Tesla-Marked Tires: T0, T1 and Acoustic Foam Explained

Two things on a Tesla tire that other cars rarely have

Look closely at the sidewall of a factory tire on a Tesla and you'll often find a small code next to the size: T0, T1 or T2. Look inside it, if you ever see one off the wheel, and you may find a band of foam glued around the inner liner.

Neither one changes the size you need. But both change what you're buying, and the foam changes how a tire gets repaired. Here's what each one is, in Tesla's and the tire makers' own words.

What the T mark means

Tesla's owner's manuals say you can identify a Tesla-approved tire by a T mark on the sidewall, for example T0, T1 or T2. Tesla describes these tires as designed to work with the vehicle, optimizing performance, reliability and durability.

Tesla's tires page explains the numbering:

• T0 marks the first version of a Tesla-designed tire.
• T1, T2 and so on mark later updates that add new tuning or technology.

Tesla also says these tires are engineered with tire manufacturers to deliver its targets for range efficiency, ride comfort, handling and noise.

So a T mark tells you two things: the tire maker built that version to Tesla's targets for your type of car, and the number tells you which version it is. It doesn't make a tire a different size or load rating from a tire without it.

The mark isn't a size

A Michelin, Pirelli, Continental or other tire can exist in your size with and without a T mark. They're different versions of the tire, and they're tuned differently. When you shop, check that the T-marked version is actually available in your size before assuming it is.

What acoustic foam does

A tire is a hollow ring of air, and that air resonates as the tire rolls over the road. Goodyear calls this tire air cavity resonance and names it one of the key contributors to cabin noise. In an EV, with no engine to cover it, you hear it more.

The fix most tire makers use is a layer of open-cell polyurethane foam bonded to the inside of the tread. It absorbs that resonance before it reaches the cabin. Tesla says it uses acoustic foam and optimized tread patterns in Tesla-designed tires to dampen road noise, and its tires page puts the effect at 6 decibels at 200 Hz.

Tire makers sell their own versions, under their own names:

Each maker's noise figures come from its own testing, in its own conditions, so they aren't directly comparable with each other.

How to tell if a tire has foam

Foam is offered on some sizes of a tire line and not others. To check:

• Look on the sidewall for the maker's foam name or symbol.
• Look up the exact size on the tire maker's product page.
• Ask the seller to confirm it for your exact size before you order.

What changes with a tire that isn't T-marked

This is the question most Tesla owners ask when they price replacements. Tesla's recommendation is a Tesla-approved tire. Here's what changes when you pick something else, so you can decide what matters to you.

What stays the same. The rules for size, load and speed don't change. Tesla's manual says to use tires and wheels that match the original specification. That means the same size (front and rear on a staggered car), a load index at or above the original, including any XL or HL marking, and a speed rating at or above the original. Tesla's manual also notes that tires that don't match the original specification can affect the tire pressure monitoring system.

What can change:

• Noise. A tire without foam, or with a different tread pattern, can be louder in the cabin. Whether you notice depends on the tire, the road and your ears.
• Range. The T-marked version was tuned to Tesla's range targets. Another tire may have more or less rolling resistance. The tire maker's product page usually says whether a tire is designed for low rolling resistance.
• Ride and handling. Tesla tunes its tires for ride comfort and handling on its cars. A different tire can feel different, firmer or softer, sharper or more relaxed.
• Wet grip and tread life. These can go either way. Some replacement tires put more weight on wet grip or tread life than on range.

Many tire makers now sell EV-specific lines that aim at the same targets: weight, torque, noise and rolling resistance. Our guide to Tesla tire types for South Florida names examples from the makers' own pages.

One more practical point: replace in pairs. Two different tires on the same axle can grip, wear and sound differently. Tesla's manual says to replace all four tires when a set is worn, and to replace in pairs when a tire has to be replaced early, unless the other tires are within 2/32 inch (1.5 mm) of the new tire's tread depth.

Foam changes how a repair is done

Foam doesn't stop a nail, and it isn't a sealant. Continental's ContiSilent bulletin says so directly: the foam is for noise, not puncture repair.

What it changes is the repair itself. Continental says a trained specialist must inspect the tire carefully and, under industry standards, decide whether a permanent repair can be made or the tire must be removed from service. A permanent repair means taking the tire off the wheel and using a method approved for ContiSilent tires, which involves removing a section of foam around the puncture so the inside can be patched.

The usual industry limits still apply on top of that. Under USTMA repair guidance, repairs are limited to the tread area, for punctures no larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm), with the tire dismounted and inspected from the inside. Our guide to plug vs patch explains why.

The practical takeaway: tell the shop your tire has foam before they start. Not every shop is set up for it.

Shop for your Tesla's tires

Ready to compare tires? Shop tires by vehicle, choose your Tesla, and check the product details for a T mark or foam. Tires ship free to the 48 contiguous states and DC, or free to our Sunrise shop for installation. In South Florida, mobile installation covers Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, and you can schedule service online. Have a foam-lined tire with a nail in it? Call (954) 773-1896 and tell us the tire before you book.