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Great tires for Tesla Y

 Updated in December 2024

 

I have a 2021 Model Y Long Range (here is my mini review of it) with 20" wheels. After 26,000 miles on my original Goodyear F1 tires, it was time to replace them. 

Summary: The Pirelli P zero all season (AS) ELECT tires dramatically improved the ride quality and road noise, while improving efficiency. If I had spent several grand for a suspension upgrade, I would not expect to see this kind of a ride quality improvement. In summary, compared to the stock tires (Goodyear F1):

  • Ride quality is much better (I no longer avoid bumps/holes I used to avoid)
  • Road noise is reduced by 20% (measurements shown below)
  • Efficiency is better (see below)
  • Handling is not quite as good (the car leans a bit more in the corners)
  • The traction is not as good, but still very good (some may call it playful)

 

Trade-offs you have to make when you buy tires:

Tires have two main features:

  1. Traction/rolling resistance. On the one extreme, you have very grippy, rubbery tires that stick to the surface like glue and provide great traction (Goodyear F1s are a good example). This also increases the resistance, so you get lower efficiency (fewer miles on a charge). Such tires will also have to be replaced sooner, since their soft rubber rubs off more easily, especially if you accelerate hard. On the other hand, if you get "plasticky" tires with harder rubber, they will have the opposite features: they will grip less, be more efficient due to lower rolling resistance, and last longer. The easiest measure of how rubbery or plasticky a tire is is to look at their warranty. The shorter the warranty, the more rubbery a tire will be (because it will last shorter). The longer the warranty, the more plasticky it will be.
  2. Side wall height and softness. This affects the ride quality and handling. The taller and softer the side wall (like in SUVs), the softer/smoother the ride, but handling is worse (the car leans more in the corners). If the side walls are short and hard (like in sports cars), the handling will be better, but the ride will be rough. The side wall height is a measure (the second number in the tire size, like 255/40R20), but the side wall softness is not something that is measurable, so the only way to learn about it is to drive on the tires or read reviews like this one.

I considered these:

  • Goodyear F1 (amazing traction in all conditions, including snow and ice)
  • Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus Elect (specifically made for EVs and have foam inserts)
  • KumhoSolus Majesty 9 TA91 (super cheap)
  • Michelin Primacy MXM4
  • Michelin CrossClimate2
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
  • Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS, in a larger size: 275/40ZR-20 (these are wider and protect the rim; they are also bigger)
  • Hancook iON evo AS SUV (they have a sound absorber, just like the originals)

I decided to go with the Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus ELECT. A summary after ~20,000 miles of driving with the Pirellis: 

  • They are significantly quieter than my previous tires (see the test below).
  • They wear much more slowly and will last a lot longer than the OEMs
  • They absorb bumps much better. I no longer avoid bumps like I used to. It's as if I got an improved suspension.
  • They have very good traction, but not as good as the F1s. However, you have to push the car pretty hard to experience some slipping. Some car enthusiasts prefer this, as they consider it "playful".
  • They average 272 Wh/mile, vs 294 Wh/mile for the F1s.

 The noise test. I measured the noise levels of my old Goodyears to the new Pirellis. I drove:

  • the exact same section of the road, about 6 miles long.
  • in the same weather (dry and temp in the 50s)
  • on autopilot in the same lane, so the surface conditions were identical, even within that lane
  • with the exact same tire pressure (42 psi cold)
  • 64 mph the entire time
  • only ~3 weeks apart

As you can see below (look at LAeq), the Pirellis (on the right) are 2.6 decibels quieter than the Goodyears (on the left). This translates to about 50% reduction in sound energy, or ~20% reduction in loudness (what we perceive).



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