The 18-inch wheels of the Tesla Model 3 can improve its range by 10%

The Tesla Model 3 features some unremarkable wheel covers on its 18-inch wheels that can boost the vehicle’s efficiency far more than we expected. The wheel covers in question have been designed by the American firm to improve the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle and, therefore, its range.

Any airflow passing through the wheels has a negative effect on the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance, and given that electric cars need to be as efficient as possible (to extend their range), Tesla has set to work designing new wheel covers for its flagship model.

It is worth recalling that the American firm already launched a wheel cover design for the Model S that apparently increased the car’s range by 5%, but unfortunately that element was discontinued due to its poor reception among the public. Now, Tesla is writing a second chapter of this story, and perhaps it will be different.

According to one of the few people who currently own a Tesla Model 3, the electric vehicle increases its range by up to 10% with the addition of the wheel covers.

The wheel covers for the Tesla Model 3 – offered on its 18-inch “aero” wheels – are not permanent, meaning they can be fitted and removed as the owner wishes. Bear in mind that the wheel covers only make sense for motorway use; in urban areas, the speeds reached are not high enough for their effect to be noticeable. For this reason, their use should be limited to long-distance journeys, while the rest of the time the user can show off their attractive 18-inch wheels without any visual filter.

In addition to the efficiency gain, the 18-inch wheels come as standard, meaning they do not carry an extra cost like the 19-inch Sport wheels (1,300 euros).

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