A while back, we tested the energy consumption of our 2025 Tesla Model Y Premium AWD, equipped with a 79 kWh battery pack and 20-inch Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires.

The test was conducted over a 102-kilometer route - roughly 50 kilometers in each direction - with the majority of the driving taking place on the highway. We completed three runs at 110 km/h, 120 km/h, and 130 km/h, with each run beginning at around 60% state of charge.

After we shared the results, many of you pointed out in the comments that switching to smaller wheels could significantly improve efficiency.

So, we decided to put that theory to the test.

We replaced the original 20-inch setup with an 18-inch Hankook iON Evo SUV setup and repeated all three runs before putting the results side by side.

If you want to see how it went, watch the full comparison below:

Test Design

For the sake of consistency, we followed the same 102-kilometer route as in our previous test, with the battery charged to around 60% SOC before each run.

The first run was completed at 110 km/h.  

The second run was completed at 120 km/h.  

The third and final run was completed at 130 km/h.

The weather was sunny, with temperatures ranging between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, and the climate control was kept at 22 degrees throughout all three runs.

Test 1 - 110 km/h

18-inch Setup

- Average Consumption: 137 Wh/km

- Estimated Full-Battery Range: 577 km

20-inch Setup

- Average Consumption: 142.6 Wh/km

- Estimated Full-Battery Range: 554 km

With the 18-inch setup, the Model Y consumed approximately 3.9% less energy per kilometer. That translates to an additional 23 kilometers of estimated range, or an improvement of approximately 4.1% compared with the 20-inch setup.

Test 2 - 120 km/h

18-inch Setup

- Average Consumption: 153 Wh/km

- Estimated Full-Battery Range: 516 km

20-inch Setup

- Average Consumption: 156.8 Wh/km

- Estimated Full-Battery Range: 504 km

Increasing our speed from 110 to 120 km/h raised consumption with the 18-inch setup from 137 to 153 Wh/km - an increase of approximately 11.7%.

However, compared with the 20-inch setup at the same speed, the 18-inch wheels still consumed approximately 2.4% less energy and provided an additional 12 kilometers of estimated range, or roughly 2.4% more range.

Test 3 - 130 km/h

 

18-inch Setup

- Average Consumption: 166.2 Wh/km

- Estimated Full-Battery Range: 475 km

20-inch Setup

- Average Consumption: 168.4 Wh/km

- Estimated Full-Battery Range 469 km

Once again, increasing our speed had a noticeable impact on energy consumption. Going from 120 to 130 km/h increased consumption with the 18-inch setup from 153 to 166.2 Wh/km - an increase of approximately 8.6%.

However, the difference between the two wheel setups became much smaller. At 130 km/h, the 18-inch setup consumed only around 1.3% less energy, translating to approximately 6 additional kilometers of estimated range.

Conclusion

Our community was onto something when they pointed out that switching to smaller wheels could improve efficiency and range.

Across all three tests, the 18-inch setup consumed less energy than the original 20-inch setup. However, the size of that advantage changed depending on our speed.

At 110 km/h, the difference was the most noticeable, with the smaller wheels providing approximately 4.1% more estimated range. At 120 km/h, that advantage dropped to around 2.4%, while at 130 km/h, the difference was just 1.3%.

Based on our results, the faster we drove, the smaller the efficiency advantage of the 18-inch setup became. By 130 km/h, the difference between the two setups was relatively minor.

Whether switching to smaller wheels is worth it ultimately depends on what you prioritize. If maximizing efficiency and extracting as much range as possible from your Tesla is important to you, a smaller wheel setup can provide a measurable advantage. On the other hand, if you prefer the appearance and driving characteristics of larger wheels, the relatively modest difference - particularly at higher highway speeds - may be a trade-off you're willing to make.