Do Those Funky Tesla Wheel Covers Actually Boost Range?

I don't blame Tesla owners for sprinting to buy Haloblk's disc wheel covers. Who doesn't love a disc wheel? They were always cool, and they're making a bit of a comeback now, with several brands offering them from the factory. The added advantage is that their superior aerodynamics actually boosts efficiency, in theory. In this new video from Gjeebs, you get to see whether the Haloblk wheel covers actually offer better range in the real world, or if they're just for vibes.

In this test, Gjeebs tests two different sets of wheels, without the Haloblk covers, a 19" set and a 20" set. Their efficiencies were pretty similar, despite the different diameter wheels, even when the 19" wheels had the stock aero covers on them. That wasn't a great comparison, though, because both cars had different kinds of tires, which can provide wildly different levels of efficiency, so it wasn't a fair wheel-to-wheel comparison. The better comparison was comparing the stock 19" wheels to the same wheels but with the Haloblk covers.

Photo by: Tesla

As cool as the Haloblk covers look, they don't seem to offer much of a range boost. After extrapolating the 20-mile test loop's range tests to a full battery charge, it seems that the discs would only increase range by a few miles. That's barely even worth mentioning, as a strong headwind could eliminate those few extra miles. Considering the Cybercab already has disc wheel covers, if they really made a significant difference on other models, Tesla would offer them.

Ultimately, you don't need a range benefit to buy these covers. They're pretty cheap, starting at $210 for a full set, can be installed in seconds, and are even customizable. So if you like the look of them, they can massively improve the look of your car for a reasonable price. It's worth noting, though, that you shouldn't exceed 110 mph with them, or take your car to the track. If you plan on doing those things, take the covers off first. But if you want them because of their range benefits, you'll seemingly be disappointed.

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