book.book Page 6 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM Tire Care and Maintenance Tire Care and Maintenance Using Tire Chains pressure, stop and check your tires as soon as Tesla has tested and approved Security Chain possible, and inflate them to the proper Company (SCC) Model Z-563 chains for use on pressure (see page 7.3). Driving on a the rear wheels. These chains must only be significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire used if your Model S has 245/45R19 rear tires to overheat and can lead to tire failure. installed. Do not use chains on 21” tires. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's When installing tire chains, follow the handling and stopping ability. instructions provided by the tire chain If Model S detects a fault with the Tire manufacturer. Mount them as tightly as Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), possible. this indicator flashes for one minute When using tire chains: whenever you power on Model S. • Drive slowly—do not exceed 48 km/h. NOTE: Installing accessories that are not • Avoid heavily loading Model S (heavy loads approved by Tesla can interfere with the TPMS can reduce the clearance between the tires system. and the body). WARNING: The TPMS is not a substitute • Remove the tire chains as soon as for proper tire maintenance, including conditions allow. manually checking tire pressures and regularly NOTE: Tire chains are prohibited in some inspecting the condition of tires. It is the jurisdictions. Check local laws before installing driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire tire chains. pressure, even if under-inflation has not CAUTION: Using non-recommended tire reached the level for the TPMS to trigger the chains, or using tire chains on other sized Tire Pressure Warning on the instrument panel. tires, can damage the suspension, body, TPMS Malfunction wheels, and/or brake lines. Damage caused by using non-recommended tire chains is not ModelS has also been equipped with a TPMS covered by the warranty. malfunction indicator to indicate when the CAUTION: Ensure that tire chains cannot system is not operating properly. touch suspension components or brake The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined lines. If you hear the chains making with the low tire pressure indicator light. When unusual noises that would indicate contact with the system detects a malfunction, the indicator ModelS, stop and investigate immediately. light flashes for approximately one minute after ModelS powers on, and then remains Tire Pressure Monitoring continuously lit. This sequence continues upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the Each tire should be checked monthly when malfunction exists. cold and inflated to the recommended When the TPMS malfunction indicator is on, the pressures that are printed on the Tire and system might not be able to detect or signal Loading Information label located on the low tire pressure as intended. TPMS driver’s door pillar (see page 7.3). If your malfunctions can occur for a variety of reasons, vehicle has tires of a different size than the size including installing replacement or alternate indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the pressure label, determine the proper tire TPMS from functioning properly. Always check inflation pressure for those tires. the TPMS malfunction indicator light after As an added safety feature, your vehicle has replacing one or more tires or wheels on your been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring vehicle to ensure that the replacement or system (TPMS) that displays a low tire pressure alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to telltale (Tire Pressure Warning) on the continue to function properly. instrument panel when one or more of your NOTE: If a tire has been replaced or repaired tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, using a different tire sealant than the one when the Tire Pressure indicator light displays available from Tesla, and a low tire pressure is on the instrument panel alerting you of low tire 7.6 MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL