Yet another flaw has been discovered in Elon Musk’s new Cybertruck, which experts say is a critical issue that will likely cost owners even more money.
The futuristic EVs Aerodynamic hubcaps cause wear and tear on tires, which can lead to unexpected punctures and blowouts, endangering lives on the road.
Even a brand new Cybertruck appears to be showing tire damage after “a few thousand miles” due to these poorly designed hubcaps, according to the CEO of a third-party Tesla parts manufacturer who discovered the problem.
They found that the aero covers dig into the sidewall of each tire at the bottom of each rotation – where all the tires naturally bulge outwards under the weight of the car above them.
Tesla is aware of the problem and is now shipping Cybertrucks without the aero covers – but current owners who have had their tires clawed by the defective part for months will likely have to foot the bill for new tires.
It has been discovered that the Cybertruck’s futuristic ‘aero covers’ dig into the sidewalls of the tires with every rotation. Brian Reese, CEO of aftermarket Tesla parts maker T Sportline, found that after just “a few thousand miles” more than a tenth of an inch (0.12 in) had been removed from each tire
Although the Cybertruck’s aero-cover spokes were designed with “a decently small gap” between the spokes and the tire, that gap is closed by gravity at the bottom of each tire. All tires naturally balloon outward where they hit the road under the weight of the car
The revelation follows reports that CarMax, a used car retailer, is already marking down resold Cybertrucks by as much as $25,000 less than their sticker price.
Brian Reese, the CEO of aftermarket Tesla parts maker T Sportline, measured the damage in a new video, showing that after just a few thousand miles of driving, more than a tenth of an inch (0.12 in) of the car’s tires Cybertruck was scraped.
“For every Cybertruck we’ve had, the wear and tear has been a little different, give or take,” Reese noted YouTube. “This is about as bad as I’ve seen.”
The Cybertruck’s aero cover, which promises to reduce drag to increase the truck’s efficiency and range, comes with a set of seven ultra-modern-looking spokes.
Unlike typical aero covers, the Cybertruck’s design extends these spokes beyond the surface of the cover – where their hard, trapezoidal edges extend over the sidewall of each tire.
Although the spokes of this aero cover are designed with “a decently small gap” between the spokes and the tire, that gap is closed by gravity at the bottom of each tire.
Safety concerns aside, new replacement tires for the Cybertruck aren’t exactly cheap: $470 each directly from Tesla for the electric vehicle’s custom 285/65R20 Goodyear tires
Reese noted in the video that this could become a safety issue, leading to unexpected flat tires on the road.
But customer forums have suggested that Tesla is working to address the problem.
Several posters at the Cybertruck Owners Club Forum have reported receiving their vehicle without aero covers, along with a recall notice.
“I got my CT on January 24th with no covers,” commented forum user ConcreteTilt. “No explanation other than they were going to send a tech out on the 1st to install the caps.”
‘Tomorrow is the 1st and I just got another message saying they won’t deliver because they’re recalling all the covers, and they won’t deliver the caps until March.’
“I understand it’s just the finished wheel hubs,” the user continued, “but it seems insane.”
Cosmetic issues and very real safety concerns aside, new replacement tires for the Cybertruck aren’t exactly cheap: $470 each directly from Tesla for the EV’s custom 285/65R20 Goodyear tires.
“I am confident that Tesla will resolve this in the short term,” Reese noted in his video. “You’re going back to work.”
“But if this was my truck, I would take them (the defective aero covers) off,” he continued.
“If you have a little wear and tear it’s not a problem, but if you drive tens of thousands of miles it becomes a problem.”
And customer reports indicate that these Cybertruck-specific Goodyear tires and their sci-fi style aero covers will need to be reconnected and corrected in the near future.
But like a car reporter for The ride noted, “Far from a critical design flaw, this is a somewhat obvious flaw that proves that some never-before-seen features are there for a reason.”
But the aero cover issue isn’t the only problem customers have reported with the Cybertruck, which has only been in the public’s hands for a few months.
Quality control has long been an issue with Elon Musk’s vehicles. The billionaire has even said that “manufacturing is hell” in response to his company’s poor quality control on previous electric cars.
The first Cybertruck defect found was reported just over a month after Musk officially launched the futuristic truck.
That owner shared a review of his recently purchased Cybertruck, revealing a few misaligned panels on the outside near the truck bed. “The operation of the right turn signal,” he also reported, “is a bit choppy.”
That owner, ‘Nan’, said he noticed these problems after taking his new car on a short 50 mile local drive.