Tesla just added range to its most popular electric car without touching the battery, the motor, or the software. The European entry-level Model 3 RWD now carries an official WLTP rating of 572 km — up from 534 km before — and the entire 38 km (7.1%) gain comes down to one change: new tires.
Tesla Europe announced the update on X on August 28, 2026, crediting “new tires” for the improvement. Independent outlets including The Driven, Drive Tesla Canada, and AutoEvolution picked up the story the next day. Energy use on the WLTP cycle fell from about 13 kWh/100 km to 12.2 kWh/100 km — a roughly 6 percent cut with no hardware change at all.
A 38 km Range Gain With Zero Battery Change
Range increases usually mean a bigger pack, a sleeker body, or a more efficient motor. Tesla did none of that here. The Model 3 RWD keeps the same battery, the same drivetrain, and the same software — the extra distance comes entirely from lowering the rolling resistance of the wheels.
According to The Driven, consumption dropped from about 13 kWh to 12.2 kWh per 100 km, which is what buys the extra 38 km on the test cycle. The performance figures stay put as well: 0–100 km/h remains 6.2 seconds and top speed remains 201 km/h, per electrify.tw’s breakdown.
The Tires Doing the Heavy Lifting
The new spec pairs 18-inch “Prismata” wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, reported by multiple outlets to be Giti’s Control P10. Tesla hasn’t confirmed the exact model, but the principle is well understood: a tire that deforms less as it rolls wastes less energy as heat, so more of the battery’s power reaches the road.
Rolling resistance is one of the biggest energy consumers at highway speeds — by some industry estimates more than 30 percent of an EV’s energy use at speed. That’s why a tire swap can move the official number without a single line of new code.
Where the Upgrade Ships First
The new tires are standard factory equipment on the Model 3 RWD — at no price increase — but only in left-hand-drive European markets for now: Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania among them. Right-hand-drive markets like the UK and Ireland keep the older 18-inch Photon wheels and the previous 534 km rating. Whether the spec reaches other regions hasn’t been confirmed; The Driven speculates it could expand before the end of the year.
| Spec | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| WLTP range | 534 km | 572 km (+38 km) |
| Energy use | ~13 kWh/100 km | 12.2 kWh/100 km |
| Wheels | 18″ Photon | 18″ Prismata |
| Tires | Standard | Low-rolling-resistance (reported Giti) |
| Battery / motor / software | — | Unchanged |
| Price | — | No increase |
| Availability | — | LHD Europe first; RHD later / unconfirmed |
Model 3 now comes with 572km of range (up from 534km previously), thanks to new tires. — Tesla Europe (@teslaeurope), August 28, 2026
What It Means for Existing Owners
Because the gain is physical rather than digital, it isn’t locked to new cars. An existing Model 3 owner who fits low-rolling-resistance tires at the next replacement could see a similar efficiency improvement — though real-world results vary with tire condition, pressure, and driving style.
One caveat deserves attention. AutoEvolution reported this week that some European owners have complained about premature wear on the new Giti tires, with tread reportedly coming apart after only a few thousand kilometres. Tesla attributed the complaints to hard acceleration and advised against aggressive cornering inputs. As with any tire, the trade-off between efficiency and grip or durability is real — and worth researching in local owner forums before choosing a low-rolling-resistance set.
The Bottom Line for Tesla Owners
Tesla has found a low-cost way to make its most affordable car more efficient — and it’s a reminder that efficiency isn’t only about batteries and software. The 38 km gain on the Model 3 RWD shows how much energy is still being lost to the road surface, and it gives every owner a concrete lever to pull at the next tire change.
Over-the-air updates get the headlines, but sometimes the biggest efficiency win comes from the parts that touch the ground.
Photo: Tesla Model 3 on a city street / Pexels