Wheels and resale value
The most consistently under-declared item on a used Tesla, and one of the easiest to put right before selling.
The short answer
Wheel condition affects value more than wheel size does. Kerb damage is visible, easy to price and almost always cheaper to repair than to absorb in a valuation. Larger wheels look better but bring higher tyre costs, which buyers factor in.
- Kerb damage is priced at every valuation, declared or not
- Refurbishment usually costs less than the deduction it prevents
- Remaining tyre tread matters more on larger, more expensive fitments
Size, style and what each one signals
Bigger is not automatically better on the used market.
| Fitment | Typically seen on | What buyers weigh |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch | Model 3 | Efficiency and low tyre cost. Missing aero covers are a small, easily fixed deduction. |
| 19-inch | Model 3, Model Y | The middle ground, and generally the easiest to sell. |
| 20-inch | Model 3 Performance, Model Y, Model X | Looks strong, costs more to shoe. Tread depth matters more here. |
| 21-inch | Model Y Performance, Model S | Highest tyre cost in the range. Condition and remaining tread carry real weight. |
| 22-inch | Model X | Rare and expensive to replace. Damage is costly, good condition is a genuine positive. |
What counts as kerb damage
Everyone thinks theirs is minor. Here is the scale we actually use.
- 01Light scuffingSurface marks on the rim edge, no deformation. Common, cheap to refurbish, small effect.
- 02Heavy kerbingMaterial removed, visible flat spots on the rim lip. Priced properly, and worth repairing first.
- 03Cracks or bucklingA safety item rather than a cosmetic one. Declare it — it changes the figure, but hiding it changes it more.
- 04CorrosionLacquer lifting or white oxidation, usually on older cars. Refurbishment is the fix.
- 05Mismatched wheelsA replacement wheel of a different style or size. Not fatal, but it must be declared.
- 06Tyre conditionTread depth, brand consistency across the axle, and age. Budget tyres on a Performance car are noticed.
Is it worth refurbishing before you sell?
Usually yes, and here is the reasoning rather than a sales pitch.
A set of alloy refurbishments generally costs less than the deduction that visible kerb damage attracts across four wheels — because a buyer prices not just the repair but the inconvenience and the risk that the damage is worse than it looks.
The exception is heavy damage on large, expensive wheels, where a professional repair may approach the value of the deduction. In that case, declare it and let the valuation reflect it.
What is never worth doing is a cheap cosmetic touch-up that hides damage rather than repairing it. It gets found at collection, and it makes everything else you declared look less reliable.
How to declare wheels honestly
Two minutes of work that protects your figure.
Photograph each wheel straight on, in daylight, without polish. Note anything on the inner rim lip, which kerbs before the face does and is the part sellers most often miss.
Tell us the size, whether all four match, and roughly what tread is left. If aero covers or centre caps are missing, say so. None of these are deal-breakers, and all of them are cheaper to declare than to discover.
Keep reading
Everything else worth knowing before you sell.
The other specification question owners ask most.
Whether paint choice actually matters at resale.
The eight inputs behind every figure.
Every guide in one place.
Value your Tesla.
One registration is all we need to begin. Nothing is committed until you say so.
- Free valuation
- No obligation
- Nationwide collection
- Finance settled
What happens after you submit
Prefer to talk? Speak to the valuation team.