Spare tires have long been considered the lifesaver for many car drivers, especially when their tires break down in the middle of an empty road with no tire repair shops around.

As such, some Tesla enthusiasts expect the brand to include spare tires in their models, too. Do Teslas have spare tires? Keep scrolling to find the answer.

Does Tesla Have A Spare Tire?

No. Tesla cars and spare tires do not go together. Instead of spare tires, Tesla includes “tire repair kits” to help drivers navigate unexpected tire issues amidst drivings or during emergencies.

Specifically, the kit includes one air compressor (for regular pressure topping) and a sealant canister that helps patch tire punctures.

Using the canister is straightforward: attach its hoses to your tire valves, then plug them onto the car’s 12V outlets. The tire holes will start getting filled and repaired immediately.

To make it even better, there are sensor safety systems that help monitor the hose-valve connections, keeping you and your car from accidental misuse.

Other things included in the spare tire kit are:

Inflation needle
Tapered nozzle
Storage bag

Still, like spare tires, this kit is also meant for temporary tire repairs and can only last you and your car for about 300 km (186 miles). Schedule an appointment with specialists before that benchmark!

Also, if the punctures are larger than 6mm (0.24 inches) in diameter or littered inside the tire treads, keeping driving even just one mile will be a bad idea.

Contact roadside support right away, and replace the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and damaged tires as soon as possible. Tesla does not cover TPMS and tire replacements in its vehicle warranty, by the way, so expect to spend some bucks on these repairs.

Why Doesn’t Tesla Have A Spare Tire?

Tesla already provides tire repair kits and free roadside support services, so preparing a spare on top of all these benefits is costly and very unnecessary. Removing it also reduces the car’s overall weight and gives your trunk lots of free space for other uses.

1. Tesla Provides Free Roadside Assistance Services

Tesla provides roadside assistance services for all its clients. Guaranteed the vehicle is still during extended warranty duration (four years or 50,000 miles – whichever arrives first – for new Teslas, and 10,000 miles for used models), you can trust the service to work around the clock, 24/7.

Once you dial the number, service technicians will drive to your place as fast as possible, regardless of location. And after they arrive, your tires will be fixed at a neck-breaking speed to return you and your car to the road in no time.

In the rare case that the tires cannot be fixed/repaired, Tesla will tow the vehicle to a closeby Tesla service center (or any other brand approved by Tesla) for further diagnosis.

With support services only one call away, the inclusion of spare tires on Tesla vehicles clearly seems like an unworthy investment. And trust us: though it doesn’t seem so at first, the entire process of calling the technician – waiting – having the tires fixed actually takes much less time than you trying to install the spares on your own.

2. Weight Reduction

Most electric car manufacturers strive to reduce the cars’ overall weight, and Tesla does not stay out of the trend.

A typical spare tire weighs about 25 to 50 pounds. Hence, removing the spare is a smart move from Tesla, as it cuts off the overall weight while increasing the charge-to-charge range. Better yet, there is tons of space in the trunks and cargo now, which allows you to store other important items and equipment.

Not to mention, for higher-end models, spare tires are a pretty rare sight these days. Including them in the design only adds to the dead/unnecessary sheer weight, hence Tesla’s decision to get rid of them once and for all.

3. Lower Average Cost of Production

Electric, modern vehicles (like Tesla) are always a tad heavier than their gas-powered counterparts. Thus, Tesla has to pool more funds and budgets into the tire design to help the car handle more weight.

Also, as modern drivers prioritize road noise reduction and absorption, Tesla must invest in premium materials and technology ten times more costly than gas-powered vehicle tires. Imagine adding a spare to this already outrageous production.

To keep costs low, Tesla (understandably) decided to remove spares from the picture. Considering that the Tesla technology/materials are already powerful enough to survive the lack of spares, this is definitely a smart decision.

4. Tesla Offers Tire Fix Kits

As previously mentioned, Tesla includes tire repair packages in place of spare tires. At roughly 70$, it includes everything you need for basic tire repairs.

Use the kit to fix the tire, seal the hole, and inflate the tire pressure. From there, take the car to the nearest Tesla center or any other tire shop for replacements or fixes. Compared to replacing flat tires with spares all by yourself, treating the tires this way is much faster and more time-efficient.

What impresses customers most is how lightweight the kit is – barely eating up 1/12 of the trunk and definitely much more space-saving than a spare. With this much extra space to use, feel free to stuff more items for road trips.

How to Prevent Tesla Tires From Punctures?

Keep the tires at the right pressure (in Tesla’s case, 40 to 45 PSI) and avoid potholes, sharp objects, and excess debris build-up at all costs. If needed, pour tube sealants over the tires to give them extra protection.

1. Keep The Air Pressure Right

The recommended air pressure for Teslas (all S, X, and Y models) is 40 to 45 PSI. Keep your tires around this PSI level to reduce the risks of tire wear, damaged wheel rims, and sidewall defects while improving the car’s handling.

Underinflated tires, on the other hand, might put your Tesla under pinch flats (where the tubes are trapped between tire castings and rims while rolling over trail imperfections). Eventually, they will lead to parallel-slit pictures (or snakebit flats) and destroy the car’s performance.

2. Add Tube Sealants

Another popular solution is to purchase tube sealants to give the tires extra puncture protection (although the setup will undergo slightly more rolling resistance and extra weight as a result).

Since Tesla’s inner tubes have removable valve cores, you can easily pour the sealant over the tubes without gumming the valves.

3. Avoid Gutter

Debris often pools at the roadsides or the carriageway’s edges – do not drive your car up there.

And whenever you have to cross narrow road centers, keep an eye out for gaps between the dirt and gravel. Roll the tires through them at angles to restrict the car’s exposure to puncture-causing, sharp objects like nails or glass shards.

Most importantly, stay alert against potholes or obstacles that may cause sudden impacts; they are the notorious culprits behind damaged rims and pinch flats.

Can You Put Regular Tires On A Tesla?

Yes, provided these tire sizes can fit Tesla’s factory wheel assembly and have comparable ratings. They certainly will not last as long as Tesla tires, but there will be no immediate compromise to the car’s performance, either.

Conclusion

So there is no spare tire, even in popular Tesla models like Model Y, S, or 3. The high-quality tire materials and technology render the inclusion of spare wheels unnecessary; not to mention, removing them grants you lots of cargo space and weight reduction.

Keep in mind my tips to prevent tire punctures and extend the Tesla tire’s life cycle. Write to my team if you still need help with your driving experience.