Tesla Model S & Model X Rear Tyre Wear – Causes and Fixes

If you own a Tesla Model S or Model X, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced a frustrating problem – your rear tyres wearing out far too quickly, often from the inside edge.

Some owners blame negative camber, others point to incorrect toe angle. In reality, both can be responsible, and the design of the Tesla suspension makes this a common – and expensive – issue.

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Why Tesla Model S and Model X Rear Tyres Wear Out Prematurely

The rear suspension on both Model S and Model X uses a multi-link design – several arms holding the wheel and hub in place. These arms move in an arc as the suspension travels, changing both the camber (the tilt of the wheel) and toe (the direction the wheel points).

This means:

• Lowering the car via air suspension, lowering links, or simply adding passengers and luggage alters the geometry.

• As Teslas age, rubber suspension bushes soften and sag, which can further increase negative camber.

With the rear wheels out of their ideal alignment, the inner edge of the tyre takes on most of the load. Add in the weight and instant torque of a Tesla, and the problem accelerates.

 

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The Role of Suspension Geometry in Tyre Wear

When camber and toe angles move outside their ideal range, they cause asymmetric tyre wear. This is particularly problematic on Teslas because:

• Rear camber is not adjustable from the factory.

• Toe adjustment is minimal – just enough for standard ride height on a new car.

Over time or with lowering, those small factory tolerances aren’t enough to prevent rapid inner tyre wear.

 

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Camber vs Toe – Understanding the Real Causes

1. Excess Negative Camber

Camber is the tilt of the wheel from vertical. Most Teslas run around -2.5° rear camber, which improves handling but accelerates inner shoulder wear – especially on a heavy, powerful EV.

The tread may look fine at a glance, but check the hidden inner edge and you may see serious damage.

Factory limitation: Tesla’s standard control arms don’t allow camber adjustment.

Solution: our Adjustable Rear Camber Arms let you reset camber to an optimal level, reducing inner tyre wear without losing grip.

 

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2. Incorrect Toe Angle

Toe refers to whether the wheels point inwards (toe-in) or outwards (toe-out).

• Incorrect rear toe causes feathered wear across the tyre.

• On Teslas, excess toe often happens alongside excess camber, creating a double wear effect.

Factory limitation: Tesla’s toe adjustment is just 3.5mm, which often isn’t enough for lowered or high-mileage cars.

Solution: our Adjustable Rear Toe Arms provide a much greater adjustment range for precise alignment.

 

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How Lowering Your Tesla Changes the Problem

If you drive your Model S or X at a lower-than-standard height – whether with air suspension set low or lowering links – the geometry shifts further into the aggressive zone.

• At standard height: Factory adjustments may be enough (with camber arms).

• At lowered height: Both camber and toe often move outside correctable range without aftermarket arms.

💡 Tip: Always align your Tesla at the ride height you actually drive.

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Our Adjustable Arms – The Proven Solution

Best fix: Install Billet Adjustable Camber Arms and Billet Adjustable Toe Arms together. This gives you full control over camber and toe for any ride height or condition.

On a budget?

• For standard height cars, Adjustable Camber Arms alone will address most inner tyre wear.

• For lowered cars, both arms are essential for proper alignment.

 

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Extend Tyre Life and Save Money with Proper Alignment

Ignoring inner tyre wear might save you a parts bill today, but it will cost you in the long run – in expensive tyre replacements and potentially dangerous blowouts.

By correcting both camber and toe, you’ll:
✅ Extend tyre life
✅ Improve safety
✅ Maintain traction and handling
✅ Save money over time

Our Adjustable Arms are designed specifically for Tesla Model S and Model X, giving you the alignment precision the factory setup lacks – and turning a well-known Tesla flaw into a solved problem.