There is nothing more frustrating than going down the road and suddenly getting a flat tire. As many will notice, Tesla vehicles are not equipped with a spare tire. What are you going to do when you’re stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire?
- Call Tesla Roadside Assistance at 877-798-3752
- Use Tesla Smartphone App for Tesla Roadside Assistance
- Use a Tire Repair Kit for a Temporary Fix
Tesla Roadside Assistance is available 24/7 and is free for Tesla owners for the duration of their vehicle warranty.
Tesla Vehicle Warranty Duration:
- New Tesla: 4 Years or 50,000 miles
- Used Tesla: Remainder of 4 Years or 50,000 miles, or additional 1 Year or 10,000 miles from purchase date
Tesla Roadside Assistance Covers:
- Flat Tire
- Towing
- Lockout
- Out of Charge
While it may seem silly that car manufacturers are opting out of providing a spare tire, the truth is that they are hardly needed anymore. However, in times of need, it is vital to have a backup plan.
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Tire Repair Options with Tesla Flat Tire
The tires that are placed on Tesla’s are built for safety, durability, and reliability. Despite how they are built, the tires can and will degrade over time, and this happens for a number of different reasons. Between high loads, extreme temperatures, environmental conditions, and even ultraviolet light, there is no telling when you will experience a flat tire.
The good news is that you have several different options when you are stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. It can be frustrating, but by taking the proper steps, you will be back on the road in no time!
Below, you will find three popular steps to take if you experience a flat tire with your Tesla.
Roadside Assistance
One of the significant perks of Tesla vehicles is Tesla Roadside Assistance. This service is available to customers 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day, as long as the warranty is still valid. You can call them at 877-798-3752 or in your Tesla Smartphone App.
Once you have contacted the Roadside Assistance service, you will need to provide the following information
- The Nature of the Issue
- The Location of the Vehicle
- Vehicle Identification Number [VIN]
If you contact Roadside Assistance via your Tesla Smartphone App, you won’t need to provide your VIN.
If you are unsure where your VIN is located, you can find it either in your Tesla app or on the upper dashboard on the driver’s side of your windshield. If neither of these work, the VIN can also be found by touching the car’s screen and touching the Tesla ‘T’ at the very top.
Once you have provided all of the information, the Roadside Assistance service will take it from there.
DIY Tire Repair Kit
If you are more of a fix-it-yourself type, you will love having a tire repair kit on hand! Luckily, you can buy a compact tire repair kit that you will be able to keep in your car for those dreaded moments of a flat tire.
Something like Fix-A-Flat is the easiest to use in an emergency. You can buy a single can and keep it in your car.
To use Fix-A-Flat for a temporary fix:
- Move your car slightly to position the puncture at the bottom (6 o’clock position)
- Shake the car vigorously for 30 seconds
- Remove wheel cap
- Tightly twist the nozzle onto the tire inflation valve
- Hold can upright and press yellow button until sealant stops flowing (DO NOT SHAKE WHILE USING)
- Make sure rim is off the ground (if not add tire pressure)
- Immediately drive to closest Tesla Service Center or Tire Shop
This is just meant to be a temporary fix to get you somewhere that you can buy a replacement tire.
Having a small 12V air compressor can be a life saver if you need to add tire pressure in step 6.
If you find that the puncture is too large, and the Fix-A-Flat does not work, you will want to contact Tesla Roadside Assistance.
It should also be noted that replacement tires are NOT covered under the vehicle warranty.
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Roadside Assistance Policy
When you purchase your Tesla, you will be provided with Roadside Assistance for either the first 4 years of ownership or during the first 50,000 miles that you drive your vehicle.
Roadside Assistance can be beneficial for more than just a flat tire. They also cover several other services including
Breakdowns
Breakdowns happen. If your car is rendered un-drivable, you will be provided with transportation services up to 500 miles to the nearest service center.
Lockouts
Getting locked out of your car is incredibly inconvenient, but it happens to the best of us! If you happen to lose your car fob or your app malfunctions, there is Roadside Assistance for that as well. If you are under warranty, a roadside professional will be able to perform lockout on your vehicle so you can manually open your door.
Out of Charge
Last, Roadside Assistance will be able to help you out when your battery charge gets depleted, or you are simply unable to make it to a charging station. This assistance can also come in handy for those times that your car remains unplugged for too long. It should be noted that this service will be at cost.
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Do Tesla’s Have Run Flat Tires?
No, Tesla’s do not have run-flat tires. While seemingly inconvenient, it may be for a couple of different reasons.
What is a Run-Flat Tire?
For those of us who are unaware of what a run-flat tire is, it is a zero-pressure tire that has the ability to support your vehicle for a limited amount of time. On average, this run-flat tire can get you about 100 miles from the time you get a “flat tire” before having to be taken to a repair shop. While this can be beneficial in some circumstances, there are trade-offs that you should be aware of.
Cons of Run-flat Tires
While you may feel that run-flat tires are good to have on hand, there are plenty of options to get you out of a pickle when it comes to a flat tire on your Tesla. Unfortunately, there are seemingly more pitfalls to a run-flat tire compared to its benefits. Some of the cons include
- Expensive to Replace
- Harsh Ride
- Stiffer Construction
- Reduced Tread Wear
- Blowouts Still Possible
- No Spare
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How To Avoid Getting A Flat Tire
While there is no way to prevent a flat tire, you can make sure you are taking care of the tires that are on your Tesla to best avoid a flat tire. The best way to accomplish this will be continually maintaining, checking, and adjusting your Tesla tires when necessary.
Maintaining Tire Pressure
When it comes to tire health, you will want to make sure you are keeping your Tesla tires at the proper tire pressure levels.
To do this, you can find the tire and loading information on the center door pillar. On a Tesla, this is visible when the driver’s door is ajar. Once you have the numbers, be sure to keep the tires inflated to the pressures shown on the label.
Checking/Adjusting Tire Pressure
How to check you tire pressure on a Tesla:
- Click on the Car Icon on your Tesla Touchscreen
- Click “Service”
- Look at each tires pressure
How to adjust your tire pressure on a Tesla:
- Remove tire valve cap
- Tightly twist compressor nozzle to tire valve
- Inflate to desired tire pressure
- Remove compressor nozzle from tire valve
- Replace tire valve cap
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Tesla Car Maintenance Recommendations
In order to keep your Tesla in tip-top shape, you will want to strongly consider following Tesla’s maintenance recommendations.
Even though Tesla vehicles do not require a traditional oil change, there are several maintenance services that you will want to keep in mind.
Tire Rotation and Wheel Alignment
On topic with changing your tires, Tesla also recommends that you check your tires every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. During this time, Tesla will check for any rotating, balancing, or alignment that your vehicle may need. If you find that your tires are either misaligned or unbalanced, this could affect the tire life, leading to a flat tire.
Brake Fluid
Along with checking your tires, you will also want to check your brake fluid every two years or so. By following this task, Tesla will be able to check for any fluid contamination and can replace it as needed.
Cabin Air Filter
Next, we have the Cabin Air Filter and the EPA filter. As far as the cabin air filter goes, Tesla equips your vehicle with this filter to help any particles, road dust, and pollen from getting into your car. It is recommended that you replace this filter every two years and your HEPA filter every three years.
Air Conditioning
When people think about servicing their car, air conditioning is often left unattended. In order to help the efficiency and longevity of your air conditioning, you will want to consider having it serviced. For the Model S, this service should be completed every two years, model X can be serviced every four years, and Model 3 can be serviced every six years.
Winter Care
Last but not least, Tesla recommends basic winter care for your Tesla vehicle. If you live in a colder region, you will want to consider cleaning and lubricating your brake calipers. Generally, this should be about every 12,500 miles or every twelve months, depending which comes first.
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Conclusion
The tires on your car are vital for staying safe on the road. To keep yourself and your vehicle as safe as possible, be sure to keep up with the health of your tire. By maintaining and protecting your tires appropriately, you will be able to extend their lifecycle, saving you time from fixing a flat tire and money from having to replace the said tire.
Remember that you are never stranded on the side of the road. You now know that there are several different options when it comes to a flat tire on your Tesla. Whether you plan on fixing the tire yourself or plan on calling Roadside Assistance, you will be back on the road before you know it!