[Solved] Best aftermarket wheels for a Tesla Model S Plaid?

Check this:

https://www.bestcaraddons.com/best-aftermarket-wheels-for-tesla-model-s-plaid/

yo congrats on the new plaid!! honestly i been through like three sets of wheels on mine since 2021 and Unplugged Performance UP-03 Lightweight Forged 20-inch Wheels are literally the sweet spot. i dropped from the 21s to 20s and the ride quality improved sooo much plus you get that extra sidewall protection for potholes. i mean the forged construction handles the torque perfectly and they clear the massive calipers with plenty of room to spare. if you want absolute peak performance though and dont mind spending a bit more then HRE P101SC Forged Monoblok is highkey the gold standard for aesthetics... just basically be ready for a long lead time on those. anyway i definitely recommend the 20s for the range boost too!! gl!

> I've been eyeing some lightweight forged options to help with unsprung weight, but I'm torn between staying with 21s for the look or dropping to 20s for a bit more sidewall comfort.

Ok so, I went through this last year. Same situation here—I literally spent months obsessing over spreadsheets before I finally pulled the trigger on my Plaid setup. Honestly, the stock 21s look killer but they are basically magnets for curb rash and the replacement tire cost is just insane if you're a high-mileage driver like me.

I was highkey worried about the budget too, cuz while those HREs and Vossens mentioned above are amazing, they can easily set you back $8k-$10k once you wrap them in rubber. I wanted that forged performance without the "Tesla Tax" being so heavy, you know? Basically, I ended up going with a set of Martian Wheels MW03 Lightweight Forged 20-inch wheels.

I stuck with the 20x9.5 and 20x10.5 staggered fitment and it clears the calipers with plenty of room to spare. The biggest thing for me was the weight savings—it's like 10-12 lbs lighter per corner than the factory Arachnids. You can actually feel the difference in the suspension response over choppy pavement. Plus, switching to 20s let me run Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 285/35ZR20 tires which have been a total game changer for daily comfort.

I'm super satisfied with how it turned out. The efficiency actually went UP by about 5% compared to the 21s, so the range anxiety is way less of a thing now. Best advice I can give is to check the load ratings carefully because the Plaid is heavy and that torque is no joke... but yeah, 20s are the sweet spot for sure. 👍

For your situation, I would suggest looking at HRE P101 Lightweight Forged Monoblok or Vossen ERA-2 Forged 3-Piece wheels. Dropping to 20s is definitely the right move for the Plaid because the extra sidewall protects the rims from those nasty potholes when ur pushing all that torque!!

Quick tip: Make sure you verify the internal barrel clearance specifically for the Plaid's massive front calipers. Most 20s fit, but some concave profiles can actually rub the housing if the offset isn't perfect.

* **Option A: HRE P101** - Insanely light and incredible finish quality, but they're seriously pricey.
* **Option B: Vossen Forged Series** - Great customization options and usually have a faster lead time.

Personally, I'm a bit of a stickler for safety, so I highkey recommend a professional fitment test before you commit. I've seen guys scratch their calipers on the first rotation because the clearance was too tight... literally my worst nightmare haha! But yeah, the performance gain from lower unsprung weight is AMAZING. GL!

TIL! Thanks for sharing

Works great for me

Re: "Check this: https://www.bestcaraddons.com/best-aftermarket-wheels-for-tesla-model-s-plaid /"

• Honestly, be super careful with those generic listicles. Been thinking about this for a few hours and i really want you to avoid the mistakes i made. I've been living with this car for a while now and unfortunately some of the "recommended" brands out there are not as good as expected when you actually push the car long-term.
• Avoid flow-formed wheels entirely for the Plaid. Had issues with a set of "high-end" flow-formed wheels that literally bent on a tiny expansion joint. The torque and curb weight are just brutal on anything that isnt fully forged.
• Watch out for barrel clearance on 20s. Even if the spokes clear the calipers, some barrels are too thick and leave like 2mm of space. One tiny rock gets in there and it'll score your calipers to hell.
• Dont just look at weight. Some ultra-light options feel sketchy and vibrate like crazy at high speeds. Its a total headache if you get it wrong but glad you're asking now before dropping 5k... let me know if you want more details on what failed for me.