Tesla Model 3 Wheels
Tesla sold over 150,000 Model 3 units in 2021, and that number seems to be climbing. Not really surprising, considering the goal with the Tesla 3 was to offer an affordable EV. With so many units sold, it’s only fair to assume some of those fell into the hands of a car guy. You know what that means. MODS. One of the most popular first steps towards modification is aftermarket wheels. There is tons of information online regarding diameter, width, offset, etc. Especially on the forums, because from experience we know that dedicated forums can be biased and give off gatekeeping vibes. That said, at Wheel Suppliers we want to make the wheel shopping process as stress free as possible, which is why we make guides like this to help you find the perfect Tesla Model 3 wheels. Within this Model 3 fitment guide, we’ll cover factory specs, what fits, what doesn’t, and the issues that come with uncommon setups. As a little side note, we’re aware some of you may already be knowledgeable in wheel fitment, but a refresher course is always nice.
If you have a Performance Model you’ll need to be cautious when choosing a set of wheels. The Performance Model comes with a slightly modified hub center which is stepped. At the moment, there are no hub rings that work with a multi-diameter hub. That said, the hub center of your wheels must be custom machined, which some manufacturers may or may not offer.
OEM Wheel & Tire Fitments
To get a better understanding of what direction you should take as far as wheel and tire size, let’s take a look at what the Tesla Model 3 comes with from the factory. If you’re new to diameter, width, offset and backspacing, we highly suggest you read our bolt pattern and general wheel fitment guide first.
Wheel Name | Wheel Size | Tire Size | Wheel Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Aero | 18x8.5 +40 | 235/45R18 | 23 lbs |
Sport | 19x8.5 +40 | 235/40R19 | 25 lbs |
Power Sport | 19x8.5 +40 | 255/40R19 | TBD |
Sport | 20x8.5 +35 | 235/35R20 | 28.75 lbs |
Zero G | 20x8.5 +35 | 235/35R20 | TBD |
Uberturbine | 20x9 +34 | 235/35R20 | 32 lbs |
Notice that the Model 3 does not come with factory staggered fitments like the Model Y. However, opting for an aftermarket staggered fitment is acceptable, as you’ll see below. Knowing how the OEM Model 3 comes equipped can help you make an educated decision when shopping for wheels.
Form, Function or Both
Before we jump off the deep end, let’s talk about the effects of certain wheel setups. Upsizing and downsizing wheels and/or tires can have positive or negative impacts on your Model 3’s performance. For example, changing factory wheel fitments can impact acceleration, braking, handling, comfort and even range. The manufacturer chose the sizes mentioned above in order to balance these 5 characteristics.
Form
Some owners want to achieve a specific aesthetic that may require modifications, such as lowering ride height, fender rolling, or fending pulling. Typically, a setup like this will have a negative effect on performance and range. Having said that, if the goal is form and nothing more, then the drawbacks may not be important to you. We don’t judge; if you want to slam your Tesla Model 3, go for it!
Form & Function
If you’re looking for form and function, then a modest setup is a good choice. This doesn’t mean you’ll get away scot-free though. Unlike a purely aesthetic setup, a more balanced one still has the same drawbacks, albeit on a much smaller scale. For example, the OEM Sport wheels come in a 8.5″ width, upsizing to a 9.5″ wide wheel with a lower offset can achieve a flush fitment, without destroying what the car was built for to begin with.
Function
If sacrificing performance is an absolute no-go, don’t worry, you’re not stuck with the OEM setup. Considering most buy Tesla’s to save on petrol, downsizing is a viable option here. Going from a factory 19×8.5 to a 19×8 is a great way to shave weight. In addition, opting for Forged or Flow Forged wheels can save even more weight. These weight savings can help improve range and ride quality. This applies to every setup, not just this one. In general, we recommend a Flow Forged wheel on most cars.
Tesla Model 3 Wheel Fitment: Stock Height
As you’ve learned, the Tesla Model 3 comes with a decently sized wheel width from the factory. However, because of the car’s weight, you have a smaller range of available sizes. Below is our fitment experts’ suggested fitments on a Model 3 with no suspension modifications. Note that we’ve listed suggested offsets, but going below or above these thresholds doesn’t mean the Tesla Model 3 wheels you buy won’t fit. It just means you’d have a more aggressive fitment.
*A staggered fitment refers to the front wheel being narrower than the rear wheel. A square fitment refers to the same size wheel on all four corners.
Stock Height / Square
18 Inch | 19 Inch | 20 Inch |
---|---|---|
18x8.5 +30 to +32 | 19x8.5 +30 to +32 | 20x8.5 +30 to +32 |
18x9 +35 to +38 | 19x9 +35 to +38 | 20x9 +35 to +38 |
18x9.5 +38 to +40 | 19x9.5 +38 to +40 | 20x9.5 +38 to +40 |
Stock Height / Staggered
18 Inch | 19 Inch | 20 Inch |
---|---|---|
18x8.5 +30 to +32 Front | 18x9.5 +35 to +40 Rear | 19x8.5 +30 to +32 Front | 19x9.5 +35 to +40 Rear | 20x8.5 +30 to +32 Front | 20x9.5 +35 to +40 Rear |
18x8.5 +30 to +32 Front | 18x10 +40 to +45 Rear | 19x8.5 +30 to +32 Front | 19x10 +40 to +45 Rear | 20x8.5 +30 to +32 Front | 20x10 +40 to +45 Rear |
18x9 +35 to +38 Front | 18x10 +40 to +45 Rear | 19x9 +35 to +38 Front | 19x10 +40 to +45 Rear | 20x9 +35 to +38 Front | 20x10 +40 to +45 Rear |
18x9 +35 to +38 Front | 18x10.5 +45 to +50 Rear | 19x9 +35 to +38 Front | 19x10.5 +45 to +50 Rear | 20x9 +35 to +38 Front | 20x10.5 +45 to +50 Rear |
18x9.5 +38 to +40 Front | 18x10.5 +45 to +50 Rear | 19x9.5. +38 to +40 Front | 19x10.5 +45 to +50 Rear | 20x9.5 +38 to +40 Front | 20x10.5 +45 to +50 Rear |
Tesla Model 3 Wheel Fitment: Lowered
As we mentioned earlier, the Model 3 comes with a pretty decent OEM fitment. The problem is when you lower the car, then you really start to notice the narrowness of the wheels. In the car world, this is called a sunken battleship fitment. It sounds cool, but trust us, it’s not. This is when the wheels are so tucked into the wheel wells, that the car looks like it’s floating. Thus, a sunken battleship. Don’t ask how that term was coined, we have no idea. Below are our fitment recommendations for a lowered Tesla Model 3.
Lowered / Square
18 Inch | 19 Inch | 20 Inch |
---|---|---|
18x8.5 +25 to +28 | 19x8.5 +25 to +28 | 20x8.5 +25 to +28 |
18x9 +30 to +33 | 19x9 +30 to +33 | 20x9 +30 to +33 |
18x9.5 +32 to +36 | 19x10 +38 to +42 | 20x9.5 +32 to +36 |
Lowered / Staggered
18 Inch | 19 Inch | 20 Inch |
---|---|---|
18x8.5 +25 to +28 Front | 18x9.5 +30 to +35 Rear | 19x8.5 +25 to +28 Front | 19x9.5 +30 to +35 Rear | 20x8.5 +25 to +28 Front | 20x9.5 +30 to +35 Rear |
18x8.5 +25 to +28 Front | 18x10 +35 to +40 Rear | 19x8.5 +25 to +28 Front | 19x10 +35 to +40 Rear | 20x8.5 +25 to +28 Front | 20x10 +35 to +40 Rear |
18x9 +30 to +33 Front | 18x10 +35 to +40 Rear | 19x9 +30 to +33 Front | 19x10 +35 to +40 Rear | 20x9 +30 to +33 Front | 20x10 +35 to +40 Rear |
18x9 +30 to +33 Front | 18x10.5 +40 to +45 Rear | 19x9 +30 to +33 Front | 19x10.5 +40 to +45 Rear | 20x9 +30 to +33 Front | 20x10.5 +40 to +45 Rear |
18x9.5 +32 to +36 Front | 18x10.5 +40 to +45 Rear | 19x9.5 +32 to +36 Front | 19x10.5 +40 to +45 Rear | 20x9.5 +32 to +36 Front | 20x10.5 +40 to +45 Rear |
Tesla Model 3 Wheel Fitment: Lowered & Aggressive
Now the part most of you have been waiting for. Aggressive fitments like these are not for those who are looking for plug-and-play applications. Somewhere, Elon is shedding tears. The following wheel fitments may require some type of modification to suspension components or fenders. In some instances, aggressive camber is required to make room for wheel clearance. We suggest reading through our wheel alignment guide for some great info regarding alignments and camber.
Lowered & Aggressive / Square
18 Inch | 19 Inch | 20 Inch |
---|---|---|
18x9 +25 to +28 | 19x9 +25 to +28 | 20x9 +25 to +28 |
18x9.5 +30 to +32 | 19x9.5 +30 to +32 | 20x9.5 +30 to +32 |
18x10 +35 | 19x10 +35 | 20x10 +35 |
Lowered & Aggressive / Staggered
18 Inch | 19 Inch | 20 Inch |
---|---|---|
18x9 +25 to +28 Front | 18x10 +32 to +35 Rear | 19x9 +25 to +28 Front | 19x10 +32 to +35 Rear | 20x9 +25 to +28 Front | 20x10 +32 to +35 Rear |
18x9 +25 to +28 Front | 18x10.5 +38 to +40 Rear | 19x9 +25 to +28 Front | 19x10.5 +38 to +40 Rear | 20x9 +25 to +28 Front | 20x10.5 +38 to +40 Rear |
18x9.5 +30 to +32 Front | 18x10.5 +38 to +40 Rear | 19x9.5 +30 to +32 Front | 19x10.5 +38 to +40 Rear | 20x9.5 +30 to +32 Front | 20x10.5 +38 to +40 Rear |
18x10 +35 Front | 18x11 +45 Rear | 19x10 +35 Front | 19x11 +45 Rear | 20x10 +35 Front | 20x11 +45 Rear |
Conclusion
In the end, choosing the right Tesla Model 3 aftermarket wheels is personal preference. Depending on your goals with the car, you can go as tame or as wild as you’d like. We hope that this guide helps you navigate the wheel fitment world. It’s important to keep in mind that the information and data in this guide isn’t the be-all-end-all. For most people, these Tesla Model 3 aftermarket wheels and fitments should suffice. At Wheel Suppliers, we’re very particular about the brands we work with. We aim to provide our customers with the absolute best information, customer service and products on the market.
If you still need help finding a set of Tesla Model 3 aftermarket wheels, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via our contact page. Our team of experts would be more than happy to help get you set up properly.