Tesla Model Y Gains Range With Spare Tire Swap

Tesla Model Y Gains Range With Spare Tire Swap

Imagine this: you’re driving your brand-new Tesla Model Y, enjoying the smooth ride and advanced tech. Suddenly, you hit a pothole or a piece of debris. Your heart sinks. What if you get a flat tire, miles from anywhere, with no spare? This is a real concern for many EV owners because, surprisingly, over half of new cars sold today don’t come with a spare tire. Enter Modern Spare, a company creating solutions to give drivers peace of mind.

We tested Modern Spare’s system for the Tesla Model Y, and a surprising benefit emerged: a noticeable increase in driving efficiency. While not the primary goal, using these specialized skinny spare tires actually boosted the car’s range.

Why No Spare Tires Anymore?

Cody, the founder of Modern Spare, explains that car makers are dropping spare tires to save weight and space. This trend started years ago, but it’s become much more common with electric and hybrid vehicles. Cody’s own experience with a cracked rim on a road trip sparked his idea for Modern Spare. Finding a replacement wheel for his car took days, highlighting the problem.

Modern Spare aims to solve this by offering spare tire kits for many vehicles that no longer include them. Their goal is to provide a reliable backup that feels like a factory option, offering drivers a sense of security.

Installing the Spare Tire Kit

A big question for Model Y owners is: where do you even put a spare tire? Modern Spare found a clever spot: hidden beneath the trunk floor in the rear sub-trunk area. The installation process is designed to be manageable for most owners.

The kit includes a template and instructions for a simple modification to the trunk’s flooring. You’ll need to make a cut to create space for the spare tire. While this might sound daunting in a new car, the kit provides clear guidance, and replacement flooring pieces are available from Tesla if needed for lease returns.

The kit also includes special brackets and straps to securely hold the spare tire assembly. A unique support unit is engineered specifically for the Model Y, fitting snugly into the sub-trunk. The spare tire itself is designed with a five-spoke pattern, optimized for strength and light weight, and engineered to be user-friendly for installation, even on the side of the road.

Performance and Efficiency Gains

The real test was to see how the Model Y performed with the Modern Spare kit. We conducted an efficiency loop, comparing the car’s performance on its factory tires versus the skinny spare tires.

On the initial loop with standard tires, covering about 46.8 miles, the Model Y used 10.1 kWh, averaging 215.4 Wh per mile, which is roughly 4.7 miles per kWh. When the car was switched to the four skinny spare tires, the same loop (slightly adjusted for city driving) covered 46.9 miles and used only 9.4 kWh. This resulted in an average of over 5 miles per kWh, an improvement of nearly 10%.

Cody notes that while these are temporary spares and not meant for long-term use, the skinny tire design naturally leads to less rolling resistance. This reduces energy consumption, hence the improved efficiency. The car’s diameter matches the factory tires, so the speedometer and other systems work correctly, and the driving experience felt identical.

Is it Worth It?

The Modern Spare kit for the Tesla Model Y costs around $500, and it includes the spare wheel, tire, mounting hardware, and a cover. While it’s an added expense, it offers significant peace of mind for owners who worry about being stranded with a flat.

For drivers who frequently take long road trips or venture into areas with fewer services, this kit could be invaluable. The unexpected bonus of improved efficiency is a nice perk, especially for those looking to maximize their EV’s range. While you shouldn’t rely on skinny spare tires for everyday driving or to set range records, they provide a crucial safety net and, as a happy accident, a boost in miles per kilowatt-hour.

Source: This Simple Change Will TRANSFORM Your EV Range! (YouTube)