While I thought it could be repaired I am no tire expert and so I followed what the tech recommended to be safe. I know yes the tires are expensive. However if I had non OEM tires then Tesla would take a lot longer and are required to replace 2 tires at the same time rather then just one. Benefit of sticking to OEM is ability to just change one tire and convenience of using Tesla Roadside Service for a quick and easy fix.
That screw is about 1" from the edge. Better to spend $300, than 10 min. putting a plug in it. How many miles on that tire? Would likely last until it was time to change them all. Of course with all of your TH-cam money, you can afford it.
I'm in Houston. I had a slow leak. Found the nearest Discount Tire store by asking for it using the button on the steering wheel. The car showed me a Discount Tire about 3 miles away. Went there and told them my problem. I waited about 30 minutes for them to get to me. They found a large piece of glass that went through the tire. They repaired it and brought the car around. I asked how much I owed and they told me they don't charger simple leaks. I 've driven for 2 months now with no problem. A delightful experience. Thanks Discount Tire!
I do tire repair professionally, and as many others have mentioned this could easily have been fixed, and the fix would have outlived the tire. This was NOT too close to the sidewall.
Agreed, that seems like it was repairable. I would have driven it to the local tire shop and gotten it patched for $25 as opposed to spending $374 for a new tire.
I can't see having a car without a spare and the ability to change it myself. I know there are people who haven't a clue how ,but there are those of us who do and can.
agreed but you need to stop shaking your fist at clouds. This is the future of all cars. First it was the donut and now they just skip it altogether. Until someone actually stole it overnight from my driveway, I had my 20 year old Dodge Dakota's spare on there the whole time and never had the occasion to use it. I'm sure after 20 years the thief will find out the tire is useless. I'm hoping Tesla will be the first to provide those cool looking airless tires on all of the vehicles shortly. It would set off Tesla from the pack - AGAIN.
@@dzerres that airless tech has been developed and tested. we now need a manufacturer to do as you suggested. that would be another nail in the coffin of leading the industry. and even more of a maintenance free automobile
Then buy another wheel and keep it in the trunk. You probably can't use a smaller wheel though because of the weight of the car, so that'll take a lot of trunk space.
I could really see them on the cybertruck, afterall , Elon said that the cybertruck was going to Mars and that's one place you dont want to get a flat, not to mention the moon.
@@danielrichards9138 mars will be an unmanned vehicle. There will be nobody to replace the tires, so a spare will be useless. They'll be more likely to use airless tires. The gravity is different there, so tire pressures will be different. There also aren't any nails or things that are likely to puncture the tires there, so other than replacing worn out tires, not sure what they'd do with it. On Mars, they'll most likely use a smaller battery pack with solar for weight reduction, though it'll be lighter on Mars regardless.
I had a very similar experience after owning my Model 3 Performance for a few days. Hit a pot hole in a rural area. Tire couldn’t be fixed due to sidewall damage. The mechanic arrived within the hour, offered me some cold water and I was on my way in about 25 minutes. Tire price was comparable to what you would pay elsewhere. All in all it was a very pleasant experience.
Carry a repair kit with mini compressor. Slime makes a good all. In one kit. It's easy and saves both time and money. Plus it's nice to just know how to do stuff on your own. Could been back on the road in 20 minute's. Really is easy to do.
I didn’t realize Tesla would fix the tires with a mobile unit, so i took my flat to a nearby Tire Pros tire center. Though the nail was in the center of the tread, they told me the tesla tires can’t be repaired (because of the foam inside) and I’d have to replace the tire. After adding on a warranty they didn’t tell me they were adding, they charged me $425 for the new tire plus warranty. AND they gave my personal information to Carfax, including my name, email, VIN, etc. Moral of the story-if it’s a problem with your Tesla, keep it with Tesla. Raj: thanks for posting this. I wish I’d known!
A tire place also at first didn't want to patch a tire for my Model 3, but I talked them into it. The total cost was $20, and several months later, I've had no further issues with the tire.
I had the exact tire puncture (drive front, about the same location on the tire) on my Model 3SR+ in August 2019, except that the tire was able to maintain air pressure. I called Tesla roadside and after they confirmed that the car was still driveable, they recommended that I visited the service center right away. The next day, I dropped by the Tesla Fremont SC without an appointment. A service advisor inspected the tire and told me that they would not fix it but he also asked me to go to Les Schwab Tires as he sent another Model X customer there the day before. Les Schwab patched the tire free of charge and it had been six months since. The tire has been holding up well.
I had the same thing happen. I just patched it with a $10 tire patch kit from autozone. It was losing air the first week, but after some 0-60 runs it sealed itself up. 15,000 miles and patch still holding! If it’ll hold for another 10,000 miles I’ll be happy as it’ll be time for new tires then.
Thank you Raj for your video. This is exactly the way it all worked for me in Tampa. The only thing that we all need to know is that there is another possible outcome from this. When the service truck replaces your tire with a loaner, you can tell them that you want to keep your damage tire and then you take it to a tire center of your choosing and have them sell you a new tire. Then, within 3 days, you return the loaner tire to Tesla. This way, you can save $$$ even when you replace the tire for an identical one.
My wife has a model x and realized there was no spare when she got her first flat. Had to have it towed to a discount tire which Tesla covered because it was under warranty. We later found the same size rim/bolt pattern so we can change out a flat quickly and not have to wait on someone else to show up. Plus if your not around a major city good luck finding a service company within an hour and a 20” tire in stock. Still a great informative video!
I used to work with a guy who would trade in his car when it was time for the first oil change. He did this so often, and lost so much value on his cars that he was always way underwater on the loans. It got so bad, he had to take a second mortgage out on his house. Yeah, he was an idiot. He wouldn't even try and haggle with the dealership on getting a deal. No one understood what was going through his head.
I swear, that "sidewall" area tire shops keep defining is getting closer and closer to the middle of the tire. It used to be physically on the side of the tire. Now two inches in can still be defined as "sidewall". They know if they call it sidewall, you're forced to make a choice to either have them replace for $400 or waste your entire day to head to WalMart or most tire places to get it patched for $25 (or free at American Tires). I swear the sidewall will be in the middle of the tire in 10 years.
Look at 6:42 The damage to the inner sidewall material is clear. Its not the shops definition its what is on the inside of the tire. Blame the manufacturer for building such a large shoulder on the tire, not the tech who examined it.
My tesla has a slow leak on one tire. I am going to replace tires next year so I am so far living with it. I really want to throw in some slime but I am afraid of it coagulating with the inner foam lining. :( Any thoughts? Let me guess, throw money at it?
I also had a great experience with Tesla roadside assistance when I hit a pot hole and took out 2 tires and 1 wheel. My car had to be towed and Tesla got a tow truck there in about 1 hour and I was not charged anything for the tow 🤑
It is 100% fixable of course but most reputable shops would not put their business on the line to save you $300. It is easily within 1" of the sidewall and is a no go for most places.
currently working at discount tire for about 2 years now. We would of put a plug and patch. You can see it close to that dark line where the tire actually curves into the sidewall. if it was on that line we wouldnt do it. In this case after plugging up the hole and buffing the tire on the inside, we would just adhere a patch offset so it stays away from the curving sidewall area. I'm sure the dudes decision really comes down to him being more uncomfortable fixing it then anything else. or maybe they really are trained to not fix it if its that close.
@Chris P Bacon The screw that he showed in the beginning of the video was not where the hole is shown at the point you mentioned in the video... I suspect foul play
This just happened to me here in Honolulu. Actually contacted roadside assistance with the app. Received a call from a tow company within 5-10 mins and they were here within 30 mins to tow the car with a flatbed. Rode with the driver to the Tesla service center and was in and out within an hour. Cause of the flat, like Raj's, was a screw - but mine was thankfully repairable. $70 later, I am back on the road. Not sure why they went with the service center option instead of the repair vehicle, but I imagine it has to do with scarcity resources on the island. All in all a good experience.
With a slow leak like that, I would have aired it up to say 50 or 55 psi and then driven it to a tire repair facility nearby for their assessment. That looks repairable to me. If they said it wasn't repairable you then have some options.
had a similar experience when my drivetrain blew on the interstate heading to a funeral. They picked it up within an hour or so without me needing to be there. Offered me any car to drive in the meantime but I was 2 hours from the service center and I'm sure if I'd asked they would have brought me one. 4 days later flatbed dropped off my repaired model 3. Happy with the response considering the guy I spoke with was really more concerned with getting me to the funeral than the logistics of getting the car fixed which was awesome and much appreciated. BTW, I keep a tire repair kit and pump for when that day comes for me
@@donbrloks3959 $0.00 - Nuttin'. Drivetrain is under warranty. They even offered to get me an Uber/rideshare for free but we already had relative nearby. Great service I must say
John G If my newish ice vehicle broke done i would be livid. Good thing that's never happened. And no, it isn't rare for teslas to leave you stranded. They have the worst reliability of ALL major car manufacturers. And once these vehicles become older and break down even more, and the warranty is no longer there and the astronomical repair bills have to be paid by the owner, i'm sure they'll realize...WAIT! What am i talking about, tesla owners have shown so far that they are unable to see the truth before their eyes. They'll just hand wave it away and say "they fixed it in only two weeks and it only cost me $9,000 bucks!"
@@stupidas9466 Guess you've never owned a BMW 3 series or a Jaguar, lol. Not sure where you're getting they have the least reliability of all major cars. Did you read something from back in 2018 when they were ramping up the Model 3? Motor Trend and Consumer Reports wouIdn't rate it so high if it sucked. I suggest at least renting one for a few days. I'll never own a gas car as a primary driver ever again. If I need a truck, I'll rent a truck. But I'm sure not going to buy something that gets 16-20 MPG just to have something to haul stuff when my friends ask me to help them move. I get 133 MPGe. 2 main moving parts. No emissions crap. No coolant, O2 sensors, fuel injectors work from crap gas, hoses, catalytic converters, oil changes, air filters etc. Just wiper blades, washer fluid and eventually brake pads because of the regen. Just rent or borrow one and you'll see why Tesla owners don't seem so stupid too you after all.
Got a flat tire yesterday. Since I drove it from the freeway to the off ramp, I think I caused damage to the tire. Tech recommended replacement. Waited two hours and paid $343. Tech was great but wait was a little long. Not his fault as they need additional techs. It’s a Tesla Model 3 with 19” tires. Stay away from the 20” size tires as potholes destroy those.
Hey Raj, little over a week ago I had a similar situation with a nail in almost the same spot on the L/H rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Tire. I thought it could be repaired. Thank goodness I wasn’t losing air pressure. However; after taking it to 2 different America’s Tire Shops, I was disappointed it couldn’t be repaired. Using the Roadside Assistance on the Tesla App, uploaded pictures and quite quickly a Tesla Rep contacted me. Unfortunately, Tesla couldn’t repair the Tire, so had to purchase a new replacement - not a cheap Tire I might add. However, Tesla Mobile Service was prompt, professional & saved the day!
You can buy a ‘tire (tyre) plug repair kit’ off eBay and repair it yourself in 5 minutes. As long as the hole is in the tread not the side wall then you’ll be fine
Times have changed....did not have service truck so the offered to flatbed it to service facility but could not give a fix time as the do not have tires in stock and don't have an ETA when they will.
My experience in rural NC was different than Raj's Bay Area experience. When I had a flat late one night, the Tesla mobile service guy texted to say they would have to put my car on a flatbed and take it to a service center in Charlotte (an hour's drive away). No offer to fix the tire. I said never mind and gently drove the car a half-mile to a Discount Tire, where I left it overnight (I was close enough to home that my son picked me up). Another thing; the Tesla branded $85 tire repair kit did not work when I plugged it into the 12V outlet! Still love the car though!!
Had to use this service twice. Just recently it was the exact same experience as TRaj. About year ago was a little different. Prices about double compared to say America Tire, but there is the convience factor as well to consider. Would use service again, but I'm looking into getting a spare tire too. With spare I can be back on the road in half the time... easily. Also consider that if you do not have cellular service you are really SOL.
I had the same situation with Costco. They didn’t want to repair it since it was on the last strip of tread and they deemed it unsafe to fix. I ended up going to a small tire shop down the street and they patched it for $15. This was on a Yukon.
Same thing happened to me. Since I already had a second set of tires from Costco, I just pumped up the tire and slowly drove it to Costco tire shop. With the road hazard warranty, the new tire was under 100 bucks. Done in an hour...
Great service but I have had tires patched or plugged for over 40 years and that tire looked very fixable since it was clearly on the tread of the tire and not on the sidewall.......I don’t believe a new tire was necessary and $370 is an insane price for one tire.
Going through exact same screw on my left rear though and same $$ tesla can’t fix but you damn lucky to have had tesla mobile fix - in my case had to go through loaner tire for about a week and finally have my appointment to go swap for a new one .
I'm watching this video while sitting at discount tire. Free But I will tip like always. My concern is if you go on a road trip and you get a flat in the middle of nowhere. Thanks for the video.
Yes discovered discount tire after this video and now all my tires are covered by them. Discount and America tire are under the same umbrella so you should be good but will need a tow service
Man that is great. I'm in the market for an EV and Tesla has moved to the top of my list. I thought having access to their charging network and over the air updates was impressive. This is so on point.
Had this happen to my model 3 a month ago. I live in a major US city 30 mins from the city center and the roadside tire repair vehicle wasn’t available in my location so they have a 3rd party company who is Tesla trained come and install a loaner tire and rim. It’s the same tire and rim that was on my car but they intentionally discolor the rim with paint or stickers so that you are more likely to come back immediately after your tire is repaired. The 3rd party company takes your tire to Tesla for evaluating if it’s repairable. I was told the screw needs to be on the middle 3 treads (It was). You then have to make an appointment via the app. Usually takes 2 weeks in my area. And then you go in to swap out the tire and pay for the repair service. I was told if the tire was not repairable that you have to pay the full cost of the tire because it’s not manufactured by Tesla thus not covered. Take what you would think that tire costs and multiply it by 3. They are extremely expensive!
I keep a tire patch/plug kit....also a slime/ compressor kit...a scissor jack ( good luck using a plug kit if its flat on the ground)....have tesla service and roadside assistance through my insurance
Wow, you got ripped off! I could have plugged that tire in 15 mins max. Thanks for the video! If I get a screw in my tire in my Model 3, I am either going to fix it myself or take it to Discount Tire. That tire was totally repairable, now you have tires with uneven thread in the front.
UK experience. I had no response at all from Tesla. Called Green Flag who trailered me home, and I'm now waiting for a mobile tyre replacement guy to arrive (5 days!) later.
Hello Raj. All Tesla owners should carry a plug kit, a compressor and a can of fix a flat in the car. It's crazy to be stranded due to a screw in your tire when you can easily fix it yourself. And then there's the cost. Crazy to spend $300 to replace a perfectly good tire. You can do it!!!
I never though of mobile service as a game changer, but after seeing this video it might actually be. The last emergency we had involved two tow trucks, a repair shop and several family members, and a lot of forms. My penultimate repair cost me a day driving around for insurance quotes and a lot of paper work. This seems easier.
So I'm a tow truck driver and my company is the preferred provider for Tesla in Chicago, I do about 3 tire changes for Tesla a week, we keep a bank of tires and bring them to the customer.
Yeah, I would say just repair it yourself. The kit cost like $6 from Walmart and you can fix 5 holes. Trust me that tire was repairable, since it is not on the side of the tire. I had experience with this last year in Texas. I got a flat tire on my corolla for the first time in 5years and went to get it repaired and they told me they won't do it because it was too close to the side of the tire so they could not warranty it. I call two other different places and they all say the same thing. So I bought my $6 kit and patch it my self. I have being driving on those tires for another 10,000 miles and I have taken that car up to 80mph in areas were the speed limit has allow and the kit work great.
Had the same thing happen to me last Summer. Unfortunately the service was not as good. Roadside came out and put on a loaner tire and took my tire in for inspection. 2 weeks later I got a call from Tesla service saying the nail was in the shoulder of the tire and it was not repairable. They did not have my tire in stock and had to order it. Another week later I went in and had the loaner swapped out for a new tire. $350 expense less than 2 months after purchase. Don’t look for warranty coverage to pick this up, there is none.
That tyre is totally repairable. This has long turned into a scam by the tyre repair shops because they have the car and you have no option but to do what they say. Get a repair kit and pump and would had been on your way in 20mins
Nice video, thanks for showing the mobile tire service van. Unfortunately I had the opposite experience and not a pleasant one. A few months after owning a model 3, in the middle of a highway near Providence RI, the TPMS chimed warning me of a flat left rear tire. So I pulled over to the shoulder. Yup, it had a tear on the sidewall. So I called Tesla roadside assistance. The unfortunate thing was this happened on a Saturday evening. The only available option was to tow it to the nearest service center. Since my home is the opposite direction, the service center closer to home is 50 miles $200 dollar away. So I towed it there. But the big problem here was my two passengers. The tow truck can only fit me in the truck. So I had to use ride-sharing option. Uber was not responding. Lyft did. Have you ever called Lyft or Uber from a highway shoulder? They are not made to do this. It took several loops between exits for the driver to reach us. Needless to say, after that experience I now carry a tire plug kit and a portable pump. I also bought a lift jack to rotate my tires. A couple days ago I got a nail in my tire, a little closer to the middle than your screw. Slow leak, so I could drive it home. Now I have the practice experience plugging my tire myself. It was not as easy as many videos showed me, but I did it in less than an hour with the stuff I already have. The hardest part was reaming the nail hole. Luckily I was home, I took a shortcut and used my power drill instead. I now wonder if I should carry a small power drill in the car, especially since I don't have a jack for the road. After 2 days, the tire pressure held steady at 42 psi, so I am pleased with this experience.
This video was AWESOME. I don't own a Tesla yet (still debating if I should get 3 or Y) and I was deeply concern about the lack of an emergency tire. Now I'm two times more excited. Thank you.
Had someone hit a curb or pothole with Model 3 and the tire got pinched and there was a bubble in the sidewall. Sure, you THINK it's no big deal until the bubble bursts under high pressure and you have a blowout at speed "Pray you, avoid it." -W. Shakespeare
I just had this happen to me on I65 north of Nashville, TN. Hit some really big potholes, pinched two tires and damaged both rims on passenger side. One of the tires was bad enough to make car not drivable, which maybe was a good thing or I might have been tempted to keep driving. Both tires were bulging where they were pinched.
To me that tire is totally repairable, i had a similar screw in the same area on one of my tires and the dealership (not tesla) said i needed a new tire. Went to fire stone, guy looked at it and said he can patch it for free but hes busy till tomorrow. Thanked him and headed down to discount tire as i needed it done that day. Discount tire looked at it and also agreed it was fixable and patched it for free. Gave them 40 for a tip and was on my way. The whole argument about “structural integrity” of the tire when a nail is on the side wall is valid but as long as its half way into the first patch of tread your fine and repairable. I honestly feel like “tire” guys made the bs about only repairing tires in the middle third of the tire.
Thanks for documenting your experience. Our Model 3 is the first vehicle I’ve ever owned without a spare. I’ve gotten enough flats over the years to know your experience will be mine someday. Here’s hoping I’m the one driving and not my wife and that Tesla Raleigh can loan me a spare so I can take my tire myself to Discount Tire for repair or replacement.
Ugh! I just got a flat yesterday on my Model 3,.. Tesla sent a 3rd party tow truck to bring me a loan tire and he was there in 40min he took my flat tire to the Tesla service center. I know it can't be repaired because the cut was in the sidewall of the tire. I just got the car January 2020, only 2700 miles on it. Thanks for the video, I guess I better brake open my piggy bank.
For those of you who are willing and able to change a flat tire to a spare below are the spare rim/tire specs. Model 3 fits the spare tire from a Genesis 2015-2019, 18x4 rim with 5X114.3mm PCD Bolt Pattern and 64.1mm center hole. Tire Size- T135/80R18.
I had a similar situation last night. I was coming off of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge around 12:30AM heading to the North Bay when I got a flat tire on Model X. I pulled over and contacted Tesla.....an hour later they still could not find a provider which sucked. I got a tow through my auto insurance 2 hours later. I live in Petaluma which is outside of the Tesla tire mobile service area.....the entire experience was a nightmare!!
$700? Personally I carry Slime and a pump to get me home, then use a plug kit. Cost about $10. If you are worried about the size of the screw, most tire shops will take off the tire and patch it for $30.
Thx for sharing Raj. Unfortunately, I also had a flat on my Tesla & I had purchased the new Michelin Pilot sport A/S 4. The Tesla technician refused to put in on my car because it wasn’t the stock summer tire! 🤬 Makes no sense to me! 🤦🏻♂️
Great video and service by Tesla! Although, I was surprised Tesla Roadside Assistance call center closed the ticket when it was handed off to the mobile repair team
Alexandre J. Tourville, I was wondering about that too. The instructions should be to close the ticket only when the customer reports it solved. Alternatively if the repair guy reports it solved.
@@ruirodtube Yes, that's SOP in good customer care. The original recipient of the call, the person of first contact, takes ownership of the problem until it's resolved. Otherwise, it becomes open to the blame game if the shit hits the fan.
A wonderful endorsement of Tesla Mobil service. Great if you are in California. But zero help in most of the USA where the nearest mobile service or dealer is more than a two hundred miles away. Driving the interstate highway, I would have preferred a trunk or frunk design that accommodated a spare tire on an optional basis. I am concerned about the possibility of a flat on my Tesla on the interstate in upstate New York and even after the car is flat bedded to a tire shop, the wait (next day plus hotel) for a specialized Tesla tire. I have experienced damaged, cut tires on my ICE car with northeast potholes, both tires at once on one occasion. But replacement tire were readily available and almost any tire shop.
What you do is, have your TH-cam business pay for a new tire if it can't be repaired. Most Tesla Service won't do repairs at all. Costco and reputable tire place will repair. ONLY do plug and a patch. It's the only tire industry approved repair and on a high performance, high torque, Tesla, you don't want to screw around.
Discount Tire Co. is where I get my tires from. They have this nifty thing where if I get a nail in my tire, they replace or repair it, FOR FREE... as long as you have the insurance on the tires, WHICH I highly recommend, it’s only about $100 or so when you’re buying the tires. You can use it as much as you need until the tread is near replaceable levels.
Also in your video the screw was in the tread's repairable area but the guy showed you a hole in the side wall. Maybe you got ripped off unless the new tire was free.
I had a similar issues, they told me that the tire could not be repaired even thou the nail was about inch and a quarter from the wall, but that seems to be the case now days every time I get a flat tire, Tesla or any other tire place, they always want to sell you a new tire, I used to get them repaired all the time before but now it seems no one wants to repair them, I guess increase their profits. They sent me a loaner tire and it took about hour and a half wait for it, then I went to the service center 3 days later to swap the loaner tire for a new tire, that was about a 40 minute wait.
Flat tires seem to be pretty common with Tesla’s, not sure why. I’ve had one flat in decades of driving other vehicles. The problem with calling Tesla for a flat is if you’re in an area with no cell coverage you’re stuck. And if you can contact Tesla, they usually use a third party service, like a tow truck service.
The same thing happen to me few months back but I drove to my near tires shop the repaired for $35 dollars. I honestly don't see the need to call Tesla service for that.
That screw didn't look anywhere close to the sidewall in the video from the outside. When you showed the spot inside, I found it hard to believe it was the same spot since outside it looked obviously in the tread pattern. I carry a plug kit with me and would have probably plugged it and been on my way within 15 minutes tops or just added air from my small portable compressor and dealt with it at home. Good information anyway as many owners may not be as prepared and need to know this stuff.
@@isthatatesla Thanks for the link. You can never be too safe so following the advice in the video is the prudent thing to do. Guess all those years of repairing with a plug kit, I was just lucky to not have a mishap and will keep that in mind if I have a flat in the future.
Going on a long trip through the middle of nowhere in Nevada with my new Model S (well new to me anyway). I am not certain there's phone reception at all to call for help. Even if I can call the nearest town would be hours away. So, to prepare for in case of a flat I bought a scissor jack, jack puck (so the jack doesn't damage the undercarriage), foldable tire iron, a portable compressor (previously owned), a patch kit and a compact spare from a BMW X3 (from a junkyard). Total less than $200. I have changed a few spare tires on the side of the road so I have practice. My thinking is this should be a whole lot cheaper and likely will save my behind if I do get a flat way out there. I don't intend to carry the spare around town but will likely carry the patch kit and compressor. And if I am around town and got a flat I would patch and air just enough to limp to the nearest repair place. I think that's much cheaper and time saved than having to call service. I would only call Tesla service or AAA if I have a complete blowout and my tire is shredded, or my drive unit fails.
I'm going to call BS on not being repairable at least from what I could see. It's close but I definitely would have plugged the tire on the car as I have done a few times over the years with 100 percent success.
Great video. My fear of having a flat is less now knowing this. But how about Tesla’s cameras finding the nails on the road and steering it to have the nail hit the center of the tire? 🤣🤣🤣
You got had man. That gets repaired all the time with patches. If I were in your situation, I would just plug it with Autozone kit and within 20 minutes be on the road again.
Sad that Tesla fan boys think getting back on the road in an 1 1/2 for a flat is awesome, It usually takes me about 10 minutes, and as others have posted this would only work in California
I know hard to believe, but most E-cars will not have a spare in order to save on weight which extends travel distance between charges. As well as more space in passenger compartment and/or trunk space. My Chevy Volt had a can of fix a flat and a compressor rather than a spare! I would prefer a spare tire, jack, and tire iron but that is how they come.
Supposedly they are trying to save weight and get better MPG from gas cars, and MPkWH for electrics. You would think that Tesla would at the very least have run flat tires as standard equipment. Not sure how much fun it would be waiting east of L.A. in the desert for a tire repair. Last time I was through there it was 112 degrees F.
@@mikepicard5437 - How often have you had a flat while on the road? Bet not often. Not worth the extra fuel or electric charge carrying around that 30+ lb spare.
I keep a slime repair kit and a tire inflator in the trunk. It saved me from a nail on one occasion. I'm really not sure why that tire couldn't be repaired - it didn't look too close to the edge to me.
You're lucky you live in an area with that service. Yesterday we had a flat, used the app to report it. Got a text within a couple minutes. They dispatched a third party with a "loaner" tire. Tesla said they would arrive in 60 min, it was 1:45 but that OK because we were home. You have to sign an e-sign an agreement about the loaner, saying you have to pay for it if it is not returned (that's reasonable). Also that if any damages occur to your Tesla resulting from the use of the loaner tire, that Tesla is not responsible (?that's reasonable?). I would hope that if Tesla approves the third party to come out and make the swap, there should be some responsibility on their behalf if the service does it wrong. The earliest appointment I could get was 5 days from now to have the loaner returned and get the tire back. I have yet to hear if it can be fixed and how much this will cost. Tesla repair does state that I will get an e-mail prior to the appointment that will spell that out. The question I have is what if we were traveling and this occurred. Is it better to be towed to a Service Center to maybe get a rush on the fix? If they put a loaner on, would I have to spend an extra 5 days somewhere while this is getting fixed? It's hard to know when you can't call someone and talk through the details, you just have the app to report things.
You didn't mention to the not Tesla viewer that Tesla cars do not come with any spare tire! I own a Tesla S and carry a repair kit and 12 Volt pump. I can fix a tread nail in less time that it took Tesla to get there. What I wonder is what do they charge if the repair can be fixed and what did you pay for them to put the tire on? I really doubt that it was free and you made no mention.
Please lobby for the following upgrades to Model 3: 1) Have Display show both the Energy percentage & Distance mileage simultaneously. 2) Ability to turn on front camera at slow driving speeds & when parking. 3) "Bird's Eye View" Leaf has ALL of these!
Tesla mobile service took a month to come rotate my tires and they told me I needed 2 new tires which was Bs... I only had 16k miles ... I went to a regular tire shop.. and they showed me the wear indicator on my tires were still good... looks like you could of had a plug instead of a replacement...it was in the middle.. not outside of tire... FYI you should of told him you were recording him on the phone
Coming from owning a BMW and switching from the run-flats to more comfortable quieter tires, I invested in a $30 portable pump that plugs into your car and a flat repair kit. For a flat like in the video, would have fixed it easily.
I had a similar experience. In my case Tesla service said they would take my car to wherever I want to be repaired. I had a spare and asked them to install my spare but they did not so I used road side assistance of my insurance company.
Did he give you the option of repair at your own risk? The screw was not on the sidewall, but there are rules about how close to the sidewall one should repair.
I love this video, and I love how you made it so relatable. It seems like everything weird happens after we drop our kids off at school. There are so many unique and different things about Tesla. Your videos make things easier, with an already amazing vehicle 🚗! (p.s. I have a white M3 too & I 🧡it!)
What you do is drive slowly to a tire-repair shop -- "Navigate to the nearest tire store." It would not have been dangerous to drive at slow speed a short distance on a tire inflated to 20 psi. If you're in an urban location, as it appears, you probably could have had it repaired before the nice Tesla Ranger got there. If the tire pressure declined on the way, you could always stop and call the Ranger; it would have been worth a try, and it probably would have worked.. And that sure didn't look too close to the sidewall to simply repair. It's gotten to the point at which if the the puncture is not right in the center of the tread, they'll trot out the advice to replace the tire. It takes a good deal of arm strength to plug a puncture like that; at my age I'd probably cuss a lot before I was finished, but I'd have taken the repair kit out of my trunk, inserted a plug, and used the 12V inflator to get enough pressure to drive slowly to a service station where I could inflate fully and test the integrity of my repair. But the responsiveness of Tesla mobile service is laudable
While I thought it could be repaired I am no tire expert and so I followed what the tech recommended to be safe. I know yes the tires are expensive. However if I had non OEM tires then Tesla would take a lot longer and are required to replace 2 tires at the same time rather then just one. Benefit of sticking to OEM is ability to just change one tire and convenience of using Tesla Roadside Service for a quick and easy fix.
Close to edge usually isn't repairable. Not sure the measurement.
That screw is about 1" from the edge. Better to spend $300, than 10 min. putting a plug in it. How many miles on that tire? Would likely last until it was time to change them all.
Of course with all of your TH-cam money, you can afford it.
Hey Raj, why is it ok to replace only 1 tire if you have oem tires?
How did you get red brakes?
Performance models have red calipers.
I'm in Houston. I had a slow leak. Found the nearest Discount Tire store by asking for it using the button on the steering wheel. The car showed me a Discount Tire about 3 miles away. Went there and told them my problem. I waited about 30 minutes for them to get to me. They found a large piece of glass that went through the tire. They repaired it and brought the car around. I asked how much I owed and they told me they don't charger simple leaks. I 've driven for 2 months now with no problem. A delightful experience. Thanks Discount Tire!
I do tire repair professionally, and as many others have mentioned this could easily have been fixed, and the fix would have outlived the tire.
This was NOT too close to the sidewall.
They have to pay for that expensive truck somehow. :)
Agreed, that seems like it was repairable. I would have driven it to the local tire shop and gotten it patched for $25 as opposed to spending $374 for a new tire.
I was going to say the same same. He was scammed.
@@MrD215we were scammed, a planned puncture, it’s an advertisement!😂
I completely agree with you...thats total Bullshit...no way....totally repairable....100%
I can't see having a car without a spare and the ability to change it myself.
I know there are people who haven't a clue how ,but there are those of us who do and can.
agreed but you need to stop shaking your fist at clouds. This is the future of all cars. First it was the donut and now they just skip it altogether. Until someone actually stole it overnight from my driveway, I had my 20 year old Dodge Dakota's spare on there the whole time and never had the occasion to use it. I'm sure after 20 years the thief will find out the tire is useless. I'm hoping Tesla will be the first to provide those cool looking airless tires on all of the vehicles shortly. It would set off Tesla from the pack - AGAIN.
@@dzerres that airless tech has been developed and tested. we now need a manufacturer to do as you suggested. that would be another nail in the coffin of leading the industry. and even more of a maintenance free automobile
Then buy another wheel and keep it in the trunk. You probably can't use a smaller wheel though because of the weight of the car, so that'll take a lot of trunk space.
I could really see them on the cybertruck, afterall , Elon said that the cybertruck was going to Mars and that's one place you dont want to get a flat, not to mention the moon.
@@danielrichards9138 mars will be an unmanned vehicle. There will be nobody to replace the tires, so a spare will be useless. They'll be more likely to use airless tires. The gravity is different there, so tire pressures will be different. There also aren't any nails or things that are likely to puncture the tires there, so other than replacing worn out tires, not sure what they'd do with it. On Mars, they'll most likely use a smaller battery pack with solar for weight reduction, though it'll be lighter on Mars regardless.
I had a very similar experience after owning my Model 3 Performance for a few days. Hit a pot hole in a rural area. Tire couldn’t be fixed due to sidewall damage. The mechanic arrived within the hour, offered me some cold water and I was on my way in about 25 minutes. Tire price was comparable to what you would pay elsewhere. All in all it was a very pleasant experience.
Carry a repair kit with mini compressor. Slime makes a good all. In one kit. It's easy and saves both time and money. Plus it's nice to just know how to do stuff on your own. Could been back on the road in 20 minute's. Really is easy to do.
I didn’t realize Tesla would fix the tires with a mobile unit, so i took my flat to a nearby Tire Pros tire center. Though the nail was in the center of the tread, they told me the tesla tires can’t be repaired (because of the foam inside) and I’d have to replace the tire. After adding on a warranty they didn’t tell me they were adding, they charged me $425 for the new tire plus warranty. AND they gave my personal information to Carfax, including my name, email, VIN, etc. Moral of the story-if it’s a problem with your Tesla, keep it with Tesla. Raj: thanks for posting this. I wish I’d known!
George Roukas So, you’re saying NO Tesla OEM tire can be fixed? That’s CRA-CRA!!!
George Roukas What a racket! That tire should’ve been plugged.
A tire place also at first didn't want to patch a tire for my Model 3, but I talked them into it. The total cost was $20, and several months later, I've had no further issues with the tire.
I had the exact tire puncture (drive front, about the same location on the tire) on my Model 3SR+ in August 2019, except that the tire was able to maintain air pressure. I called Tesla roadside and after they confirmed that the car was still driveable, they recommended that I visited the service center right away. The next day, I dropped by the Tesla Fremont SC without an appointment. A service advisor inspected the tire and told me that they would not fix it but he also asked me to go to Les Schwab Tires as he sent another Model X customer there the day before. Les Schwab patched the tire free of charge and it had been six months since. The tire has been holding up well.
I had the same thing happen. I just patched it with a $10 tire patch kit from autozone. It was losing air the first week, but after some 0-60 runs it sealed itself up. 15,000 miles and patch still holding! If it’ll hold for another 10,000 miles I’ll be happy as it’ll be time for new tires then.
Thank you Raj for your video. This is exactly the way it all worked for me in Tampa. The only thing that we all need to know is that there is another possible outcome from this. When the service truck replaces your tire with a loaner, you can tell them that you want to keep your damage tire and then you take it to a tire center of your choosing and have them sell you a new tire. Then, within 3 days, you return the loaner tire to Tesla. This way, you can save $$$ even when you replace the tire for an identical one.
Great idea. I give my $ contribution 😅
My wife has a model x and realized there was no spare when she got her first flat. Had to have it towed to a discount tire which Tesla covered because it was under warranty. We later found the same size rim/bolt pattern so we can change out a flat quickly and not have to wait on someone else to show up. Plus if your not around a major city good luck finding a service company within an hour and a 20” tire in stock. Still a great informative video!
Where did you find the spare?
@@barberenforcement172 EBay then had a used 20” tire mounted on it.
when I get a flat tire I usually just go straight to the dealership and trade in the car
Ok Millennial. Then call 40 people and post about it on social media, right?
@@diytwoincollege7079 I think he's being facetious and snarky. lol
I will at least wait until it needs a carwash
😂😂😂
I used to work with a guy who would trade in his car when it was time for the first oil change. He did this so often, and lost so much value on his cars that he was always way underwater on the loans. It got so bad, he had to take a second mortgage out on his house. Yeah, he was an idiot. He wouldn't even try and haggle with the dealership on getting a deal. No one understood what was going through his head.
I’m confused, the screw was well inside the tread area, but then it was on the sidewall?
The sidewall wraps around a bit. It’s not just the side if the tire.
I swear, that "sidewall" area tire shops keep defining is getting closer and closer to the middle of the tire. It used to be physically on the side of the tire. Now two inches in can still be defined as "sidewall". They know if they call it sidewall, you're forced to make a choice to either have them replace for $400 or waste your entire day to head to WalMart or most tire places to get it patched for $25 (or free at American Tires).
I swear the sidewall will be in the middle of the tire in 10 years.
Look at 6:42 The damage to the inner sidewall material is clear. Its not the shops definition its what is on the inside of the tire. Blame the manufacturer for building such a large shoulder on the tire, not the tech who examined it.
My tesla has a slow leak on one tire. I am going to replace tires next year so I am so far living with it. I really want to throw in some slime but I am afraid of it coagulating with the inner foam lining. :(
Any thoughts? Let me guess, throw money at it?
@@wally123ish The foam will prevent slime from working well. Get it patched, discount tire will do that for free.
I also had a great experience with Tesla roadside assistance when I hit a pot hole and took out 2 tires and 1 wheel. My car had to be towed and Tesla got a tow truck there in about 1 hour and I was not charged anything for the tow 🤑
Thank you SO much for posting this. As an older female, I dread getting a flat tire. Really appreciate being shown what one does when this happens.
If you haven't had one yet Bobbie, you're golden!
Run flat tires are a good option but are pricey.
I think you got screwed. That tire looked repairable to me. I have had nails in my tire in that position and have had them repaired no problems
The dude showed where it came out on the inside of the tire and it was on the sidewall. Just.
It was next to the sound dampening pad inside the tire. Just plug it and be on your way.
It is 100% fixable of course but most reputable shops would not put their business on the line to save you $300. It is easily within 1" of the sidewall and is a no go for most places.
currently working at discount tire for about 2 years now. We would of put a plug and patch. You can see it close to that dark line where the tire actually curves into the sidewall. if it was on that line we wouldnt do it. In this case after plugging up the hole and buffing the tire on the inside, we would just adhere a patch offset so it stays away from the curving sidewall area. I'm sure the dudes decision really comes down to him being more uncomfortable fixing it then anything else. or maybe they really are trained to not fix it if its that close.
@Chris P Bacon The screw that he showed in the beginning of the video was not where the hole is shown at the point you mentioned in the video... I suspect foul play
This just happened to me here in Honolulu. Actually contacted roadside assistance with the app. Received a call from a tow company within 5-10 mins and they were here within 30 mins to tow the car with a flatbed. Rode with the driver to the Tesla service center and was in and out within an hour. Cause of the flat, like Raj's, was a screw - but mine was thankfully repairable. $70 later, I am back on the road. Not sure why they went with the service center option instead of the repair vehicle, but I imagine it has to do with scarcity resources on the island. All in all a good experience.
Thanks Raj. I always wondered how that would work since we don’t carry around a spare tire like most other cars have. Great info.
With a slow leak like that, I would have aired it up to say 50 or 55 psi and then driven it to a tire repair facility nearby for their assessment. That looks repairable to me. If they said it wasn't repairable you then have some options.
had a similar experience when my drivetrain blew on the interstate heading to a funeral. They picked it up within an hour or so without me needing to be there. Offered me any car to drive in the meantime but I was 2 hours from the service center and I'm sure if I'd asked they would have brought me one. 4 days later flatbed dropped off my repaired model 3. Happy with the response considering the guy I spoke with was really more concerned with getting me to the funeral than the logistics of getting the car fixed which was awesome and much appreciated. BTW, I keep a tire repair kit and pump for when that day comes for me
BitwiseGuy haven’t heard of others going so not really an issue. I just got lucky I guess lol
How much did that cost?
@@donbrloks3959 $0.00 - Nuttin'. Drivetrain is under warranty. They even offered to get me an Uber/rideshare for free but we already had relative nearby. Great service I must say
John G If my newish ice vehicle broke done i would be livid. Good thing that's never happened. And no, it isn't rare for teslas to leave you stranded. They have the worst reliability of ALL major car manufacturers. And once these vehicles become older and break down even more, and the warranty is no longer there and the astronomical repair bills have to be paid by the owner, i'm sure they'll realize...WAIT! What am i talking about, tesla owners have shown so far that they are unable to see the truth before their eyes. They'll just hand wave it away and say "they fixed it in only two weeks and it only cost me $9,000 bucks!"
@@stupidas9466 Guess you've never owned a BMW 3 series or a Jaguar, lol. Not sure where you're getting they have the least reliability of all major cars. Did you read something from back in 2018 when they were ramping up the Model 3? Motor Trend and Consumer Reports wouIdn't rate it so high if it sucked. I suggest at least renting one for a few days. I'll never own a gas car as a primary driver ever again. If I need a truck, I'll rent a truck. But I'm sure not going to buy something that gets 16-20 MPG just to have something to haul stuff when my friends ask me to help them move. I get 133 MPGe. 2 main moving parts. No emissions crap. No coolant, O2 sensors, fuel injectors work from crap gas, hoses, catalytic converters, oil changes, air filters etc. Just wiper blades, washer fluid and eventually brake pads because of the regen.
Just rent or borrow one and you'll see why Tesla owners don't seem so stupid too you after all.
Got a flat tire yesterday. Since I drove it from the freeway to the off ramp, I think I caused damage to the tire. Tech recommended replacement. Waited two hours and paid $343. Tech was great but wait was a little long. Not his fault as they need additional techs. It’s a Tesla Model 3 with 19” tires. Stay away from the 20” size tires as potholes destroy those.
Literally did this a few days ago with my wife’s car. Fortunately her car was drivable and the leak was very slow. Same exact spot in the tread.
did you repair or replace?
Tesla Raj we were able to fix it for $20
Hey Raj, little over a week ago I had a similar situation with a nail in almost the same spot on the L/H rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Tire. I thought it could be repaired. Thank goodness I wasn’t losing air pressure. However; after taking it to 2 different America’s Tire Shops, I was disappointed it couldn’t be repaired. Using the Roadside Assistance on the Tesla App, uploaded pictures and quite quickly a Tesla Rep contacted me. Unfortunately, Tesla couldn’t repair the Tire, so had to purchase a new replacement - not a cheap Tire I might add. However, Tesla Mobile Service was prompt, professional & saved the day!
You can buy a ‘tire (tyre) plug repair kit’ off eBay and repair it yourself in 5 minutes. As long as the hole is in the tread not the side wall then you’ll be fine
Times have changed....did not have service truck so the offered to flatbed it to service facility but could not give a fix time as the do not have tires in stock and don't have an ETA when they will.
My experience in rural NC was different than Raj's Bay Area experience. When I had a flat late one night, the Tesla mobile service guy texted to say they would have to put my car on a flatbed and take it to a service center in Charlotte (an hour's drive away). No offer to fix the tire. I said never mind and gently drove the car a half-mile to a Discount Tire, where I left it overnight (I was close enough to home that my son picked me up). Another thing; the Tesla branded $85 tire repair kit did not work when I plugged it into the 12V outlet! Still love the car though!!
Had to use this service twice. Just recently it was the exact same experience as TRaj. About year ago was a little different. Prices about double compared to say America Tire, but there is the convience factor as well to consider. Would use service again, but I'm looking into getting a spare tire too. With spare I can be back on the road in half the time... easily. Also consider that if you do not have cellular service you are really SOL.
Man, you were ripped off. That screw damage was repairable. Most places could have repaired it for about $20.
but who wants to go there?
He’s a dope!
Who wants to go there? To save money!
This.
I had the same situation with Costco. They didn’t want to repair it since it was on the last strip of tread and they deemed it unsafe to fix. I ended up going to a small tire shop down the street and they patched it for $15. This was on a Yukon.
No because Tesla has a special tire
Same thing happened to me. Since I already had a second set of tires from Costco, I just pumped up the tire and slowly drove it to Costco tire shop. With the road hazard warranty, the new tire was under 100 bucks. Done in an hour...
Great service but I have had tires patched or plugged for over 40 years and that tire looked very fixable since it was clearly on the tread of the tire and not on the sidewall.......I don’t believe a new tire was necessary and $370 is an insane price for one tire.
Going through exact same screw on my left rear though and same $$ tesla can’t fix but you damn lucky to have had tesla mobile fix - in my case had to go through loaner tire for about a week and finally have my appointment to go swap for a new one .
I'm watching this video while sitting at discount tire. Free But I will tip like always. My concern is if you go on a road trip and you get a flat in the middle of nowhere. Thanks for the video.
Yes discovered discount tire after this video and now all my tires are covered by them. Discount and America tire are under the same umbrella so you should be good but will need a tow service
Man that is great. I'm in the market for an EV and Tesla has moved to the top of my list. I thought having access to their charging network and over the air updates was impressive. This is so on point.
Had this happen to my model 3 a month ago. I live in a major US city 30 mins from the city center and the roadside tire repair vehicle wasn’t available in my location so they have a 3rd party company who is Tesla trained come and install a loaner tire and rim. It’s the same tire and rim that was on my car but they intentionally discolor the rim with paint or stickers so that you are more likely to come back immediately after your tire is repaired. The 3rd party company takes your tire to Tesla for evaluating if it’s repairable. I was told the screw needs to be on the middle 3 treads (It was). You then have to make an appointment via the app. Usually takes 2 weeks in my area. And then you go in to swap out the tire and pay for the repair service. I was told if the tire was not repairable that you have to pay the full cost of the tire because it’s not manufactured by Tesla thus not covered. Take what you would think that tire costs and multiply it by 3. They are extremely expensive!
I keep a tire patch/plug kit....also a slime/ compressor kit...a scissor jack ( good luck using a plug kit if its flat on the ground)....have tesla service and roadside assistance through my insurance
Wow, you got ripped off! I could have plugged that tire in 15 mins max. Thanks for the video! If I get a screw in my tire in my Model 3, I am either going to fix it myself or take it to Discount Tire. That tire was totally repairable, now you have tires with uneven thread in the front.
Yas and it’s the front tire so you done even need to take he wheel off. Just turn the wheel to expose it.
David DiStefano exactly!
www.tireindustry.org/tire-safety-starts-proper-tire-repair
NO
"tread"
Tire repair kit comes in very handy if you're without cell coverage.
Wow that was a pretty great experience if not a bit expensive
agreed. great experience that didnt require me to talk or come out to my car at all albeit expensive oh well.
UK experience. I had no response at all from Tesla. Called Green Flag who trailered me home, and I'm now waiting for a mobile tyre replacement guy to arrive (5 days!) later.
Hello Raj. All Tesla owners should carry a plug kit, a compressor and a can of fix a flat in the car. It's crazy to be stranded due to a screw in your tire when you can easily fix it yourself. And then there's the cost. Crazy to spend $300 to replace a perfectly good tire. You can do it!!!
You also bring 12 volt air compressor to top it off just temporary to get you to safer place, even to your home.
I never though of mobile service as a game changer, but after seeing this video it might actually be. The last emergency we had involved two tow trucks, a repair shop and several family members, and a lot of forms. My penultimate repair cost me a day driving around for insurance quotes and a lot of paper work. This seems easier.
I hope your last 'emergency' wasn't a flat tire!
So I'm a tow truck driver and my company is the preferred provider for Tesla in Chicago, I do about 3 tire changes for Tesla a week, we keep a bank of tires and bring them to the customer.
Yeah, I would say just repair it yourself. The kit cost like $6 from Walmart and you can fix 5 holes. Trust me that tire was repairable, since it is not on the side of the tire.
I had experience with this last year in Texas. I got a flat tire on my corolla for the first time in 5years and went to get it repaired and they told me they won't do it because it was too close to the side of the tire so they could not warranty it. I call two other different places and they all say the same thing. So I bought my $6 kit and patch it my self. I have being driving on those tires for another 10,000 miles and I have taken that car up to 80mph in areas were the speed limit has allow and the kit work great.
Had the same thing happen to me last Summer. Unfortunately the service was not as good. Roadside came out and put on a loaner tire and took my tire in for inspection. 2 weeks later I got a call from Tesla service saying the nail was in the shoulder of the tire and it was not repairable. They did not have my tire in stock and had to order it. Another week later I went in and had the loaner swapped out for a new tire. $350 expense less than 2 months after purchase. Don’t look for warranty coverage to pick this up, there is none.
That tyre is totally repairable. This has long turned into a scam by the tyre repair shops because they have the car and you have no option but to do what they say. Get a repair kit and pump and would had been on your way in 20mins
Nice video, thanks for showing the mobile tire service van. Unfortunately I had the opposite experience and not a pleasant one. A few months after owning a model 3, in the middle of a highway near Providence RI, the TPMS chimed warning me of a flat left rear tire. So I pulled over to the shoulder. Yup, it had a tear on the sidewall. So I called Tesla roadside assistance. The unfortunate thing was this happened on a Saturday evening. The only available option was to tow it to the nearest service center. Since my home is the opposite direction, the service center closer to home is 50 miles $200 dollar away. So I towed it there. But the big problem here was my two passengers. The tow truck can only fit me in the truck. So I had to use ride-sharing option. Uber was not responding. Lyft did. Have you ever called Lyft or Uber from a highway shoulder? They are not made to do this. It took several loops between exits for the driver to reach us.
Needless to say, after that experience I now carry a tire plug kit and a portable pump. I also bought a lift jack to rotate my tires. A couple days ago I got a nail in my tire, a little closer to the middle than your screw. Slow leak, so I could drive it home. Now I have the practice experience plugging my tire myself. It was not as easy as many videos showed me, but I did it in less than an hour with the stuff I already have. The hardest part was reaming the nail hole. Luckily I was home, I took a shortcut and used my power drill instead. I now wonder if I should carry a small power drill in the car, especially since I don't have a jack for the road. After 2 days, the tire pressure held steady at 42 psi, so I am pleased with this experience.
I carry a plug kit, small air compressor and I bought a Stance Magic Complete spare wheel and tire kit on Amazon for long trips.
This video was AWESOME. I don't own a Tesla yet (still debating if I should get 3 or Y) and I was deeply concern about the lack of an emergency tire. Now I'm two times more excited. Thank you.
that's on par to AAA I used several months ago when my GMC Acadia picked up a nail on a road trip 400 miles from my house.
I carry a plug kit and a compressor. I’ve done like 4 plugs on my model 3
Amen.
Had someone hit a curb or pothole with Model 3 and the tire got pinched and there was a bubble in the sidewall. Sure, you THINK it's no big deal until the bubble bursts under high pressure and you have a blowout at speed
"Pray you, avoid it."
-W. Shakespeare
I just had this happen to me on I65 north of Nashville, TN. Hit some really big potholes, pinched two tires and damaged both rims on passenger side. One of the tires was bad enough to make car not drivable, which maybe was a good thing or I might have been tempted to keep driving. Both tires were bulging where they were pinched.
To me that tire is totally repairable, i had a similar screw in the same area on one of my tires and the dealership (not tesla) said i needed a new tire.
Went to fire stone, guy looked at it and said he can patch it for free but hes busy till tomorrow. Thanked him and headed down to discount tire as i needed it done that day. Discount tire looked at it and also agreed it was fixable and patched it for free. Gave them 40 for a tip and was on my way.
The whole argument about “structural integrity” of the tire when a nail is on the side wall is valid but as long as its half way into the first patch of tread your fine and repairable. I honestly feel like “tire” guys made the bs about only repairing tires in the middle third of the tire.
Thanks for documenting your experience. Our Model 3 is the first vehicle I’ve ever owned without a spare. I’ve gotten enough flats over the years to know your experience will be mine someday. Here’s hoping I’m the one driving and not my wife and that Tesla Raleigh can loan me a spare so I can take my tire myself to Discount Tire for repair or replacement.
Ugh! I just got a flat yesterday on my Model 3,.. Tesla sent a 3rd party tow truck to bring me a loan tire and he was there in 40min he took my flat tire to the Tesla service center. I know it can't be repaired because the cut was in the sidewall of the tire. I just got the car January 2020, only 2700 miles on it. Thanks for the video, I guess I better brake open my piggy bank.
Wow thanks for showing pictures of the Tesla tire repair truck that was impressive.
Thank you SO much for posting this. I was just looking at tire repair kits, jacks, air compressors, etc.
For those of you who are willing and able to change a flat tire to a spare below are the spare rim/tire specs. Model 3 fits the spare tire from a Genesis 2015-2019, 18x4 rim with 5X114.3mm PCD Bolt Pattern and 64.1mm center hole. Tire Size- T135/80R18.
I had a similar situation last night. I was coming off of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge around 12:30AM heading to the North Bay when I got a flat tire on Model X. I pulled over and contacted Tesla.....an hour later they still could not find a provider which sucked. I got a tow through my auto insurance 2 hours later. I live in Petaluma which is outside of the Tesla tire mobile service area.....the entire experience was a nightmare!!
$700? Personally I carry Slime and a pump to get me home, then use a plug kit. Cost about $10. If you are worried about the size of the screw, most tire shops will take off the tire and patch it for $30.
Cost was $347 not $700. Yeah I figured it could be plugged but apparently it could because it was in sidewall 🤷🏽♂️ oh well
Just watched this video. Super useful as I just bought a Model Y and was wondering about what to do in case of a flat. Now I know! Thanks!
Appreciate you!
Thx for sharing Raj. Unfortunately, I also had a flat on my Tesla & I had purchased the new Michelin Pilot sport A/S 4. The Tesla technician refused to put in on my car because it wasn’t the stock summer tire! 🤬 Makes no sense to me! 🤦🏻♂️
Had a nail in the same spot. Tesla mobile was able to patch. Not sure why this dude didn't want to patch it.
It wasnt on side wall.. shouldve been easily repaired.. anyway.. where to buy neck pillow? Looks amazing
@@curtisle Ya, he was tricked.
'Not sure why this dude didn't want to patch it' - a $30/$40 patch or $375 new tyre...let me think....
Great video and service by Tesla! Although, I was surprised Tesla Roadside Assistance call center closed the ticket when it was handed off to the mobile repair team
Alexandre J. Tourville, I was wondering about that too. The instructions should be to close the ticket only when the customer reports it solved. Alternatively if the repair guy reports it solved.
@@ruirodtube Yes, that's SOP in good customer care. The original recipient of the call, the person of first contact, takes ownership of the problem until it's resolved.
Otherwise, it becomes open to the blame game if the shit hits the fan.
A wonderful endorsement of Tesla Mobil service. Great if you are in California. But zero help in most of the USA where the nearest mobile service or dealer is more than a two hundred miles away. Driving the interstate highway, I would have preferred a trunk or frunk design that accommodated a spare tire on an optional basis. I am concerned about the possibility of a flat on my Tesla on the interstate in upstate New York and even after the car is flat bedded to a tire shop, the wait (next day plus hotel) for a specialized Tesla tire. I have experienced damaged, cut tires on my ICE car with northeast potholes, both tires at once on one occasion. But replacement tire were readily available and almost any tire shop.
3:13 should probably be ”loan WHEEL” not loan tyre. The tyre is the black rubber bit while the wheel is the rim AND tyre combined into one unit.
What you do is, have your TH-cam business pay for a new tire if it can't be repaired. Most Tesla Service won't do repairs at all. Costco and reputable tire place will repair. ONLY do plug and a patch. It's the only tire industry approved repair and on a high performance, high torque, Tesla, you don't want to screw around.
Sorry to say, That's it! Tesla got you. That tire is repairable, average patch repair $25. You did keep the old tire right?
Discount Tire Co. is where I get my tires from. They have this nifty thing where if I get a nail in my tire, they replace or repair it, FOR FREE... as long as you have the insurance on the tires, WHICH I highly recommend, it’s only about $100 or so when you’re buying the tires. You can use it as much as you need until the tread is near replaceable levels.
Also in your video the screw was in the tread's repairable area but the guy showed you a hole in the side wall. Maybe you got ripped off unless the new tire was free.
I had a similar issues, they told me that the tire could not be repaired even thou the nail was about inch and a quarter from the wall, but that seems to be the case now days every time I get a flat tire, Tesla or any other tire place, they always want to sell you a new tire, I used to get them repaired all the time before but now it seems no one wants to repair them, I guess increase their profits. They sent me a loaner tire and it took about hour and a half wait for it, then I went to the service center 3 days later to swap the loaner tire for a new tire, that was about a 40 minute wait.
Amazing. I hope we get that service in New Zealand.
Flat tires seem to be pretty common with Tesla’s, not sure why. I’ve had one flat in decades of driving other vehicles. The problem with calling Tesla for a flat is if you’re in an area with no cell coverage you’re stuck. And if you can contact Tesla, they usually use a third party service, like a tow truck service.
The same thing happen to me few months back but I drove to my near tires shop the repaired for $35 dollars. I honestly don't see the need to call Tesla service for that.
Most shops do it for free.
The Cybertruck will have plenty of space for a spare and alligator jack.
That screw didn't look anywhere close to the sidewall in the video from the outside. When you showed the spot inside, I found it hard to believe it was the same spot since outside it looked obviously in the tread pattern. I carry a plug kit with me and would have probably plugged it and been on my way within 15 minutes tops or just added air from my small portable compressor and dealt with it at home. Good information anyway as many owners may not be as prepared and need to know this stuff.
www.tireindustry.org/tire-safety-starts-proper-tire-repair
@@isthatatesla Thanks for the link. You can never be too safe so following the advice in the video is the prudent thing to do. Guess all those years of repairing with a plug kit, I was just lucky to not have a mishap and will keep that in mind if I have a flat in the future.
Going on a long trip through the middle of nowhere in Nevada with my new Model S (well new to me anyway). I am not certain there's phone reception at all to call for help. Even if I can call the nearest town would be hours away. So, to prepare for in case of a flat I bought a scissor jack, jack puck (so the jack doesn't damage the undercarriage), foldable tire iron, a portable compressor (previously owned), a patch kit and a compact spare from a BMW X3 (from a junkyard). Total less than $200. I have changed a few spare tires on the side of the road so I have practice. My thinking is this should be a whole lot cheaper and likely will save my behind if I do get a flat way out there.
I don't intend to carry the spare around town but will likely carry the patch kit and compressor. And if I am around town and got a flat I would patch and air just enough to limp to the nearest repair place. I think that's much cheaper and time saved than having to call service. I would only call Tesla service or AAA if I have a complete blowout and my tire is shredded, or my drive unit fails.
Looks repairable to me. I fixed my own flats. Only a few dollars per fix. Faster then waiting for service.
I'm going to call BS on not being repairable at least from what I could see. It's close but I definitely would have plugged the tire on the car as I have done a few times over the years with 100 percent success.
Probably not going to be quite this quick where I live in rural southeast Iowa but good to see what is possible.
Great video. My fear of having a flat is less now knowing this. But how about Tesla’s cameras finding the nails on the road and steering it to have the nail hit the center of the tire? 🤣🤣🤣
Juan M. That would be amazing
You got had man. That gets repaired all the time with patches. If I were in your situation, I would just plug it with Autozone kit and within 20 minutes be on the road again.
This is awesome, I thought I was going to have to call today. Had some weird vibration on my 2 day old car
Sad that Tesla fan boys think getting back on the road in an 1 1/2 for a flat is awesome, It usually takes me about 10 minutes, and as others have posted this would only work in California
I can’t believe these cars don’t come with a spare. Instead of waiting for an hour an half on RSA, you can change your own tire within 5-10 minutes
and then take it to a shop and wait an hour and a half for them to fix it. I'd rather skip the work and go straight to fixing
My past three cars haven't had a spare anymore, all different brands. It appears to be on the way out.
I know hard to believe, but most E-cars will not have a spare in order to save on weight which extends travel distance between charges. As well as more space in passenger compartment and/or trunk space. My Chevy Volt had a can of fix a flat and a compressor rather than a spare! I would prefer a spare tire, jack, and tire iron but that is how they come.
Supposedly they are trying to save weight and get better MPG from gas cars, and MPkWH for electrics. You would think that Tesla would at the very least have run flat tires as standard equipment. Not sure how much fun it would be waiting east of L.A. in the desert for a tire repair. Last time I was through there it was 112 degrees F.
@@mikepicard5437 - How often have you had a flat while on the road? Bet not often. Not worth the extra fuel or electric charge carrying around that 30+ lb spare.
I keep a slime repair kit and a tire inflator in the trunk. It saved me from a nail on one occasion. I'm really not sure why that tire couldn't be repaired - it didn't look too close to the edge to me.
You're lucky you live in an area with that service. Yesterday we had a flat, used the app to report it. Got a text within a couple minutes. They dispatched a third party with a "loaner" tire. Tesla said they would arrive in 60 min, it was 1:45 but that OK because we were home. You have to sign an e-sign an agreement about the loaner, saying you have to pay for it if it is not returned (that's reasonable). Also that if any damages occur to your Tesla resulting from the use of the loaner tire, that Tesla is not responsible (?that's reasonable?). I would hope that if Tesla approves the third party to come out and make the swap, there should be some responsibility on their behalf if the service does it wrong. The earliest appointment I could get was 5 days from now to have the loaner returned and get the tire back. I have yet to hear if it can be fixed and how much this will cost. Tesla repair does state that I will get an e-mail prior to the appointment that will spell that out. The question I have is what if we were traveling and this occurred. Is it better to be towed to a Service Center to maybe get a rush on the fix? If they put a loaner on, would I have to spend an extra 5 days somewhere while this is getting fixed? It's hard to know when you can't call someone and talk through the details, you just have the app to report things.
You didn't mention to the not Tesla viewer that Tesla cars do not come with any spare tire! I own a Tesla S and carry a repair kit and 12 Volt pump. I can fix a tread nail in less time that it took Tesla to get there. What I wonder is what do they charge if the repair can be fixed and what did you pay for them to put the tire on? I really doubt that it was free and you made no mention.
Please lobby for the following upgrades to Model 3:
1) Have Display show both the Energy percentage & Distance mileage simultaneously.
2) Ability to turn on front camera at slow driving speeds & when parking.
3) "Bird's Eye View"
Leaf has ALL of these!
I never expected I would be sold of of Tesla but you did it bud. I no longer want a tesla. Thanks!
Tesla mobile service took a month to come rotate my tires and they told me I needed 2 new tires which was Bs... I only had 16k miles ... I went to a regular tire shop.. and they showed me the wear indicator on my tires were still good... looks like you could of had a plug instead of a replacement...it was in the middle.. not outside of tire... FYI you should of told him you were recording him on the phone
The same tire at America's tire costs the same. Maybe because its a lower profile 19" and because it has the foam composite inside...
The mobile service van kitted with all the tire balancing and mounting equipment is pretty neat!
when I get a flat I go to the boot and take out the spare, put it on and away I go.
Wait time depends on the area. I'm in NJ.... couldn't get service until next day.
Coming from owning a BMW and switching from the run-flats to more comfortable quieter tires, I invested in a $30 portable pump that plugs into your car and a flat repair kit. For a flat like in the video, would have fixed it easily.
I had a similar experience. In my case Tesla service said they would take my car to wherever I want to be repaired. I had a spare and asked them to install my spare but they did not so I used road side assistance of my insurance company.
$374 for 1 tire?! That would buy almost a full set of new tires for my Prius . Thanks for the video, Tesla's cost of ownership is an eye opener.
Did he give you the option of repair at your own risk? The screw was not on the sidewall, but there are rules about how close to the sidewall one should repair.
nope no option. :(
Tesla Raj I wasn’t there, so I’m sorry that I prejudged the situation.
www.tireindustry.org/tire-safety-starts-proper-tire-repair
I love this video, and I love how you made it so relatable. It seems like everything weird happens after we drop our kids off at school. There are so many unique and different things about Tesla. Your videos make things easier, with an already amazing vehicle 🚗! (p.s. I have a white M3 too & I 🧡it!)
Gail A. Appreciate the kind words Gail
What you do is drive slowly to a tire-repair shop -- "Navigate to the nearest tire store." It would not have been dangerous to drive at slow speed a short distance on a tire inflated to 20 psi. If you're in an urban location, as it appears, you probably could have had it repaired before the nice Tesla Ranger got there. If the tire pressure declined on the way, you could always stop and call the Ranger; it would have been worth a try, and it probably would have worked..
And that sure didn't look too close to the sidewall to simply repair. It's gotten to the point at which if the the puncture is not right in the center of the tread, they'll trot out the advice to replace the tire.
It takes a good deal of arm strength to plug a puncture like that; at my age I'd probably cuss a lot before I was finished, but I'd have taken the repair kit out of my trunk, inserted a plug, and used the 12V inflator to get enough pressure to drive slowly to a service station where I could inflate fully and test the integrity of my repair.
But the responsiveness of Tesla mobile service is laudable
Wow!!! Awesome and fast service! Can’t wait to get my own Tesla!!!