TESLA MODEL Y 2021 Owner´s Manual
Manufacturer: TESLA, Model Year: 2021, Model line: MODEL Y, Model: TESLA MODEL Y 2021Pages: 250, PDF Size: 8.4 MB
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Wheel Specifications (Factory)
Wheel DiameterLocationWidth (in)Offset (mm)19"Front/Rear9.54520"Front/Rear9.54521"Front9.54021"Rear10.548Lug Nut Torque129 lb. ft (175 Nm)Lug Nut Socket Size21 mm
NOTE: For instructions on how to jack/lift Model Y, see Jacking and Lifting on page 178.
Tire Specifications (Factory)
Tire SizeLocationSize19"Front/Rear255/45R1920"Front/Rear255/40R2021"Front255/35R2121"Rear275/35R21Tire pressures vary depending on the type of tires fitted. Refer to the tire pressures printed on the Tire and 
Loading Information label. This label is located on the center door pillar and is visible when the 
driver
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Understanding Tire Markings
Laws require tire manufacturers to place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This information 
identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire. It also provides the tire identification number 
(TIN) for certification of safety standards, and in case of a recall.
1Tire category. P indicates that the tire is for passenger vehicles.2Tire width. This 3-digit number is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge.3Aspect ratio. This 2-digit number is the sidewall height as a percentage of the tread width. So, if the tread width is 205 mm, and the aspect ratio is 50, the sidewall height is 102 mm.4Tire construction. R indicates that the tire is of Radial ply construction.5Wheel diameter. This 2-digit number is the diameter of the wheel rim in inches.6Load index. This 2 or 3-digit number is the weight each tire can support. This number is not always shown.7Speed rating. When stated, indicates the maximum speed (in mph) at which the tire can be used for extended 
periods. Q=99 mph (160 km/h), R=106 mph (170 km/h), S=112 mph (180 km/h), T=118 mph (190 km/h),  U=124 mph (200 km/h), H=130 mph (210 km/h), V=149 mph (240 km/h), W=168 mph (270 km/h), Y=186 mph 
(300 km/h), (Y)=vehicle
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8Load range. Shown as Standard Load (SL) or Extra Load (XL), the load range determines how much weight 
your tires can support at a 
specified tire pressure. When replacing tires, only use tires of the same load range. If 
towing with snow tires, ensure they are the same load range of the tires your vehicle came equipped with.
9Tire composition and materials. The number of plies in both the tread area and the sidewall area indicates how 
many layers of rubber coated material make up the structure of the tire. Information is also provided on the  type of materials used.10Maximum tire load. The maximum load which can be carried by the tire.11Maximum permissible inflation pressure. This pressure should not be used for normal driving.12U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN). Begins with the letters DOT and indicates that the tire meets all 
federal standards. The next 2 digits/letters represent the plant code where it was manufactured, and the last 4  digits represent the week and year of manufacture. For example, the number 1712 is used to represent the 17th  week of 2012. The other numbers are marketing codes used at the manufacturer
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The 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
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Tire and Loading Glossaries
General Wheel and Tire Terms
Accessory WeightThe combined weight (in excess of those items replaced) of items available as factory 
installed equipment.BeadThe inner edge of a tire that is shaped to fit to the rim and form an air tight seal. The 
bead is constructed of steel wires which are wrapped, or reinforced, by the ply cords.Cold Tire PressureThe air pressure in a tire that has been standing in excess of three hours, or driven for less  than one mile.Curb WeightThe weight of a standard vehicle, including any optional equipment fitted, and with the 
correct 
fluid levels.
Gross Vehicle WeightThe maximum permissible weight of a vehicle with driver, passengers, load, luggage, and 
equipment.kPa (kilo pascal)A metric unit used to measure pressure. One kilo pascal equals approximately 0.145 psi.Maximum Inflation  
Pressure
The maximum pressure to which the tire should be inflated. This pressure is given on the 
tire side wall in psi (lbf/in2).
CAUTION: This pressure marked on the tire is the maximum allowed by the tire 
manufacturer. It is not the pressure Tesla recommends using for Model Y.
Maximum Loaded 
Vehicle WeightThe sum of curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity weight, and production  options weight.Production Options 
WeightThe combined weight of options installed which weigh in excess of 3 lb (1.4 kg) more 
than the standard items that they replaced, and are not already considered in curb or 
accessory weights.PSI (lbf/in2)Pounds per square inch (the unit used to measure tire pressure).Recommended Tire 
Inflation Pressure
Tire inflation pressure, established by Tesla, which is based on the type of tires that are 
mounted on the vehicle at the factory. This information can be found on the Tire and 
Loading Information label located on the door pillar.RimThe metal support for a tire, or tire and tube, upon which the tire beads are seated.Vehicle Capacity 
WeightThe number of seats multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg) plus the rated amount of load/luggage.
Load Carrying Definitions
Normal occupant weight68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the number of occupants specified in the second column 
of the tables for calculating load limits (see 
Vehicle Loading on page 182).
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle.Passenger car tireA tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and  trucks, that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lbs (4536 kg) or less.Rim diameterNominal diameter of the bead seat.Rim size designationRim diameter and width.Rim type designationThe manufacturing industry
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Vehicle normal load on the 
tireLoad on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of 
the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight and dividing by two.
Pneumatic Radial Tire Definitions
Bead separationA breakdown of the bond between components in the bead.Bias ply tireA pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at alternate angles 
substantially less than 90 degrees to the center line of the tread.CarcassThe tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber which, that when inflated, bears the load.ChunkingThe breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall.CordThe strands forming the plies in the tire.Cord separationThe parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds.CrackingAny parting within the tread, sidewall, or inner liner of the tire extending to cord material.Extra load tireA tire designed to operate at higher loads and higher inflation pressure than the 
corresponding standard tire.GrooveThe space between two adjacent tread ribs.Inner linerThe layer(s) forming the inside surface of a tubeless tire that contains the inflating medium 
within the tire.Inner liner 
separationThe parting of the inner liner from cord material in the carcass.Load ratingThe maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation pressure.Maximum load 
ratingThe load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation pressure for that tire.Measuring rimThe rim on which a tire is fitted for physical dimension requirements.Open spliceAny parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or inner liner that extends to the cord material.Outer diameterThe overall diameter of an inflated new tire.Overall widthThe linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire, including 
elevations due to labeling, decorations, or protective bands or ribs.PlyA layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies.Pneumatic tireA mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric and steel or other materials, that, 
when mounted on an automotive wheel, provides the traction and contains the gas or 
fluid
 
that sustains the load.
Radial ply tireA pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90 
degrees to the center line of the tread.Reinforced tireA tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures than the 
corresponding standard tire.Section widthThe linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding 
elevations due to labeling, decoration, or protective bands.SidewallThe portion of a tire between the tread and bead.Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in the sidewall.
Wheels and Tires
194MODEL Y Owner
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Snow tireA tire that attains a traction index equal to or greater than 110, compared to the ASTM 
E1136-93 (re-approved 2003, incorporated by reference, see 
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Tesla Roadside Assistance is available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for the duration of your warranty period. Tesla Roadside Assistance is also available to speak with roadside service professionals to answer any 
questions and explain the proper procedure for transporting your vehicle.
When contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance, please provide:
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DO NOT TRANSPORT WITH 
WHEELS ON THE GROUND
The rear motor in Model Y generates power when the 
wheels spin. Always transport 
Model Y with all four tires 
off the ground. Ensure that the tires are unable to spin at 
any time during transport.
WARNING: NEVER TRANSPORT YOUR VEHICLE 
WITH THE TIRES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY 
CAN SPIN. DOING SO CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT 
DAMAGE AND OVERHEATING. IN RARE CASES 
EXTREME OVERHEATING MAY CAUSE THE 
SURROUNDING COMPONENTS TO IGNITE.
Do not transport Model Y using any method that is not 
specified by Tesla. Adhere to the instructions provided in 
the following sections and observe all warnings and 
cautions provided. Damage caused by improper 
transporting of your vehicle is not covered by the 
warranty.
NOTE: Tesla is not liable or responsible for reimbursing 
services not dispatched through Tesla Roadside  Assistance.
Approved Methods for Transporting
NOTE: The tires are allowed to rotate slowly (under 3 
mph or 5 km/h) and for a very short distance (less than 
30 feet or 10 meters) only when Transport Mode is 
enabled (see 
Activate Transport Mode on page ) 
while the vehicle is being winched onto a 
flatbed truck 
or pulled out of a parking space for repositioning. 
Exceeding these boundaries can lead to 
significant
 
damage and overheating that is not covered by the 
warranty.
A flatbed truck or comparable transport vehicle is the 
recommended method of transporting 
Model Y. The 
vehicle can face either direction when using a 
flatbed.
If Model Y must be transported without a flatbed truck, 
then wheel lifts and dollies must be used to ensure that 
all four wheels are 
off of the ground. This method may 
only be used for a maximum of 
35 miles (55 km), and 
must not exceed the manufacturer speed rating of the 
dollies. With this method, Tesla recommends the vehicle 
facing forward so that the front wheels are lifted and the  rear wheels are on dollies.
CAUTION: Enable Transport Mode (see Activate 
Transport Mode on page ) before winching 
Model Y onto a flatbed truck (see Pull Onto 
Flatbed Truck From Front on page  and Pull 
Onto Flatbed Truck From Rear on page ). If 
Transport Mode is not available or the touchscreen 
is not accessible, self-loading dollies or tire skates 
must be used to load the vehicle into the approved 
transportation position. Tesla is not responsible for 
any damage caused by or during the transport of 
Model Y, including personal property damage or 
damage caused by using self-loading dollies or tire 
skates. 
WARNING: Model Y is equipped with high voltage 
components that may be compromised as a result 
of a collision (see High Voltage Components on 
page 156). Before transporting Model Y, it is 
important to assume these components are 
energized. Always follow high voltage safety 
precautions (wearing personal protection 
equipment, etc.) until emergency response 
professionals have evaluated the vehicle and can 
accurately confirm that all high voltage systems 
are no longer energized. Failure to do so may 
result in serious injury. 
Activate Transport Mode
Transport Mode keeps the parking brake disengaged 
while winching 
Model Y onto a flatbed truck. When 
active, Transport Mode displays a message indicating  that the vehicle will remain free-rolling. The following are 
required to enable Transport Mode:
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