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Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by dmitrygr on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:38PM (#23534721)
"a new custom tire"

sounds expensive to replace when you drive over a nail

Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by dmoy on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:40PM (#23534736)
I don't think you buy a tesla for low part costs

e.g. https://www.tflcar.com/2019/06/tesla-model-3-repair-story/

Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by servusMachina on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:40PM (#23534740)
It's a car that sells on average for ~100k. I don't think an expensive tire change in case of a nail will stop the target customer from purchasing this vehicle.
Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by rootusrootus on Monday June 15, 2020 @09:03PM (#23534883)
This is not uncommon. Many performance cars over the years have had tires custom spec'd for them. An example that comes to mind is the Bridgestone RE070, which for a while only came in exactly one size, because it was for the mid-2000s STI. It did come in another size a bit later when the GT-R started using it as the factory tire.

I want to say that the sixth generation Camaro SS 1LE also had a custom tire, though I think it comes in more sizes now.

Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by mc32 on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:42PM (#23534756)
Yes but don’t most “luxury” automobiles come with non-cheap tires to begin with that may or may not bring 2% mileage improvement with them?
Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by leetcrew on Monday June 15, 2020 @09:15PM (#23534956)
I guess it depends what you mean by "luxury", but the vehicles I'm thinking of tend to come with sticky high-performance tires. these actually increase rolling friction.
Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by mc32 on Monday June 15, 2020 @09:22PM (#23535000)
Exactly so one, they don’t run very long and two they add rolling resistance (for better two wheeled traction), so both in Tesla’s favor.
Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by fumar on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:49PM (#23534790)
You can patch a tire with up to a 1/4 inch puncture.
Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by serf on Monday June 15, 2020 @09:01PM (#23534870)
Some exclusions may apply. May not be available at a retailer near you.

(you can patch a tire with a quarter inch puncture as long as that puncture is further than 16 inches away from a previous repair, on a 'square' landing of the tire away from the gradual shoulder or side-wall, and the puncture must not have resulted in an internal or external layer delamination)

And those exclusions aren't considering exotic tire compounds, treads, models, or run-flat styles.

P.S. Most economy-oriented MPG-centric hybrid-car tires have a far-less square design, meaning more shoulder , meaning less repairable area. This is in order to reduce road tire-patch in the interest of reducing rolling resistance. I wouldn't be surprised if Tesla is adopting something similar.

Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by TrainedMonkey on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:40PM (#23534738)
Fair point, but this is Tesla we are talking about. They will find a way to make price competitive (possibly after failing a few times first).
Re:Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Elec... by mhh__ on Monday June 15, 2020 @08:56PM (#23534835)
The Tires are one of, if not, the least understood things on a car, so I'll believe it when I see it.