The range of an electric vehicle can be very sensitive to small changes. If you fit a roof rack or a chunky bullbar, you can shave 10 or 20 miles off your overall range due to aerodynamic losses. Alternatively, you can fit lighter, smoother tires and increase your range by a similar amount. Tesla has done just that with the Cybertruck.

The electric car manufacturer has made a new wheel-tire combination available for the Cybertruck with two motors and all-wheel drive. Until now, the vehicle was only available with off-road tires and futuristic plastic hubcaps. Now Tesla has introduced the new “Core” wheels and hubcaps, which trade off-road capability for handling and efficiency on the road.

Given that many Cybertrucks spend their lives almost exclusively on the road, this decision makes a lot of sense. The new option is already in use and owners are reporting noticeable improvements in range.

Cybertrucks equipped with the 20-inch Core wheels are now arriving in Tesla showrooms.

These wheels are equipped with Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires, which are made specifically for Cybertruck (CYBRTRK lettering on the sidewall).

With this wheel/tire combination, the range of the Cybertruck increases by 22 … pic.twitter.com/5L5w5SX4Af

– Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) 16 August 2024

The original package consisted of 35-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires with a 25-inch hubcap that was redesigned after the original cap design damaged the tires. The new Core wheel and tire package consists of 35-inch Pirelli Scorpion all-season tires with a smaller 20-inch hubcap in an otherwise similar design.

The new tires are approximately the same size but have a less aggressive tread pattern. This reduces energy loss due to rolling resistance and gives the vehicle a range advantage. According to Tesla, this increases the estimated range of the AWD model from 318 miles to 340 miles. That’s a difference of 22 miles and a 6.92 percent improvement – a huge increase in efficiency for an electric vehicle.

In the meantime, it’s worth noting that this option isn’t available for the Cyberbeast at the moment. You’ll have to stick with the usual off-road vehicles. Tesla hasn’t taken orders for the rear-wheel drive Cybertruck at this point either.

Particularly notable are the sidewall design elements of the new Pirelli tires, which are similar to those of the Goodyear all-terrain tires, as well as the CYBRTRK world view on the sidewall. It’s clear that Tesla still felt it was important to match the aesthetics to the vehicle when switching to the less aggressive tires.

Anecdotally, one owner posted on the Cybertruck Owners Club that he expects a range of over 370 miles under certain conditions, based on his own calculations and an observed efficiency of 3.29 miles/kWh. However, it should be noted that this is based on an efficiency value measured on a short trip, quite different from a full testing procedure like the one the EPA uses to determine range figures.

This range increase is of course no surprise. By choosing the right wheel and tire combination for your electric vehicle, you can reduce both rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag, gaining dozens of kilometers of range on a full charge. The same is actually true for vehicles with combustion engines. We just don’t talk about it as often, as it’s easier to accept a small hit in fuel consumption.

Check out the core wheels WITH the covers! Now available via Cybertruck.

When driving, 304 Wh/mile were consumed! This would give this Cybertruck a range of 370 miles.https://t.co/67mhZVxPQ8 pic.twitter.com/5BwNey8AWV

— Greggertruck (@greggertruck) 17 August 2024

If you want to make the most of every kilowatt hour, it’s worth going with the factory road tires. You’ll appreciate the extra range if you really need those last few miles to get to a charger. However, if you’re going off-road on a regular basis, it’s probably best to stick with the chunkier off-road tires for the best possible grip off-road.

Photo credit: Tesla