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Model Y Winter Gear
Tires, traction, covers and the free settings, matched to your wheel size.
BEST PICKS / WINTER
Tesla Model Y Winter Accessories: What to Buy for Your Wheel Size
What winter accessories does a Tesla Model Y need?
Start with your wheel size. Winter tires matter most: Tesla sells mounted winter packages from $1,895 for the Standard's 18-inch wheels to $4,950 for the Performance's 21-inch wheels, plus a $3,500 Model Y L package. Add the chains or snow socks Tesla lists for that size, a windshield cover, and a foam snow brush that won't scratch the glass roof. Then turn on Wiper Service Mode and scheduled preconditioning, which are free.
Most winter advice for Teslas ignores the one thing that decides what you can buy: your wheel and tire size. Tesla's approved chains, its snow socks and its winter packages all change with it. Find your size on the tire sidewall or the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver's door pillar, then use the table below.
Tesla prices and Amazon prices checked Oct 30, 2026 · Facts from Tesla's US owner's manual and Tesla Shop
Your wheel size decides what fits
Tire sizes come from Tesla's US owner's manual, the approved chains from its tire chain table, and the packages and socks from Tesla Shop on Oct 30, 2026.
18" Aperture
235/55R18
- Tesla winter package
- Tesla 18" Aperture + Pirelli Sottozero 3, $1,895 (not for Premium or Performance)
- Approved chain
- König CG-9 size 105 (manual)
- Snow socks
- Tesla 18"/19" Snow Socks, $95, or AutoSock HP697
19" Crossflow
255/45R19
- Tesla winter package
- Tesla 19" Crossflow + Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, $2,750 (Model Y and Model Y Premium)
- Approved chain
- König XG-12 Pro 252, $250 from Tesla
- Snow socks
- Tesla 18"/19" Snow Socks, $95
20"
255/40R20
- Tesla winter package
- No 20" package on Tesla's US shop when I checked
- Approved chain
- König XG-12 Pro 252, $250 from Tesla
- Snow socks
- AutoSock HP697 (Tesla sells none for 20")
21" Arachnid 2.0 (Performance)
255/35R21 front, 275/35R21 rear
- Tesla winter package
- Tesla 21" Arachnid 2.0 + Pirelli Sottozero 3, $4,500, or + Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, $4,950 (Performance)
- Approved chain
- König K-Summit XXL K66, $575 from Tesla
- Snow socks
- Tesla 21" Snow Socks, $145 (2025+ Performance)
19" Machina 2.0 (Model Y L)
255/45R19 front, 275/45R19 rear
- Tesla winter package
- Tesla Model Y L 19" + Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, $3,500
- Approved chain
- König K-Summit XXL K66 (manual, 19" six-seat)
- Snow socks
- Tesla sells none for the Model Y L
| Wheel | Tire size | Tesla winter package | Approved chain | Snow socks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18" Aperture | 235/55R18 | Tesla 18" Aperture + Pirelli Sottozero 3, $1,895 (not for Premium or Performance) | König CG-9 size 105 (manual) | Tesla 18"/19" Snow Socks, $95, or AutoSock HP697 |
| 19" Crossflow | 255/45R19 | Tesla 19" Crossflow + Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, $2,750 (Model Y and Model Y Premium) | König XG-12 Pro 252, $250 from Tesla | Tesla 18"/19" Snow Socks, $95 |
| 20" | 255/40R20 | No 20" package on Tesla's US shop when I checked | König XG-12 Pro 252, $250 from Tesla | AutoSock HP697 (Tesla sells none for 20") |
| 21" Arachnid 2.0 (Performance) | 255/35R21 front, 275/35R21 rear | Tesla 21" Arachnid 2.0 + Pirelli Sottozero 3, $4,500, or + Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, $4,950 (Performance) | König K-Summit XXL K66, $575 from Tesla | Tesla 21" Snow Socks, $145 (2025+ Performance) |
| 19" Machina 2.0 (Model Y L) | 255/45R19 front, 275/45R19 rear | Tesla Model Y L 19" + Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, $3,500 | König K-Summit XXL K66 (manual, 19" six-seat) | Tesla sells none for the Model Y L |
Winter tires and Tesla's packages
Tesla's manual puts it plainly: use winter tires for snow and ice. A second set of wheels makes the swap fast every season. Tesla's packages come mounted, with installation at a Service Center included, and every package except the 18-inch one adds four BLE tire pressure sensors. Tesla is also running a $100 rebate on four eligible Pirelli tires bought from October 1 to December 31, 2026.
Tesla Shop · $1,895
18" Aperture + Pirelli Sottozero 3
Not compatible with Model Y Premium or Performance, so it's the Standard's package. No pressure sensors included.
See it on Tesla Shop →Tesla Shop · $2,750
19" Crossflow + Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Model Y and Model Y Premium. Not Performance or Model Y L.
See it on Tesla Shop →Tesla Shop · $4,500
21" Arachnid 2.0 + Pirelli Sottozero 3
Performance's 21-inch wheels. Staggered 255/35R21 front, 275/35R21 rear.
See it on Tesla Shop →Tesla Shop · $4,950
21" Arachnid 2.0 + Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Model Y Performance only. Staggered 255/35R21 front, 275/35R21 rear.
See it on Tesla Shop →Tesla Shop · $3,500
Model Y L 19" Machina 2.0 + Continental TS 860 S
Model Y L Premium, 2026+. Staggered 255/45R19 front, 275/45R19 rear.
See it on Tesla Shop →Two things to do after the swap
- • Touch Service > Wheel & Tire > Tires and select winter tires. Tesla says regenerative braking can be weaker for a short while on new winter tires, and this speeds up the recalibration.
- • If you buy wheels outside Tesla, sort out pressure sensors first. Some Model Y configurations use indirect TPMS with no sensors in the wheels; my TPMS guide for winter wheels covers what to check.
Chains vs snow socks
Chains bite harder on ice, and socks are lighter and easier to fit. Tesla allows both, with limits. I'd only use the chains Tesla's manual lists: it warns that other chains, or chains on other tire sizes, can damage the suspension, body, wheels or brake lines, and that this damage isn't covered by the warranty.
Tesla's chain rules for Model Y
- • Rear tires only. Never on the front.
- • 30 mph maximum, and take them off as soon as conditions allow.
- • Remove wheel covers first, or you risk damage the warranty won't cover.
- • Never on summer tires, and never deflate the tires to fit chains.
- • Chains are banned in some places. Check local laws.
For socks, Tesla sells its own pairs for the 2025+ Model Y: 18"/19" Snow Socks for $95 (18" Aperture or 19" Crossflow wheels) and 21" Snow Socks for $145 (Performance). For 20-inch wheels, where Tesla sells none, AutoSock is the usual alternative.
AutoSock HP697 snow socks
$120.95 on Amazon (Oct 30, 2026)
A textile sock for the drive wheels, sold in pairs. AutoSock's size charts list size 697 for 235/55R18, 255/40R20, 255/35R21 and 275/35R21. The charts disagree on 255/45R19, so 19-inch owners should take Tesla's own socks instead.
Check AutoSock HP697 →Windshield snow covers
If the car sleeps outside, a cover saves the morning scrape and keeps the wipers from freezing to the glass. Many covers on Amazon name the Model Y without saying which years. Take the cover off before you drive: the forward cameras look through the top of the windshield.
Spigen magnetic windshield cover
$29.99 on Amazon (Oct 30, 2026, list $49.99)
The only cover I found that names the Juniper in its title. It's 600D nylon that also covers the wipers, and it holds with built-in magnets, hooks and side flaps that close inside the doors.
Fits: Model Y Juniper and Model 3 Highland per the listing.
Check the Spigen cover →
Nmoiss 3-in-1 windshield snow cover
$35.99 on Amazon (Oct 30, 2026, list $39.99)
Comes with two mirror covers and an ice scraper. It anchors with mirror straps, front-wheel hooks and door flaps, so it doesn't depend on magnets.
Fits: Tesla Model Y and Model 3 per the listing (Large size). The listing doesn't name model years.
Check the Nmoiss cover →A snow brush for the glass roof
The Model Y's roof is one big piece of glass, and snow piles up on it. A foam head pushes it off without the grit-dragging of stiff bristles, and a telescoping handle reaches the middle of the roof from the side.
SnoBrum foam snow remover
$34.00 on Amazon (Oct 30, 2026)
A wide foam head on a 28–48 inch telescoping handle, so you can push snow off the glass roof without bristles. It has no ice scraper, so pair it with a separate scraper for the windshield.
Fits: Any car.
Check the SnoBrum →
Snow Joe foam snow broom + ice scraper
$25.97 on Amazon (Oct 30, 2026)
An 18-inch foam broom with an ice scraper on the other end and a telescoping handle. Use the foam side on the roof and paint, and the scraper only on glass.
Fits: Any car.
Check the Snow Joe broom →Slush and salt inside the car
Winter does the most damage to the carpet. Two things in my own Juniper help here.
3W all-weather floor mats
33% off at 3W Official with code TESLAMODELGUY
These are the mats in my car and my best overall pick after testing every mat on my floor-mat roundup. They're TPE with raised edges, so melted snow and road salt stay on the mat instead of soaking into the carpet, and they rinse clean.
Yisuke trunk side bins
$62.69 on Amazon (Oct 30, 2026)
Lidded TPE bins for the Juniper's rear trunk wells. I keep shoes and sports gear in mine; wet boots or gloves go in the same way and wipe out later instead of soaking the felt. Five-seat Juniper only.
Free settings to use
These come straight from Tesla's US owner's manual and cost nothing.
Wiper Service Mode
If snow or ice is coming while you're parked, touch Controls > Service > Wiper Service Mode. The wipers rest against the glass so they defrost when the windshield does.
Scheduled preconditioning
Set a departure time under Controls > Schedule. Tesla recommends warming the cabin 30–45 minutes before you leave, which also helps the battery and range.
Frozen charge port
If the cable is stuck in a frozen latch, touch Controls > Service > Inlet Heater (North America), or turn on Defrost Car in the app. Manual release is the fallback.
Frozen door handles
When ice makes the handles hard to open, the Tesla app can pop open the driver's door.
Tire pressure
Tires lose about 1 PSI for every 10°F drop. If the pressure light comes on in a cold snap, inflate before you drive.
Range
Cold weather costs range. My winter range guide covers what's normal and what isn't.
Read the winter range guide →FAQ
What winter accessories does a Tesla Model Y need?
Start with your wheel size. Winter tires matter most: Tesla sells mounted winter packages from $1,895 for the Standard's 18-inch wheels to $4,950 for the Performance's 21-inch wheels, plus a $3,500 Model Y L package. Add the chains or snow socks Tesla lists for that size, a windshield cover, and a foam snow brush that won't scratch the glass roof. Then turn on Wiper Service Mode and scheduled preconditioning, which are free.
Can I put snow chains on a Tesla Model Y?
Yes, but only the chains Tesla's US owner's manual lists for your tire size, and only on the rear tires. The manual lists König CG-9 size 105 for 18-inch, König XG-12 Pro 252 for 19- and 20-inch five-seat cars, and König K-Summit XXL K66 for 21-inch and the six-seat Model Y L's 19-inch tires. Remove wheel covers first, never use chains on summer tires, and don't exceed 30 mph.
Which snow socks fit the 2025–2026 Model Y?
Tesla sells 18"/19" Snow Socks for $95 for 2025+ Model Y cars on 18-inch Aperture or 19-inch Crossflow wheels, and 21" Snow Socks for $145 for the 2025+ Performance. Tesla sells none for 20-inch wheels or the Model Y L; AutoSock's size charts list size 697 for 255/40R20. Check local laws before using socks.
Does Tesla sell winter tire packages for the new Model Y?
Yes. On October 30, 2026, Tesla's US shop listed an 18-inch Aperture package with Pirelli Sottozero 3 tires at $1,895 (not for Premium or Performance), a 19-inch Crossflow package with Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 tires at $2,750 (Model Y and Model Y Premium), 21-inch Arachnid 2.0 packages at $4,500 (Pirelli) and $4,950 (Nokian) for the Performance, and a Model Y L 19-inch Continental package at $3,500. Installation at a Tesla Service Center is included. I didn't find a 20-inch package.
Is a windshield snow cover worth it on a Tesla?
If you park outside, yes: it keeps ice off the windshield and the wipers so you don't have to scrape. Take it off before you drive, because the forward cameras look through the top of the windshield. Pick one that anchors inside the doors or with straps rather than magnets alone.
Sources
- Tesla Model Y owner's manual: Tire Care and Maintenance (chain table and rules)
- Tesla Model Y owner's manual: Wheels and Tires (tire sizes)
- Tesla Model Y owner's manual: Cold Weather Best Practices
- Tesla Shop product pages for the winter packages, chains and snow socks, read Oct 30, 2026.