You Can Put 37-Inch Tires on the Tesla Cybertruck, but You'll Have To Give Up Steering

Rarely has a vehicle generated as much hype as the Cybertruck. However, that's understandable. We're looking at a battery-electric pickup truck manufactured by the world's most valuable carmaker. Its odd shape and weird characteristics, like being bulletproof or having rock-proof glass, also contributed to that amazing exposure that allegedly generated nearly two million reservations. Just the word "exoskeleton" got many going!

But if life (and Tesla) has taught us anything, it is that we shouldn't put too much trust in promises and marketing lingo. Remember the pricing debacle? That was one of the things that took everyone by surprise. Now, here's another.

A shop that deals with all-electric vehicles regularly played around with two Cybertrucks.

The technicians figured out that they could install 37-inch tires just by adding spacers. If they hadn't pushed the wheel 1.5 inches outward, a few suspension components would have made contact with the tire. You wouldn't have even been able to get it going because the end of the suspension bolt would have pierced through the rubber band.

Keep in mind that the EV comes with 285/65/R20 wheels from the factory, which is basically a 35-inch tire wrapped around a 20-inch rim.

But what's even more interesting is that they performed the first fitment test with the Cybertruck set to Extract Mode. That gives the vehicle 17 inches of ground clearance. You won't be able to make much use of that ability, though. When it's active, the speed is limited to 10 mph.

Even with that much lift, the driver couldn't fully turn the steering wheel left without touching the inner fender liner. As such, more modifications are needed if you want better tires for your off-road-ready all-electric Tesla pickup truck.

These 37-inch tires might seem like a stretch or, better yet, a caprice. But off-road enthusiasts will tell you that these rubber rings have better tread and can enhance your vehicle's grip when adventuring off the beaten path. Plus, the Cybertruck looks a bit more menacing with those tires that stick out past the fenders.

There's even more discouraging Cybertruck news that came just before the end of 2023. A happy couple who have taken delivery of their low-VIN Cybertruck shared with the world that the EV's efficiency can become abysmal pretty quickly. Traveling at around 75 mph with the A/C and heated seats on translates into an electricity consumption of about 800 Wh per mile! That means the EV will cover around 160 miles on a full battery. That's without any modifications!

Now, think about what those beefy tires will do to the range. Overlanding or adventuring far away from a charging place with the Cybertruck doesn't seem feasible without the ginormous $16,000 bed-mounted high-voltage battery that should add around 130 miles of range.

It's worth mentioning that narrower 285/55 tires exist, and they might fit the Cybertruck better. But that would still leave you with the wheel well issue. Moreover, the rims can't be smaller than 20 inches in size because the front brakes are pretty big.

Finally, there's no real-world range test available at the time of writing. Most likely, the lucky owners who got their hands on an early unit don't want to ruin their relationship with Tesla. But as soon as one becomes available, we'll make sure you're among the first to know about it.

Until then, Happy New Year!