Our first flat tyre — part 1
Show 0 more photos Show 5 more photos Hide additional photos
Soon after leaving Gerringong this morning, we noticed in the Tesla’s screen that the rear passenger side tyre had a lower pressure than the others. We have a pump, but it was packed under the boot floor, under all our luggage.
I pulled into the first service station we passed, asked the attendant where the pump was. They pointed to a box in the store room and said they’re waiting for it to be installed. A few kilometers down the road, we found a connected pump at a second service station. But the round gauge (pictured) wasn’t accurate, showing about 20psi more than correct. Just like a Goldilocks story, the third station was “just right”. We pumped up, using the digital settings, drove on, watching the Tesla screen for any reduction.
During the next 100km, the tyres warmed up and increased pressure. Initially it seemed that the previously low pressure tyre might be fine, but then we saw it very slowly drop. I’m guessing it was taking about six hours to lose 10psi. We just kept driving, keeping an eye on the pressure displayed on screen – it’s such a handy feature.
We’ve driven over 120,000km in EVs, with no previous flat tyres. We have had a cracked windscreen, which is statistically more likely.
I checked the tyre, as best I could, for any protrusions, such as an embedded screw, but found nothing.
We made it all the way to Mallacoota, without needing to pump up the tyre again. We will need to pump it up before we leave in the morning. Tonight, after unpacking the car into our accommodation, I will move our pump out from under the boot floor into the boot side pocket, so it’s easy to use and plug into the 12V socket. But that’s tomorrow’s job.
I’ll post updates on this tyre story, including contacting Tesla, and the eventual remedy. Follow us at Tesla Tripping.
Links
- Part 2 — the callout Flat tyre — part 2 (the callout)
- Part 3 — buckled rim and the $1300 quote Flat tyre — part 3 (buckled rim)
Mackay to Wollongong or Mackay to Cairns and my worst nightmare is a flat tyre, we have an electric pump too and touch wood we've never needed it so far.
We have educated three people at Tyrepower (Monto and Gin Gin) who'd never worked on an electric car and had never seen a tyre with actual foam glued inside it. I keep a set of four pucks in the car for jacking, and spare wheel kit comes with one as well. Left front tyre now has two patches while the left rear has a patch/plug.
We have the Michelin pilot sport 5's on our car now, no foam but there isn't too much difference noise wise, handle really well in the rain.
I might reconsider 🤔
And don't use the Tesla flat trye kit unless you absolutely have to. The tyre guys absolutely hate it as it makes a mess inside the tyre and most times will want to fit up a new tyre rather than just vulcanising a patch over the hole.
As it turned out, it worked not have helped in this instance. See upcoming post for the diagnosed cause.
I bought an aftermarket spare for my M3 which I take on extended trips - eg recently drove from Bendigo to Newcastle return. Like carrying an umbrella it guarantees no rain and no flat
I don't bother for trips on major hiways. I have the tin of tyre goo, compressor and plugs. I have only had a bolt and a screw both were slow enough to take it to a tyre shop, no problems, easy fix.
Stay turned for an upcoming post explaining how this worked for us.