Tesla wheel repair.

Tesla service centres quote replacement because refinishing is not part of their process — not because your wheel is beyond saving. Cosmetic curb rash on a Tesla wheel is repairable, and the difference in cost is not marginal.

Wheels we work on

• Model 3 — Aero/Gemini 18", Sport 19", Uberturbine 20"
• Model Y — Gemini 19", Induction 20", Uberturbine 21"
• Model S — Tempest, Arachnid
• Model X — Cyberstream, Turbine

Check the aero cover first

Model 3 and Model Y Gemini wheels ship with a removable plastic aero cover. A good number of kerb strikes only damage the cover — the alloy underneath is untouched. Pop one off and look before you book anything. If that is your situation we will tell you, not quote you for a wheel repair you do not need.

Why Teslas kerb more than most

Not just driver error. Low-profile tyres on large wheels leave very little sidewall standing proud of the rim, so the wheel lip takes the kerb instead of the rubber. The cars are heavy, so the same contact speed does deeper damage. And the flush wheel designs sit close to the tyre's outer edge by design — aerodynamically deliberate, but it puts the rim exactly where the kerb is.

The part that is actually difficult

Not the repair — the match. Tesla uses several distinct finishes including two-tone and machined faces. Restoring one wheel to sit alongside three untouched originals is the real work, and a machined face has to be re-cut rather than painted to imitate the grain.

EVs are also less forgiving of imbalance, because there is no engine noise to mask vibration and the drivetrain transmits it straight through. Every wheel we return is checked for runout and rebalanced.

While it is apart

If you are doing all four, this is the moment for a finish change — satin black, gunmetal and bronze are the common requests. See powder coating and chrome delete, both frequently booked alongside.

Background reading: Tesla wheel repair without dealer pricing.

Common questions