Tesla’s forward-thinking Cybertruck draws considerable criticism at Jalopnik’s online gathering spot. However, despite this,
the Cybertruck’s dismal sales
, somebody must like the darn things because I can seldom leave my house without seeing one or two DePloreans in the wild. However, even the most hardcore Tesla stan might get a bout of indigestion when they see how quickly the Cybertruck decimates its giant tires down to the wear bars — and how much they cost to replace. According to some owners, the near-7,000-pound truck with over 500 pound-feet of instant torque from dual motors can chew through tires in under 7,000 miles.
Cybertruck tires are size 285/65R20, which equates to nearly 35 inches tall and just over 11 inches wide. Most versions of the Cybertruck have tires based on Goodyear’s Wrangler Territory RT, but with one very important difference. The sidewalls are custom designed to interface with the Cybertruck’s unique
hubcaps
aerodynamic wheel covers. Reliefs in the sidewalls let the wheel covers fit more flush while simultaneously making the wheel cover’s spokes appear to extend to the edge of the tire.
Retaining the futuristic wheel covers means that the bespoke original-equipment tires, at nearly $500 each, are the only game in town. However, ditching those aerodynamic wheel covers will open up a much larger selection of tires in the factory size, though without the customized sidewalls. Not only can you potentially snag better-quality or better-performing tires than the original-equipment Goodyears, but you could save some money, too.
Read more:
These Tires Give You The Most Bang For Your Buck, According To Consumer Reports
Ditching The Wheel Covers Is An Option
Tesla isn’t like a regular car company, where design changes are well telegraphed and occur at logical intervals, like at new model years. Instead, Tesla is known to make engineering tweaks on the fly, and the Cybertruck’s aero wheel covers are no exception. It turns out that the original wheel covers were actually digging into the tires’ sidewalls, which caused premature abrasion and wear. Tesla has since
redesigned the Cybertruck’s aero covers
to fix this problem, but for a while, Cybertrucks were shipping with no wheel covers.
That wasn’t actually a bad thing. Lurking underneath the curb-rash-prone wheel covers are a set of fairly attractive 14-spoke (seven double spokes) black alloy wheels. If you like the way your Cybertruck looks with the naked alloys, you’ll greatly expand your selection of available tires. But do be warned that driving sans aerodynamic covers will slightly ding the EV’s maximum range.
To further confuse the issue like only Tesla can, there’s also a set of “Core Wheels” now on offer that mimic the appearance of the original Cybertruck “Cyber” wheel covers, but don’t extend onto the tire’s sidewall like the Cyber wheel covers. The newer Core Wheels come with all-season tires that supposedly increase range over their more aggressive all-terrain counterparts. But once the stock all-season tires kick, you could replace them with whatever style tires you want — no special sidewall-sculpting required.
The Cybertruck’s Tires Match Up Well With Competitors’
Let’s dive into the financial details for a fresh pair of Cybertruck shoes. Accurate pricing for original all-terrain tires is hard to come by, however, as of December 2023, Tesla dealerships were charging $470 per tire, without considering the cost of installation. Certain sources suggest that Tesla dealerships are the sole providers of these distinctive tires; nonetheless, we discovered an alternative option.
two
tire stores
also selling them for $470 each.
By not being concerned about the aero wheel covers, you can choose from all tires in the appropriate 285/65R20 size. A swift look at major sellers such as Tire Rack and Walmart reveals budget-friendly options like the Leao Lion Sport AT available for around $175 per tire. On the flip side, seeking out premium brands like BF Goodrich or Yokohama pushes the price significantly higher, often exceeding $400 – similar to the cost of the standard Cybertruck tires. Nonetheless, opting for these high-end models could enhance overall performance.
the best all-terrain tires
Similar to how Goodrich’s KO2 or KO3 replace the standard Goodyear tires.
In essence, fitting 35-inch-tall tires onto a 20-inch-wheel isn’t an inexpensive task. However, you can purchase a quartet of budget brand tires suitable for the Cybertruck for roughly $700 before taxes and mounting fees. Opting for genuine manufacturer tires or well-regarded alternatives will probably cost close to $1,800 excluding additional charges. For high-performance and luxury cars, this price range doesn’t seem outlandish. The real pinch lies in how often such expenses recur.
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