Top 10 Best Tires for Tesla Model 3: Latest Options

The automotive industry is slowly shifting toward electric powertrains, and Tesla is at the forefront. I’m particularly talking about the Model 3 sedan, which is the brand’s most successful car and one that pushed EVs to the masses.

However, electric vehicles brought many challenges; the charging infrastructure is, of course, the main one (though Tesla’s Supercharger network is great), but there is also another challenge that’s directly correlated to safety, and that’s the tires.

See, EVs can be very taxing to tires due to several reasons. For starters, they are much heavier than regular internal-combustion vehicles due to the massive battery packs.

Moreover, EVs are generally more powerful and accelerate much more quickly off the line, which creates additional pressure on the tires.

The Model 3 is one of the lightest EVs on sale, but it’s still heavier than comparable combustion cars. It is very fast, though, and its electric motors provide instant tire-shredding tire off the line.

Hence, you really need to be picky when choosing tires for your Model 3, as they need to be stiff enough to carry the additional weight while providing enough traction for acceleration, braking, and cornering.

And, let’s not forget – EV tires also need to have low-rolling-resistance qualities, as you surely won’t want your range to suffer when installing new tires. Also, it would help if the tires were quieter since EVs don’t have an engine to cover the road noise.

Truthfully, there aren’t many tires that are ready to cope with all those things. But there is no need to worry, as I cherrypicked the best tires for Tesla Model 3 that do most of those things.

And unlike other lists, I divided the tires into groups, as some types work better with the less powerful Standard Range and Long Range models, while others work better with the Performance rocket ship.

Specifically, in this list, you’ll find grand-touring all-season tires that are focused on delivering higher levels of comfort and durability, performance all-season tires for year-round driving fun, performance summer tires for the absolute best grip, and winter performance tires for Model 3 that encounter a lot of snow and ice.

Before we get into more detail, I must stress that Tesla offers tire and wheel combos that it says are developed specifically for the Model 3. Indeed, these tires were developed together with the EV, but they are also very expensive, i.e., you can buy a cheaper set through our affiliate partners.

So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the best Tesla Model 3 tires currently available on the market!

Top 10 Best Tires for Tesla Model 3 Available in 2024

1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

Best Performance Summer Tires for Tesla Model 3

Currently, there is no better Tesla Model 3 tire than the one the EV comes with from the factory. Okay, the tires that Tesla uses are an older model, but that means you’ll get even better performance from the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S!

Notably, this is the only max-performance tire available on the market that successfully combines performance and comfort, which is important for EV owners. The Pilot Sport 4S is very comfortable over bumps and remains quiet on the highway, unlike many other max-performance tires.

Now, the comfortable nature of this tire did cut some of the responsiveness – the steering isn’t as fast as some other performance tires. Nonetheless, it is still more urgent than on a regular touring tire, and frankly, I think most Tesla Model 3 owners won’t ever have an issue with it.

More importantly, the Pilot Sport 4S provides exceptional acceleration and braking in dry conditions, accompanied by extremely high levels of lateral grip.

The tire also performs strongly in rainy conditions – the acceleration and braking are top-notch, and the handling is balanced and predictable, even at the limit.

Finally, Michelin provides a 30,000-mile treadwear warranty on the Pilot Sport 4S. That might not seem like much, but this is the only max-performance tire available on the market that comes with any warranty, which is a very strong selling point, and especially important for Model 3 owners, as EVs seem to wear their tires faster!

2. Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Best Performance Summer Tires for Tesla Model 3

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport is a recent addition to the max-performance category, and as always the case with Potenza tires, it focuses largely on delivering the best possible traction and grip on dry and wet surfaces.

Indeed, the Potenza Sport provides exceptional grip on dry roads, even approaching track-tire levels. The longitudinal traction is also outstanding, meaning you’ll never have issues accelerating swiftly, and the stopping distances are very short.

I am also a big fan of how this tire feels behind the wheel; the Potenza Sport is super responsive and very communicative, making every drive a much more enjoyable endeavor.

And although it’s very responsive, the steering remains linear, making it very easy to place your Model 3 into any corner.

Furthermore, the Potenza Sport is a very capable wet tire, with strong acceleration and braking and outstanding grip.

However, the fast steering makes it harder to drive in wet conditions, as the rear tires can’t keep up, and your Model 3 could oversteer a bit. Still, EVs are generally more planted thanks to those quick-reacting electric motors, so that shouldn’t be an issue here.

The real downside of the Potenza Sport is comfort – this is not a particularly smooth tire over bumps, and there is definitely tread growl over rough tarmac. Nonetheless, both issues are evident only when you compare it to its rivals, like the Pilot Sport 4S.

3. Continental ExtremeContact Sport

Best Performance Summer Tires for Tesla Model 3

Unlike the two previous tires, the Continental ExtremeContact Sport successfully combines a comfortable ride with responsive steering, which is not a small feat. Namely, the steering is linear and communicative with fairly fast responses, while the ride remains smooth on broken surfaces.

Like many other Continental tires, the ExtremeContact Sport is a real beast in wet conditions, providing excellent braking, strong acceleration, and exceptional grip in the corners. The tire is also impressively easy to control in the rain, thanks to the predictable and balanced behavior.

The tire continues to impress on the dry track, where it provides the shortest braking distances in the category, accompanied by strong acceleration and excellent lateral grip. The ExtremeContact Sport grips the road so well that it’s ready for track use, though I guess most Model 3 owners will never do that.

The only gripe I have with this tire is the noise, which is evident even at lower speeds, and might become tiring at higher speeds. But I guess that’s a small price to pay for the performance you get!

4. Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)

Best Performance Summer Tires for Tesla Model 3

The Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) rounds out my list of the best performance summer tires for the Tesla Model 3. Much like all of its rivals, Pirelli’s high-end product provides balanced performance throughout while mixing it with solid comfort.

Notably, this is one of the few tires that combines that much grip with a smooth and quiet ride. While the comfort levels aren’t as good as on a touring tire, they are still much better than most tires in this category and might be super important for a Model 3 owner.

And much like any other P Zero tire, the PZ4 doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance. Actually, it provides the highest lateral grip on a wet tarmac in its category, accompanied by very balanced handling at the limit.

Furthermore, the dry grip and braking are among the best in the category, and you won’t have issues with acceleration out of a corner. However, if I was nitpicking, the steering is a bid dead on center and generally less responsive than its main rivals.

5. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus

Best Performance All-Season Tires for Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 only comes with summer tires from the factory, with optional winter tires. However, you can put a set of performance all-season tires on your Model 3 and forget about replacing them during the winter.

And the best such tire currently available is the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus. Continental’s latest performance all-season tire provides a very strong cornering grip on dry roads, accompanied by very strong braking and acceleration.

The ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus continues to impress in rainy conditions, where it provides best-in-class lateral grip and braking.

Continental also did a great job improving the winter abilities – the handling on light snow is balanced, and the traction is very solid, particularly for a performance all-season tire.

Unlike most other performance tires, the DWS 06 Plus is also very comfortable over bumps and remains quiet on the highway, though by doing that, Continental seems to have dulled the responses a bit. On the bright side, this tire comes with an exceptional 50,000-mile treadwear warranty.

From performance to durability and comfort, quiet on the highway, the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus is one of the few best tires for Tesla Model 3 that you should put it on your shortlist.

6. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

Best Performance All-Season Tires for Tesla Model 3

The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 was my favorite UHP all-season tire before the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus came out, primarily because it provides that urgent and quick steering that enthusiasts love.

The responsive nature is accompanied by very high levels of grip and traction on both dry and wet surfaces. The Pilot Sport All Season 4 is also easy to control at the limit and provides very short braking distances on dry and wet tarmac.

I was also impressed by how this tire handles wintry conditions; the light snow traction is excellent for an all-season tire, with solid braking and balanced handling.

However, this is not the most comfortable tire out there, as the ride can be harsh over broken surfaces, and the tread noise is more noticeable than on the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus, for instance.

The Pilot Sport All Season 4 comes with a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is more than good enough for the category.

7. Michelin CrossClimate 2

Best Grand-Touring All-Season Tires for Tesla Model 3 Standard Range and Long Range

If you aren’t a driver that uses the performance capabilities of the Model 3, a grand-touring all-season tire might be a great option. The CrossClimate 2 is the best all-season/all-weather tire currently on the market, as it provides excellent performance in every climate.

This is a tire that works well on dry roads, with grip levels and braking close to a summer tire. The wet traction and handling are also very impressive for the category, but the light-snow traction is what sets the CrossClimate 2 apart. This is a tire that can truly work in wintry conditions, with almost winter-tire-like drivability.

The CrossClimate 2 is also much quieter than any performance tire, and although the ride is harsh by touring-tire standards, it’s still smoother than most on this list.

Finally, the 60,000-mile treadwear warranty is average for the category but still better than performance tires.

8. Continental PureContact LS

Best Grand-Touring All-Season Tires for Tesla Model 3 Standard Range and Long Range

The PureContact LS doesn’t have a Severe Snow rating like the CrossClimate 2, but it’s still a very capable light-snow tire, with good overall traction and predictable handling.

Furthermore, the PureContact LS is excellent on dry roads, where it provides safe traction and solid cornering grip. Rain is also not an issue with this tire, as it provides very short stopping distances and handles corners with relative ease.

In terms of comfort, the PureContact LS is firm over bumps but still very much better than any performance tire, and it’s fairly quiet. The only real gripe I have is the slower steering response, which is quite evident when compared to other tires on this list.

Still, Continental provides a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is the best on this list.

9. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Best Winter Tires for Tesla Model 3

The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is a performance winter tire, meaning it’s designed to offer sharp handling on dry (and cold) tarmac, along with strong snow traction.

Indeed, Pirelli’s performance winter tire is super-sharp and provides strong traction and grip on dry roads while also working very well on wet roads and slush.

The snow traction is also very strong – certainly better than any all-season tire but slightly worse than the class-leading tires. Still, I think that most people will be completely satisfied with how this tire handles wintry conditions, as the handling is very predictable.

As for comfort, the ride is reasonably smooth considering the sharp responses of the tire, but you’ll definitely hear more tread noise.

10. Vredestein Wintrac Pro

Best Budget Winter Tires for Tesla Model 3

The Wintrac Pro is a budget-friendly performance winter tire that works quite well on snow, with strong acceleration and braking and balanced handling. The ice braking is worse, though, but still better than any all-season/all-weather tire.

Vredestein did a great job with the dry and wet performance, too – the Wintrac Pro grips the road quite well and provides short stopping distances.

The tire is also supremely comfortable, as it irons out most bumps with ease – important for Model 3 owners, as Tesla’s sedan isn’t particularly known for its comfortable ride.

However, the Wintrac Pro isn’t particularly quiet, and it’s not as responsive as the Sottozero 3. Still, both are normal for a winter tire, so no biggie here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What are the main requirements of an EV tire?

An EV tire needs to do many more things efficiently, as electric cars perform differently than regular internal-combustion cars.

For starters, these tires should have stiffer sidewalls and a higher load index to cope with the added battery weight and the superior torque from electric motors. 

Furthermore, the tread should be capable of delivering a high amount of grip under load and at higher temperatures, as EVs can accelerate much more quickly.

Meanwhile, desired qualities are low friction, which translates to a higher range (better efficiency), and low-noise operation, since EVs have a quieter powertrain.

Finally, an EV tire should have long treadlife because it will be subjected to the higher weight and torquey motors daily, both wearing out the tire.

• What’s the minimum load index that’s acceptable for the Tesla Model 3 tires?

Tesla doesn’t specify the minimum load index for its Tesla Model 3 tires, and to make things even more confusing, the company puts 92 load index tires on its Performance model’s 20-inch wheels and 98 load index tires on its Standard Range’s 18-inch wheels.

I guess Tesla chose those ratings because they were available at the moment and/or increased the profits for the company.

In my calculations, the minimum load rating you should go for is 95, meaning one tire can carry 1,521 lb (710 kg) of weight, translating to 6,084 lb (2,840). Since the Model 3 weighs 4,037 lb (1,831 kg) and has a carrying capacity of 892 lb (404 kg), those tires should do just fine.

However, if you regularly carry heavy cargo on board, you might want to choose 98 load index (XL) or higher for greater leeway.

• What’s the correct tire pressure on my Tesla Model 3?

Tesla recommends a 45-psi pressure on all four (cold) tires, which is higher than on a regular internal-combustion vehicle, where the pressures usually range between 32-35 psi.

But, remember that the Model 3 is heavier and has very powerful electric motors, so the higher pressure is there to cope with those additional loads.

However, I recommend checking the sticker on the driver-side door’s frame, as Tesla frequently changes the correct tire pressure to increase the range of performance/comfort. Notably, in some Model 3’s, the company might recommend a tire pressure of 42 psi.

Conclusion

Purchasing EV tires isn’t as straightforward as you’d expect, and you probably learned by now, they are succumbed to higher stress throughout their lifetime. Still, all products I chose in this list can easily cope with the Model 3’s performance and weight, providing you with quality motoring year-round!

My list above is a great way to start when choosing the best tires for Tesla Model 3, but I’ll leave the final decision to you!