Quick answer: Most Tesla Model 3s run 235/45R18 on the 18 inch Aero and Photon wheels, or 235/40R19 on the 19 inch Sport and Nova wheels. The Performance is the exception: it is staggered, with 235/35R20 in front and 275/30R20 at the rear, so you cannot buy four identical tires for it. Check your door pillar label before you order anything.
If you just want a safe default: the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 is the all-rounder most Model 3 owners end up happy with, and the Michelin Primacy MXM4 in 235/45R18 is the tire Tesla itself fits at the factory on 18 inch cars.
Disclosure: TeslaMarkt is reader-supported. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What size tires does a Tesla Model 3 use?
Model 3 tire size depends on the wheel, not the model year. Tesla has used the same three fitments since 2017, and the 2024 Highland refresh did not change them. Find your wheel in the table below.
| Wheel | Trims | Front tire | Rear tire |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 inch Aero / Photon | Standard Range, Long Range, Premium | 235/45R18 | 235/45R18 |
| 19 inch Sport / Nova | Standard Range, Long Range, Premium | 235/40R19 | 235/40R19 |
| 20 inch Warp / Uberturbine | Performance only | 235/35R20 | 275/30R20 |
The staggered setup catches people out. A lot of Model 3 tire guides list only 235/35R20 for the Performance, which is the front size. If you order four of those, the rears are the wrong width. Buy them in pairs: two 235/35R20 for the front axle, two 275/30R20 for the rear.
Your car carries the definitive answer. Open the driver’s door and look at the tire information label on the centre pillar. It lists the fitted size and the recommended cold pressures for your exact car.
Best Tesla Model 3 tires at a glance
| Size | Season | Tire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 235/45R18 | All season | Michelin Primacy MXM4 (Tesla OE) | Check price |
| 235/45R18 | Summer | Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | Check price |
| 235/45R18 | Winter | Continental VikingContact 7 | Check price |
| 235/40R19 | All season | Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 | Check price |
| 235/40R19 | Summer | Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | Check price |
| 235/40R19 | Winter | Continental VikingContact 8 | Check price |
| 235/35R20 front | All season | Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 | Check price |
| 235/35R20 front | Summer | Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | Check price |
| 275/30R20 rear | Summer | Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | Check price |
Best tires for the 18 inch Model 3 (235/45R18)
The 18 inch wheel is the range champion of the Model 3 line. Its taller sidewall soaks up broken pavement, and the narrower contact patch costs less energy than the 19 or 20 inch setups. If you care about range and ride comfort more than cornering grip, this is the wheel to be on.
Tesla OE
235/45R18 · 98W · XL
All season pick: Michelin Primacy MXM4 235/45R18
This is the tire Tesla fits at the factory, so it is the safest choice if you want the car to behave exactly as it did when new. The listing carries the TES marking, which is Michelin’s code for a Tesla original equipment build. OE compounds for EVs are tuned for low rolling resistance and low noise rather than outright grip.
Who it is for: owners who want the factory range figures back and drive in a climate with mild winters.
Who it is not for: anyone who sees real snow. An all season tire is a compromise, and below about 7C its rubber stiffens. If your winters are genuine, buy a winter set instead of asking one tire to do both jobs.
Size235/45R18
Load98 XL
SpeedW
Fits18 inch
- The tire Tesla fits at the factory
- Tuned for low rolling resistance and low noise
- An all season compromise below about 7C
- Not enough for genuine snow
Summer pick
235/45R18 · 98Y · XL
Summer pick: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 235/45ZR18 98Y XL
Fit these if you want the Model 3 to corner like the chassis allows. The Pilot Sport 4S is a max performance summer tire with a Y speed rating and XL (extra load) construction, which matters on an EV because the battery makes a Model 3 heavier than a comparable petrol saloon.
The trade-off is real: a summer tire this soft will wear faster, cost you some range, and is genuinely unsafe near freezing. Treat it as a seasonal tire, not a year-round one.
Size235/45R18
Load98 XL
SpeedY
Fits18 inch
- Sharpest dry grip of the 18 inch picks
- XL casing suits the battery weight
- Genuinely unsafe near freezing
- Wears faster and costs range
Winter pick
235/45R18 · 98T
Winter pick: Continental VikingContact 7 235/45R18 98T
A studless winter tire that trades dry grip for cold weather traction. The T speed rating is lower than the summer and all season options here, which is normal for winter rubber and not a defect. Winter tires work because the compound stays pliable when it is cold, and because the tread is cut with far more biting edges.
Worth knowing: running winter tires costs range. The softer compound and more aggressive tread both add rolling resistance. Expect the hit and plan charging stops accordingly.
Size235/45R18
Load98
SpeedT
Fits18 inch
- Compound stays pliable when it is cold
- Far more biting edges than an all season
- Lower T speed rating
- Adds rolling resistance, so costs range
Best tires for the 19 inch Model 3 (235/40R19)
The 19 inch Sport wheel, and the Nova wheel on the Highland refresh, take 235/40R19. You give up a little range and ride comfort against the 18 inch car and get sharper turn-in and a better look in exchange. This is the size most Model 3 tire guides skip entirely.
All season pick
235/40R19 · 96Y · XL
All season pick: Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 235/40R19 96Y XL
The best single set if you want one tire on the car all year and you live somewhere with mild winters. This is a high performance all season, so it keeps a Y speed rating and XL load construction rather than softening everything for comfort. That suits the Model 3’s weight and instant torque.
Who it is not for: owners in a real snow belt. High performance all season tires prioritise the dry and wet over the frozen.
Size235/40R19
Load96 XL
SpeedY
Fits19 inch
- Keeps a Y speed rating and XL construction
- One set on the car all year in mild winters
- Not for a real snow belt
- Less ultimate grip than a summer tire
Summer pick
235/40R19 · 96Y · XL
Summer pick: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 235/40ZR19 96Y XL
The same max performance summer tire as the 18 inch pick, in the 19 inch size. On a Long Range or Premium AWD car this is the setup that makes the chassis feel finished. Same caveats apply: it is a warm weather tire, it wears faster, and it costs range.
Size235/40R19
Load96 XL
SpeedY
Fits19 inch
- Makes the 19 inch chassis feel finished
- Same max performance compound as the 18 inch pick
- Warm weather only
- Wears faster and costs range
Winter pick
235/40R19 · 96H · XL
Winter pick: Continental VikingContact 8 235/40R19 96H XL
The newer generation of Continental’s studless winter tire, in the 19 inch Model 3 size. The H speed rating is a step up from the older VikingContact 7, so it holds together better at motorway speeds while still being a true winter tire.
A cheaper route: many owners keep the 19 inch wheels for summer and buy a second set of 18 inch wheels for winter tires. The taller 18 inch sidewall survives potholes better, and winter tires in the smaller size usually cost less.
Size235/40R19
Load96 XL
SpeedH
Fits19 inch
- H rating holds up better at motorway speeds
- Newer generation than the VikingContact 7
- Winter use only
- A second set of 18 inch wheels is often cheaper
Best tires for the Model 3 Performance (235/35R20 front, 275/30R20 rear)
Read this before you order. The Performance is staggered. The front axle takes 235/35R20 and the rear takes 275/30R20. They are different widths and different profiles, so a set of four identical tires will not fit correctly. Order two of each.
You also cannot rotate front to rear on a staggered car, which means the rears wear out first, usually well before the fronts. Budget for replacing them in pairs on their own schedule.
Front axle: 235/35R20
- Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 235/35ZR20 92Y XL. The natural match for the car’s intent.
- All season: Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 235/35ZR20 92Y XL. Same family, wider temperature window, less ultimate dry grip.
- Winter: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 235/35R20 92W XL.
Rear axle: 275/30R20
Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 275/30ZR20 97Y XL. Pairing the same model front and rear is the right call on a staggered car. Mixing tire models across axles changes how the car breaks traction, and on a rear biased EV that is not something to experiment with.
All season and winter options in 275/30R20 are thin on the ground. If you need year-round capability on a Performance, the common owner solution is a second set of 18 or 19 inch wheels in the square (non-staggered) sizes above, which also gives you far more tire choice.
How to choose tires for a Tesla Model 3
1. Get the size right first
Everything else is preference. Size is not. Read the label on the driver’s door pillar, or read the sidewall of the tire currently on the car. On a Performance, check both axles, because they differ.
2. Load index and XL construction
A Model 3 carries a floor full of battery. Every OE size on this page is an XL (extra load) tire for that reason. Do not drop to a standard load tire to save money, and do not fit a load index below the one on your door label.
3. Pick your season honestly
All season tires are a genuine compromise, not a free win. If you get real snow, two sets (summer plus winter) will outperform one all season set and often last longer in total, because each set only runs half the year.
4. Expect a range trade-off
Grippier and softer means more rolling resistance, which means fewer miles. Going from an OE all season to a max performance summer tire, or to a winter tire, will cost you range. That is the deal, and it is worth it when the tire matches the conditions.
5. T0 and TES markings are optional, not required
A T0 or TES code on the sidewall means the tire is an original equipment build specified for Tesla, usually with foam inside to cut road noise and a compound tuned for range. It is a nice thing to have, not a requirement. Any correctly sized tire with the right load index and speed rating is a legitimate fit.
Tesla Model 3 tires: frequently asked questions
What tires come on a Tesla Model 3 from the factory?
It depends on the wheel. 18 inch Aero and Photon wheels come with 235/45R18, and 19 inch Sport and Nova wheels come with 235/40R19. The Performance comes staggered on 20 inch wheels, with 235/35R20 at the front and 275/30R20 at the rear. Michelin supplies much of the original equipment, often with a TES or T0 sidewall marking.
Are Tesla approved tires required for the Model 3?
No. T0 and TES marked tires are original equipment builds tuned for Tesla, usually with noise-damping foam and a low rolling resistance compound, but they are not mandatory. Any tire in the correct size, with a load index and speed rating at least equal to the door pillar label, is a legitimate fit.
Can I put four of the same tire on a Model 3 Performance?
No. The Model 3 Performance is staggered: 235/35R20 on the front axle and 275/30R20 on the rear. Four identical tires will not fit correctly. Buy them in pairs, and note that you cannot rotate front to rear, so the rears wear out first.
What are the best winter tires for a Tesla Model 3?
In 235/45R18 the Continental VikingContact 7 is a proven studless winter tire, and in 235/40R19 the newer VikingContact 8 carries a higher H speed rating. On a Performance, most owners fit a second set of 18 or 19 inch wheels for winter rather than trying to source staggered 20 inch winter tires.
Do tires affect Tesla Model 3 range?
Yes, noticeably. Rolling resistance is one of the biggest levers on real world range. The 18 inch setup is the most efficient of the three, and switching from an efficiency-focused all season tire to a max performance summer or a winter tire will cost you miles. Correct tire pressure matters just as much.
Did the Highland refresh change Model 3 tire sizes?
No. The 2024 Highland refresh kept the same three fitments: 235/45R18, 235/40R19, and the staggered 235/35R20 with 275/30R20 on the Performance. The 19 inch wheel is called Nova on the Highland, but the tire size is unchanged.
