winter tires TESLA MODEL 3 2018 Owner's Manual

Braking SystemsWarning: Properly functioning braking
systems are critical to ensure safety. If you experience a problem with the brake
pedal, brake caliper, or any component of
a Model 3 braking system, contact Tesla
immediately.
Model 3 has an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
that prevents the wheels from locking when
you apply maximum brake pressure. This improves steering control during heavy
braking in most road conditions.
During emergency braking conditions, the
ABS constantly monitors the speed of each
wheel and varies the brake pressure according to the grip available.
The alteration of brake pressure can be felt as
a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal.
This demonstrates that the ABS is operating
and is not a cause for concern. Keep
firm and
steady pressure on the brake pedal while
experiencing the pulsing.
The ABS indicator flashes briefly on
the touchscreen when you first start
Model 3. If this indicator lights up at
any other time, an ABS fault has
occurred and the ABS is not
operating. Contact Tesla. The braking system remains fully operational and
is not
affected by an ABS failure.
However, braking distances may increase.
If the touchscreen displays this
indicator at any time other than
displaying
briefly when you first start
Model 3, a brake system fault is
detected or the brake
fluid level is
low. Contact Tesla immediately.
Emergency Braking
In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal and maintain
firm pressure, even on low
traction surfaces. The ABS varies the braking
pressure to each wheel according to the
amount of traction available. This prevents
wheels from locking and ensures that you stop
as safely as possible.
Warning: Do not pump the brake pedal.
Doing so interrupts operation of the ABS
and can increase braking distance.Warning: Always maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you and beaware of hazardous driving conditions.
While the ABS can improve stopping
distance, it cannot overcome the laws of physics. It also does not prevent the
danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of
water prevents direct contact between the tires and the road).
Automatic Emergency Braking automatically
applies full braking in situations where a
collision is considered imminent (see Automatic Emergency Braking on page 77).
Warning: Automatic Emergency Braking
is not designed to prevent a collision. At best, it can minimize the impact of a
frontal collision by attempting to reduce
your driving speed. Depending on Automatic Emergency Braking to avoid a
collision can result in serious injury or death.
Brake Wear
Model 3 brake pads are equipped with wear
indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal
strip attached to the brake pad that squeals as
it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears
down. This squealing sound indicates that the
brake pads have reached the end of their service life and require replacement. To
replace the brake pads, contact Tesla Service.
Warning: Neglecting to replace worn
brake pads damages the braking system
and can result in a braking hazard.
Regenerative Braking
Whenever Model 3 is moving and your foot is
off the accelerator, regenerative braking slows
down Model 3 and feeds any surplus energy back to the Battery.
By anticipating your stops and reducing or
removing pressure from the accelerator pedal
to slow down, you can take advantage of regenerative braking to increase driving range.
Of course, this is no substitute for regular
braking when needed for safety.
Note: If regenerative braking is aggressively
slowing Model 3 (such as when your foot is
completely
off the accelerator pedal at
highway speeds), the brake lights turn on to
alert others that you are slowing down.
Warning: In snowy or icy conditions
Model 3 may experience traction loss
during regenerative braking, particularly
when in the Standard setting and/or not
using winter tires. Tesla recommends
Brakes
Driving49

Inspecting and Maintaining TiresRegularly inspect the tread and side walls for
any sign of distortion (bulges), foreign objects,
cuts or wear.Warning: Do not drive Model 3 if a tire is
damaged, excessively worn, or inflated to
an incorrect pressure. Check tires
regularly for wear, and ensure there are
no cuts, bulges or exposure of the ply/
cord structure.
Tire Wear
Adequate tread depth is important for proper
tire performance. Tires with a tread depth less
than 4/32” (3 mm) are more likely to
hydroplane in wet conditions and should not be used. Tires with a tread depth less than5/32” (4 mm) do not perform well in snow andslush and should not be used when driving inwinter conditions.
Model 3 is originally
fitted with tires that have
wear indicators molded into the tread pattern.
When the tread has been worn down to 4/32”
(3 mm), the indicators start to appear at the surface of the tread pattern, producing the
effect of a continuous band of rubber across
the width of the tire. For optimal performance
and safety, Tesla recommends replacing tires
before the wear indicators are visible.
Tire Rotation, Balance, and Wheel Alignment
Tesla recommends rotating the tires every
6,250 miles (10,000 km).
Unbalanced wheels (sometimes noticeable as
vibration through the steering wheel)
affectvehicle handling and tire life. Even with regular
use, wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
If tire wear is uneven (on one side of the tire
only) or becomes abnormally excessive, check
the alignment of wheels.
Note: When replacing only two tires, always
install the new tires on the rear.
Punctured Tires
A puncture eventually causes the tire to lose
pressure, which is why it is important to check
tire pressures frequently. Permanently repair
or replace punctured or damaged tires as
soon as possible.
Your tubeless tires may not leak when
penetrated, provided the object remains in the tire. If, however, you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or you suspect a tire is damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive slowly, while avoiding heavy
braking or sharp steering and, when safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Arrange to have Model 3
transported to a Tesla Service Center, or to a nearby tire repair center.
Note: In some cases, you can temporarily
repair small tire punctures (under 1/4” (6
mm)) using an optional tire repair kit available
from Tesla. This allows you to slowly drive
Model 3 to Tesla or to a nearby tire repair
facility.Warning: Do not drive with a punctured
tire, even if the puncture has not caused the tire to
deflate. A punctured tire candeflate suddenly at any time.
Flat Spots
If Model 3 is stationary for a long period in
high temperatures, tires can form
flat spots.
When Model 3 is driven, these flat spots cause
a vibration which gradually disappears as the
tires warm up and regain their original shape.
To minimize
flat spots during storage, inflatetires to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire wall. Then, before driving, release airto adjust tire pressure to the recommendedlevels.
Improving Tire Mileage
To improve the mileage you get from your
tires, maintain tires at the recommended tire
pressures, observe speed limits and advisory
speeds, and avoid:

Removing and Installing Lug Nut Covers
If your Model 3 is equipped with lug nut covers, you must remove them to access the
lug nuts.
To remove a lug nut cover:
1. Insert the curved part of the lug nut cover
tool (located in your glovebox) into the hole at the base of the Tesla "T".
2. Maneuver the lug nut cover tool so that it
is fully inserted into the hole in the lug nut
cover.
3. Twist the lug nut cover tool so that the
curved part is touching the middle of the
lug nut cover.
4. Firmly pull the lug nut tool away from the
wheel until the lug nut cover is released.
To install the lug nut cover, align it into
position and push firmly until it fully snaps into
place.
Seasonal Tire Types
Summer Tires
Your vehicle may be originally equipped with high performance summer tires or all season
tires. Tesla recommends using winter tires if
driving in cold temperatures or on roads
where snow or ice may be present. Contact Tesla for winter tire recommendations.Warning: In cold temperatures or on
snow or ice, summer tires do not provide adequate traction. Selecting and installingthe appropriate tires for winter conditions
is important to ensure the safety and
optimum performance of your Model 3.
All-Season Tires
Your Model 3 may be originally equipped with
all-season tires. These tires are designed to provide adequate traction in most conditions
year-round, but may not provide the same level of traction as winter tires in snowy or icy
conditions. All-season tires can be
identifiedby “ALL SEASON" and/or "M+S” (mud and
snow) on the tire sidewall.
Winter Tires
Use winter tires to increase traction in snowy
or icy conditions. When installing winter tires,
always install a complete set of four tires at
the same time. Winter tires must be the same
size, brand, construction and tread pattern on all four wheels. Contact Tesla for winter tire
recommendations.
Winter tires can be identified by amountain/snowflake symbol on the
tire

Uniform Tire Quality GradingThe following information relates to the tire
grading system developed by the National
Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by tread wear,
traction and temperature performance. Tires
that have deep tread, and winter tires, are
exempt from these marking requirements.
Where applicable, quality grades are found on
the tire

tires (continued)balancing 114
chains 117
inspecting and maintaining 114
pressures, how to check 113
quality grading 141
replacing 115
replacing a tire sensor 118
rotation 114
specification 138
summer 116
temperature grades 141
tire markings 139
traction grade 141
treadwear grade 141
winter 116
toll system transponders, attaching 127
touch up body 120
touchscreenclean mode 120
cleaning 120
overview 4
restarting 36
software updates 104
tow eye, locating 147
towing a trailer 132
towing instructions 146
TPMSFCC certification 156
overview of 117
Tracking Disabled 95
traction control 51
trademarks 151
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control 61
trailer hitches 132
transmission
specifications 136
transponders, attaching 127
Transport Canada, contacting 154
Transport Mode 146
transporting 146
Trip Planner 97
trunk, front 14
trunk, rear 12
TuneIn radio 91
turn signals 46
U ultrasonic sensors 58
uniform tire quality grading 141
Unlock On Park 10
unlocking 9
USB devicesconnecting 16
playing audio files from 92
USB ports 16
V
Valet mode 34
vehicle
certification label 131
Vehicle Hold 54
Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) 130
vehicle loading 131
ventilation 88
VIN (Vehicle
Identification Number) 130
volume control 4
volume control (media) 90
W Walk Away Lock 10
Wall Connector 106
warning
flashers 47
washer fluid, topping up 125
washer jets, cleaning 122
washers, using 48
weight
specifications 135
wheel chocks 147
wheelsaero covers, removing and installing 115
alignment 114
lug nut covers, removing and installing
116
replacing 115
specifications 138
torque 138
Wi-Fi, connecting to 103
windshield washer fluid, topping up 125
winter tires 116
wiper blades, replacing 122
wipers, using 48
Work location 98
Index
162Model 3 Owner