Wheel/tire and Slate University response

[ZuliMuli]

Kind of bummed we won't get the university sooner but I honestly didn't expect it till after people started receiving them so the whole "in production" does give the chance it might come out before the first truck ships.

 

[Shrink36s]

For snow country dwellers, having the steel wheels for some winter tires would be nice. Though, I agree, for most, having a set of wheels to store/sell/whatever would be annoying.

 

[smack daddy]

For snow country dwellers, having the steel wheels for some winter tires would be nice. Though, I agree, for most, having a set of wheels to store/sell/whatever would be annoying.

That is why I am launching slateswapshop.com we are still working on it going to have a live chat forums a place to sale and trade items and a place to sale your truck when you want a new one

 

[ZuliMuli]

For snow country dwellers, having the steel wheels for some winter tires would be nice. Though, I agree, for most, having a set of wheels to store/sell/whatever would be annoying.

Same, I am lucky to have room to store sets of tires, I have a winter and all season for my daily and a track and a "performance" all season set for my WRX. My poor wife gets to have crossclimates al year lol

But for many even with the room the likely hood of them swapping wheels back and forth and getting a winter tire installed on the steelies is small, especially when we consider the lack of EV rated tires at 17" more or less ones with good winter performance in mind. (yes I know the Slate is about the weight of an Outback but it's the rolling resistance we are worried about, then noise which are what EV tires are made for before the weight)

 

[sodamo]

Growing up in Maine, always thought swapping tires just a fact of life.

 

[FC49er]

I'll be running the steelies till the truck dies

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I will immediately want a second set of 17s for snows. There will be a market for stock rims for people looking for a second set and crash repairs (same as every other car).

 

[ZuliMuli]

I will immediately want a second set of 17s for snows. There will be a market for stock rims for people looking for a second set and crash repairs (same as every other car).

The market for stock steelies will be very small if everyone gets a set. To the point shipping cost will be more than the set of wheels as people just try and get rid of them. Along with the fact there isn't really an EV tire in 17's that is winter "focused" (there's not that many 17" tires for EVs to begin with) so having the steelies for the winter set becomes even more questionable.

Please understand I'm not saying you and a hand full of people won't do it. I myself currently do on my daily, but after looking at what's available I'm not sure I will for this truck.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

The market for stock steelies will be very small if everyone gets a set. To the point shipping cost will be more than the set of wheels as people just try and get rid of them. Along with the fact there isn't really an EV tire in 17's that is winter "focused" (there's not that many 17" tires for EVs to begin with) so having the steelies for the winter set becomes even more questionable.

Please understand I'm not saying you and a hand full of people won't do it. I myself currently do on my daily, but after looking at what's available I'm not sure I will for this truck.

You're assuming every single person that buys a slate will put different wheels on and have no use for the factory wheels that will become worthless. This isn't the case with any other vehicle, even the commonly modified ones.

As for snow tires (and tires in general) don't get too hung up on "EV specific" tires. Lower rolling resistance is good for extending range a couple percentage points, not for snow traction.
Edit: at least pirelli and nokian make "ev rated" snow tires in 245/65/17, probably others

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Oh, and don't forget that the slate doesn't come with a spare. So your factory set you don't want will have an immediate market as full size spares.

 

[Sparkie]

Growing up in Maine, always thought swapping tires just a fact of life.

Now that you live as far from Maine as possible without leaving the USA, are your "swap tires" for the lava flows?

 

[Paul]

Kind of bummed we won't get the university sooner but I honestly didn't expect it till after people started receiving them so the whole "in production" does give the chance it might come out before the first truck ships.

I generally have another set of rims for snow tires. Although there's all-season tires out there that are rated for snow now, so that might not be As much of a demand is in the past. But I'm sure there's going to be a market for people looking for steel wheels pretty quickly. Since it's rear-wheel drive only. They may be looking for a pair of studded tires or something. Or they could have some kind of trade program? In any case, it would be kind of nice to have spare steelies on the used Market right up front.

 

[kvermeer]

You're assuming every single person that buys a slate will put different wheels on and have no use for the factory wheels that will become worthless.

As someone who plans to buy the Blank Slate with steelies and run them all summer, and who lives in Michigan where snow tires are basically mandatory, I'd be happy to take a set of the stock wheels off their hands for use in winter!

It's way easier to just get snow tires permanently mounted than have to have a tire shop strip and reload and rebalance them twice a year.

If someone else also has extra steelies, I'd take one of four for a spare.

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

Same, I am lucky to have room to store sets of tires, I have a winter and all season for my daily and a track and a "performance" all season set for my WRX. My poor wife gets to have crossclimates al year lol

But for many even with the room the likely hood of them swapping wheels back and forth and getting a winter tire installed on the steelies is small, especially when we consider the lack of EV rated tires at 17" more or less ones with good winter performance in mind. (yes I know the Slate is about the weight of an Outback but it's the rolling resistance we are worried about, then noise which are what EV tires are made for before the weight)

Those Crossclimates are way more capable than you are giving them credit for. Outhandle most all season tires and some summer on dry pavement. Amazing snow tire.

 

[ZuliMuli]

Those Crossclimates are way more capable than you are giving them credit for. Outhandle most all season tires and some summer on dry pavement. Amazing snow tire.

Oh yeah their great, I should have put a /s after that, I wouldn't let the wife drive around on the year round if I didn't know they were great tires.