When personalizing and upgrading your beloved Tesla, aftermarket wheels are must-haves. They make your vehicle more identifiable while providing many other upgrades. We’re here to help you install these tires on your own.
Though the idea of installing these parts on your own may seem daunting, it’s quite manageable. In this informative guide, you’ll learn how to safely install Tesla aftermarket wheels at home, saving you both time and money.
Get the Right Tools
You can’t install your shiny new 2-piece wheels without the proper tools. Here’s a list of the tools you’ll need for a seamless installation:
- Breaker bar or impact wrench for loosening lug nuts
- Torque wrench to ensure the proper tightening of lug nuts
- Floor jack to lift the vehicle
- Jack stands to support the car during the wheel swap
- Jack pads for protecting the car’s undercarriage
- Gloves and safety goggles for your protection
Using high-quality tools will make the process easier and protect you and your beloved Tesla. Don’t buy cheap tools that might fail during this installation process.
Park Your Vehicle in a Safe Place
It’s hard to do a modification job correctly if the environment isn’t right. This is doubly important for wheel installation. For this job, park your vehicle on a flat and stable surface. If the ground is slanted, you risk your car rolling away when lifting it with the jacks.
Ensure the area is well-lit, spacious, and free from hazards. You won’t want anything to get in your way while working on your car.
Remove Wheel Covers and Loosen Lug Nuts
After parking your car, it’s time to get down to business. First, remove the current wheel covers to expose the lug nuts. Then, loosen the lug nuts on each wheel with a breaker bar or impact wrench. It will take a lot of force, so don’t be afraid to kick it if needed. Keep in mind that you’re loosening—not removing—the lug nuts.
Install the Jack Padding
This step for safely installing your aftermarket Tesla wheels at home isn’t necessary, but it is a good idea to ensure your vehicle doesn’t sustain damage while jacking it. Before positioning your jack, place a jack pad on the jack point under the vehicle. The padding will ease the pressure of the jack on your car while protecting its undercarriage from potential damage.
Jack Up the Car and Place Your Jack Stands
Here comes the hard part. After positioning your floor jack under the pad, lift the front or back of the vehicle until it’s high enough for you to work comfortably. Once it’s at the desired height, lift it a little bit higher, then place your jack stands under each axle to keep your vehicle stable. Finally, lower the jack so your car’s weight rests on the stands.
Remove the Lug Nuts and Take off the Old Wheels
Now that the front or back of your car is securely hovering over the ground, it’s time to remove the lug nuts and carefully pull off the current wheels. This step is easy as long as you loosened the lug nuts correctly. If one of the lug nuts is too tight, you’ll need to lower your car and try again.
Put on the New Wheels and Lug Nuts
Now comes the exciting part: installing your new wheels. Align the wheel studs with the holes on the new wheels. Then, slide the new wheels onto the studs gently. Push them as far back as they can go. Give your new wheels a wiggle to ensure you seated them properly.
Reattach the lug nuts, turning them by hand, then tightening them with your lug wrench. Don’t tighten them fully just yet—go for a snug fit that will keep the wheel from wiggling out of place after lowering the vehicle to the ground.
Lower the Car and Tighten the Wheels
With your new wheels mounted, it’s time to lower the car. Start by putting the jack back in place, and use it to lift the car back up. Then, remove the jack stands and carefully lower the jack until the wheel rests firmly on the ground.
Once the new wheels support your vehicle’s weight, cross-tighten the lug nuts firmly with the torque wrench to ensure an even distribution of pressure. If you’re not familiar with this tightening method, we’ll explain: move to the lug nut furthest from the one you just tightened, and continue this process until all lug nuts are fully tightened. Don’t tighten them in a circle.
Do the Whole Process Over Again
Now that you’ve successfully installed your front or back wheels, it’s time to replicate that process on the other side. Start at the beginning—jack up the car, remove and replace the wheels, and lower it back down—following the same safety precautions provided earlier. Doing this will ensure your new wheels are set up perfectly for your vehicle.
Take It for a Test Drive
Congratulations! With all four of your brand-new Tesla aftermarket wheels securely attached, it’s time to take your ride for a spin. We recommend driving on different surfaces and speeds for a short period to give the wheels a chance to settle in. Keep the radio off and windows open so you can listen for irregular sounds coming from your new wheels.
Pay attention to the smoothness of your ride. Any sort of wobbling might mean you didn’t tighten the lug nuts all the way. Even if you experienced no issues during the test drive, make one final check of the lug nut tightness. Safety is your top priority.
Keep an eye on your wheels for the first few trips on the road. Small problems might not make themselves known during your initial test drive, so you’ll need to pay attention to your wheels whenever you drive.
After that, you’re all set! Wherever you go, those sparkling aftermarket wheels will make every head turn and admire your Tesla’s upgraded look. You can look at your vehicle with a sense of pride before hitting the road each day, and thanks to this guide, you’ll feel confident about your new wheels staying secure.
