Tesla Model S winter wheels: 19-inch wheel and tyre sets, from the 2012 car to the Plaid

Which Tesla Model S winter wheels fit your car?

On the Model S, generation is what matters: same diameter, but widths and tyres change with the refresh.

Why 19-inch, when some Model S cars leave the factory on 21-inch wheels? In winter, a 19-inch wheel gives a taller sidewall, which shields the rim from snowy kerbs and potholes, and it uses less energy. As a rule of thumb, GreenDrive sees energy use fall by around 5% for every inch of wheel diameter you drop, and the official ratings point the same way. For example, the 2025 Model S Plaid is rated at 348 miles of range on 19-inch wheels against 312 miles on 21-inch (US EPA). The real gap also depends on the tyre, wheel design, speed and temperature. Already have winter tyres? See our alloy wheels for the Tesla Model S. Already have wheels? See our tyres for the Tesla Model S.

Winter tyres on a Model S: UK and Irish rules, and driving to the Alps

In the UK and Ireland, winter tyres on your Model S are recommended, not a legal requirement. The Highway Code’s rules on snow and ice (228 to 231) never mention winter tyres (GOV.UK); the law sets a 1.6 mm minimum tread depth (Highway Code, Annex 6), as in Ireland (AA Ireland).

For a ski trip, France’s Loi Montagne (mountain law) applies from 1 November to 31 March in signed mountain areas: four winter tyres, or chains or snow socks on board, and since November 2024 a winter tyre must carry the 3PMSF symbol (three-peak mountain and snowflake); M+S alone no longer counts (Préfecture de la Savoie). Germany demands alpine-symbol winter tyres in ice, snow, slush or frost (§ 2 StVO, § 36 StVZO). Austria requires winter equipment in wintry conditions from 1 November to 15 April and at least 4 mm of tread (Austrian transport ministry). In Italy, signed roads can require winter tyres or chains on board from 15 November to 15 April (Italian transport ministry).

The winter tyres in our Model S sets carry the 3PMSF symbol; check the marking of any all-season option. On four 3PMSF tyres, your Model S meets these rules without chains, unless a sign calls for them.

What a Model S winter wheel package includes

• 4 alloy wheels, 19-inch with a 5x120 bolt pattern, and their 4 winter tyres; on the Model S 2012–2021 sets, the tyre and the fitting and balancing are selected as add-ons on the product page;
• the tyre: a Tesla-specific winter tyre fitted as standard or a choice of several brands, depending on the product page, in 245/45 R19 for the Model S 2012–2021 and staggered for the refreshed Model S;
• tyre pressure sensors (TPMS) programmed for Tesla, included on most packages, otherwise offered as an option (set of four) on the product page;
• your original Tesla wheel nuts, reusable where the product page says so;
• the type approval stated on the product page: downloadable TÜV certificate, sometimes with an ECE certificate; a Swiss type-approval certificate is available as an option.

After fitting: Tesla’s advice for the Model S

Once the wheels are on, tell the car it is running winter tyres under Service > Wheel & Tire > Tires: this speeds up recalibration, according to the Model S Owner’s Manual.

On chains, Tesla recommends König-type chains, for example the K-Summit XL K55 Max, on 19-inch as on 21-inch wheels; the chains in our chains and equipment for the Tesla Model S category work on the same principle. Fit them to the rear tyres, never on summer tyres, and stay below 48 km/h (30 mph); on 21-inch wheels, the manual restricts them to All-Season tyres. If your Model S has air suspension, set it to Medium and turn off ‘Default Ride Height to Low’ first.

Tesla Model S winter wheels: frequently asked questions

Will winter wheels for a 2012–2021 Model S fit a Model S Plaid?

No. The wheels in our Model S 2012–2021 sets are listed as not compatible with the 2022+ Model S. For a refreshed Long Range or Plaid, choose a set listed for 2021+ (sometimes 2022+); for a 2012 or 2021 car, check the year shown under the product title.

Are tyre pressure sensors included?

On most of our Model S packages, yes: four TPMS sensors programmed for Tesla are included, and your car reads the pressure as soon as the wheels are fitted. When they are not, the product page offers a set of four Model S-compatible sensors as an option, to add to your order.

Do I need winter tyres on a Model S in the UK or Ireland?

They are not required, but they make sense once it turns cold: the Model S manual states that performance summer tyres lose grip below 5 °C (Model S Owner’s Manual). Fit them before the first frosts, and before 1 November if you are heading for the French mountains.

Do all-season tyres meet France’s Loi Montagne?

Yes, provided they carry the 3PMSF symbol. Without it, an all-season tyre marked M+S does not count as a winter tyre, and you need chains or snow socks on board (Préfecture de la Savoie).

Which snow chains for a Model S?

König-type chains, which Tesla recommends (for example the K-Summit XL K55 Max), or our chains for the Model S, which work on the same principle. On 21-inch wheels, the manual restricts chains to All-Season tyres (Model S Owner’s Manual).