Tesla wheels and tires are relatively easy to steal and easy to sell, leaving thieves with a quick way to make some major cash and Tesla drivers left in a tough spot. Experienced thieves can take the wheels off Tesla vehicles within minutes, leaving car owners shocked and in a dangerous position.
Turn Your Wheels
Turning your wheels, especially near a curb, makes it incredibly difficult for a thief to take your car tires or your car altogether. Turned wheels are more difficult to steal because the fender often gets in the way of removing the lug nuts.
Despite all the technological advancements made in the auto industry, old-fashioned wheel theft remains a problem nationwide: The value of tires stolen each year is at least $1 million, according to one estimate.
While some tires and rims are marked with serial numbers, they are extremely difficult to trace back to the rightful owner.
Practically, Tesla tires last 20K – 40K miles. So, if you drive 10K miles a year, you'll need a new set of tires in three years. Tesla recommends rotating your car's tires every 6,250 miles. If the tread depth difference reaches 2/32 (1.5 mm) or more before that, you needn't wait to hit 6k miles.
Flat tires are not covered under warranty; however Tesla will cover the cost of a tow, provided by Roadside Assistance, for the first 50 miles (80 km) to the nearest Tesla Service Center, while the vehicle is covered by a Tesla New Vehicle, Used Vehicle, or Used Vehicle Extended Limited Warranty.
In their early stages, Tesla tires could not be patched because of a foam layer lining the inside of the rubber to provide a smooth, quiet ride. This feature would turn the smallest punctures into large repairs. However, local Tesla service professionals can now complete patches for Tesla tires with minimal damage.
People often spend a lot of money on their rims, wheels, and tires. Whether this is for performance or aesthetic reasons, they represent a sizable investment and often have sentimental value as well. Thieves steal them either to resell them to other collectors or to just get money for scrap.
RFID chips are actually placed in some tires. But not so that government can track you. And most certainly not in your valve stem. RFID (that stands for radio frequency identification) chips are microchips that give data that can be used by a scanner or reader using radio frequency signals.
With the increased interest in tire pressure monitoring and the increased use of monitoring systems, theft could happen without the sensor locks. PressurePro alerts when a sensor is removed from the system but as with anything, if it is installed, it can be stolen.
A loud popping noise or a zipper-like sound can be heard when a tire gets slashed. If the opening is big enough to allow for the pouring air, it can blow up and make a popping noise.
The most common types of damage are punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, bulges and irregular wear.
Wheel lock keys are special sockets that match the unique pattern on your wheel lock. Without your wheel lock key, the tire, rim, and wheel cannot be easily removed. Wheel locks only protect against the theft of tires, wheels, and rims. They do not protect against car theft.
A tire with multiple clean, straight cut marks has most likely been slashed, while a blown tire will have a jagged, irregular wound. If your tire has multiple clean, straight wounds along the tire wall, it has probably been slashed.
Also, it's paranoid to think the government is tracking you via your tires. Not so fast. While there's no GPS unit in your tires and the valve stem is not an antenna, there IS a sensor installed in your wheels that could be used to track your car. First, let's cover the TPMS system.
These sensors are standard equipment for all new cars. Several years ago, Congress passed a law making it mandatory for all cars built after 2008 to be equipped with a TPMS sensor.
If you find your tyres seem to be wearing quicker than usual, this may be a sign of a problem with your car's wheel alignment, also known as 'tracking'. Incorrect alignment could also mean that you experience crooked/unstable steering, pulling from the steering wheel, or a steering wheel that is not level when driving.
Tesla wheels and tires are relatively easy to steal and easy to sell, leaving thieves with a quick way to make some major cash and Tesla drivers left in a tough spot. Experienced thieves can take the wheels off Tesla vehicles within minutes, leaving car owners shocked and in a dangerous position.
Where are stolen items sold? Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. But online listing sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to sell stolen goods.
"They [thieves] only want to get paid in cash. They're selling a Corolla wheel worth $120 for $20, these are all those tells," Massoudi told WFAA.
The lowest end set of 4 tires costs about $450 for all 4 and the highest end tires costs about $1,200 for all 4. My Tesla came with the highest end tires, so it is good to know that Tesla was not skimping on tires when I bought my vehicle.
It is recommended that tires are replaced every six years, or sooner if required, even if tread depth is above the minimum. When a tire set becomes worn, replace all four tires at the same time. Choose a Tesla-approved tire which is designed specifically for your vehicle.