Tesla Model 3: Elon Musk hints at new 20″ wheels option

The Tesla Model 3 is currently only offered with the standard 18″ aero wheels or 19″ Sports wheels for a premium.

Now Tesla CEO Elon Musk hints that new 20″ wheels could be coming to the Model 3.

There are a lot of eyes on the Model 3 right now and every small component is being scrutinized like an highly important feature.

Wheels are a good example.

When first unveiling the Tesla Model 3 in March 2016, the prototypes came equipped with new wheels designed by the automaker.

Musk said that they “spent a lot of time on those” and that they plan on bringing them to production, but they ended up building only two of new wheel types.

The aero wheels were used for the standard wheels and with aero caps on, it increases efficiency by as much as ~10%, according to Tesla’s VP of Engineering. That directly translates into more range.

For the more aesthetic look, Tesla offers 19″ wheels for a $1,500 premium.

But some think that it’s not big enough for the wheel well of the Model 3. In comparison, the Model S uses 21″ wheels.

20″ wheels were spotted on production units with manufacturer plates on a few occasions – leading us to believe that the option could be coming soon.

Today, Ryan McCaffrey asked Musk about it:

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/940360783954771968

Now the simple “I agree” confirms that he also prefers the look of the 20s, but he is not confirming that it will be offered as an option – though it sounds likely at this point.

Electrek’s Take

I think that’s inevitable. All the aftermarket companies working on Tesla vehicles were all working on bigger wheels to market to Model 3 owners.

Now it sounds like Tesla could cut the ground from under their feet with a 20″ option.

The 21″ option is very popular for the Model S, especially for the performance versions, but tires are more expensive at that size and they wear faster.

Tires for 20″ wheels are more reasonable in term of pricing and should also result in the aesthetic look that people are looking for with bigger wheels.

On my Model S, I just bought 20″ wheels to go with my winter tires and I am pretty happy with the look compared to my regular 21″ grey Turbine wheels for my summer tire setup:

I managed to keep the Tesla Turbine look for my winter setup for 1/3 of the price with those fake 20" turbine. Now to see if they are worth that… pic.twitter.com/DmVcfVOI8C

— Fred Lambert (@FredericLambert) December 6, 2017

They don’t look exactly the same, but it’s very close and for a third of the price – I’m not complaining.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.