Right about the same time the Tesla Model 3 was released, some potential owners were upset about this one particular design element, but not anymore.

If I told you that your potential $35,000 car comes with plastic hubcaps you’d probably throw a fit and demand that someone throws on some factory alloy wheels or you’re out of here. According to Teslarati on their latest piece on the Tesla Model 3, specifically its wheels, not only do they highlight the Tesla Model 3’s plastic hubcaps, they show you specifically how to rip them off in one fell swoop to reveal beautiful factory alloys underneath. Thankfully for us, they also linked a Youtube video showing what they mean below.

Just like any hubcap, a quick but strategic pull in key places loosens the aero wheel and reveals an 18-inch alloy wheel underneath. Usually, car companies will stuff a plain-jane steel wheel underneath a hubcap, but this is not the case with Tesla.

Tesla, amongst many other car manufacturers before them, know that if you place special aero discs flush with the face of the wheel, massive gains in aerodynamics could be made. The only tradeoff is that aesthetically, they stick out like a sore thumb and may turn some people off, especially when they spent that much on a premium car.

This article from Eletrek mentions that a previous mock-up of an aero disk on a Tesla Model S yielded a 5 percent aero improvement, although the design was an absolute eye-sore.

Tesla hasn’t released how much more efficient the Tesla Model 3 is with the plastic aero wheels, but one owner claims his mileage improves by 10 percent with them on as opposed to off.

As mentioned, a simple yank on the aero cover reveals a nice looking alloy that’s heaps better looking than the aero wheel.

If you’re willing to forego that incremental efficiency that aero wheels bring and want your Tesla Model 3 looking fab instead of drab, go ahead and yank those aero wheels off. If you live in an area known for its thievery, it would probably behoove you to do so sooner rather than later before someone does it for you.

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