 R21. On the older generation the 21-inch size can be run the same on both axles or paired with a wider 265/35 R21 at the rear. A second set of wheels also has to match on rim width and ET, which the table lists for every size.
19, 20 or 21 inches
A bigger rim means a lower tyre sidewall, so less rubber between the rim and the pothole. There are no figures for that comparison. In braking, bigger is not automatically better: in TÜV Süd measurements on a BMW i4 the same Goodyear tyre in 18 and 19 inches stopped in practically the same distance, and the worst result came from the largest rim with a cheap tyre. In an ADAC comparison on a VW Golf, 18-inch tyres passed noticeably more road bumps through to the cabin than 17-inch tyres. Range depends on rolling resistance: according to an estimate by Continental development chief Burkhard Wies, quoted by Auto Bild, on a Model S with a 500 km range every kilogram per tonne of lower rolling resistance adds roughly 20 km. A practical note about the catalogue - the choice of winter tyres in 21 inches is narrower than in 19, so a seasonal set is harder to put together there.
Load index and speed rating
The Model S is a heavy car and the indexes show it straight away: 102 and 104 on the factory 19-inch sizes against 96 on the narrow 21-inch front tyre. Auto Bild notes that an electric car weighs roughly 200-300 kg more than a comparable car with a combustion engine, so a lower index than the one specified for the size in question must not be fitted. Speed rating W suits every trim except the Plaid - its published top speed calls for Y. You can check what your own car needs on the tyre sidewall, on the door-frame sticker and in the owner's manual. The registration certificate does not list the tyre size.
What T0, T1 and T2 mean
Tesla-approved tyres are marked with the letter T on the sidewall. T0 is the first approved version, and when the tyre is revised with a new construction or technology, it gets T1, T2 and so on. The number refers to the tyre model, not to the car: Tesla itself explains that one manufacturer's T1 tyre is newer than the same manufacturer's T0 tyre, but not necessarily newer than another manufacturer's T0 tyre. The widely repeated scheme that divides T0, T1 and T2 between car models is therefore wrong. Tesla's own replacement tyre tables list T0, T1 and T2 tyres for one and the same car.
Tesla does not publish anywhere exactly how the T0 and T1 versions of the same model differ. What is known is that the tyres are developed together with the tyre manufacturers and that most approved tyres can only be bought from Tesla itself. They are not mandatory. Tesla does recommend these tyres, citing lower road noise and better handling, but neither the warranty terms nor anything else makes that choice a condition. ADAC takes the same position: what matters is the size and load index approved for the particular car, and at least in the case of premium manufacturers any tyre with matching specifications can be considered suitable. A tyre without the T marking may have higher rolling resistance and therefore less range, as well as more noise in the cabin.
Why an approved tyre is often V or W rather than Y
The speed rating indicates the maximum speed at which the tyre may be driven: V is 240 km/h, W is 270 km/h and Y is 300 km/h. ADAC explains that above the H rating a tyre's load capacity falls as speed rises, so a higher rating calls for a casing that withstands more heat and sustained load. On an electric car's tyre that works against both of the main goals. Manufacturers point out that when a tyre is optimised for electric cars the priority is range, while the weight of the battery calls for a higher load index, XL or HL. A stiffer and heavier Y-class construction makes both harder, and for most Tesla models the design speed stays below the W limit.
TPMS when changing tyres or wheels
Tesla uses two generations of pressure sensor that are not compatible with each other: 433 MHz radio in early cars, Bluetooth Low Energy in newer ones. That becomes important when buying a second set of wheels with its own sensors. After a wheel change the sensors relearn by themselves if you drive faster than 25 km/h for a few minutes; older manuals give ten minutes for the same procedure. When different tyres are fitted to the same rims, nothing needs to be done. Manual relearning on the touchscreen exists only in those cars that do not have the automatic version. The manual warns that after a tyre change outside a Tesla service centre the sensor may not work until Tesla carries out the installation procedure, and that the sensor battery cannot be replaced - the whole sensor is replaced. In Latvia this is not merely a question of convenience. On category M1 cars first registered on or after 1 January 2018 with a manufacturer-fitted TPMS, the system has to work, and missing sensors or a lit warning light are a defect at the roadworthiness test.
Winter tyres in Latvia
From 1 December to 1 March a car with a gross weight of no more than 3.5 t must have winter tyres. The roadworthiness rules require the mountain and snowflake marking (3PMSF); winter tyres carry it, but the M+S designation alone is no substitute and, since 1 October 2024, no longer counts during the mandatory period. Tread depth in this period must be at least 4 mm. At the test 3.0 to 4.0 mm is a major defect, below 3.0 mm already a dangerous one. Studded tyres are permitted from 1 October to 1 May, so the permitted period is wider at both ends than the mandatory one.
These requirements also cover the speed rating. A tyre's speed category and load index may not fall short of the car's technical parameters, and what counts is the car's own design maximum speed, not the road speed limit. A winter tyre rated Q or T on a car with a design speed of 200 km/h or more is a major defect at the test.
Where to find your size
The size, load index and speed rating are written on the tyre sidewall itself. The size and pressure specified by the manufacturer can be found on the sticker in the driver's door frame, in the owner's manual and, on cars with a combustion engine, on the fuel filler cap as well. The registration certificate carries no tyre data, and the technical passport was replaced long ago, so there is no point looking in either.
