Description
For years you’ve been asking when MPP will have a Tesla Model 3 forged wheels wheel available to the market. Well, now is that time. This is by far the most exciting product release we’ve had since the coilovers were originally launched in 2018! Completely designed in-house by MPP, we have spent literally years developing this wheel, and we finally have something we just absolutely love. We hope you do too!
With these wheels, we’re doing it right. These aren’t no-name wheels from a questionable factory overseas. We’re working with Braid Motorsport, leaders in motorsport wheels with a history in Dakar and WRC going back as far as the 1980’s. Braid also supply wheels into Formula E, E-TCR and make prototype wheels for a number of OEMs in Europe. These wheels are expensive, motorsport wheels. By focusing on high quantity and a few target sizes, we’re able to get the price significantly below what custom, made to order Braid wheels typically cost.
Pre-Order Details:
Update: Aug 8 2023 – The wheels are finishing production and those who have requested air shipping will have their wheels in the coming weeks! The rest of our production batch will be shipped to the USA, where they will be loaded into our warehouse and shipping out late September.
The pre-order page will remain up until the wheels are IN STOCK and available to ship out from the USA.
The retail price target for a set of four wheels is currently $3920 for the 19×9.5, and $3990 for the 19×10.5, however the price has not been set in stone and is pending freight costs. We always suggest square fitment with the Model 3/Y.
How The Wheel Was Developed:
Here at MPP, we fully designed the wheel in-house and used that as a starting point from which the expert wheel manufacturers at Braid could work. Upon consulting with Braid, we told them that we’ve bent just about every off-the-shelf wheel out there. As we know with cast and forged wheels for Tesla Model 3’s, unless wheels are purpose designed for these big heavy cars, they will bend. So, with their decades of motorsport experience, they put in their secret sauce to optimize the barrel and inner lip regions to ensure maximum strength.
At that point, both Braid and MPP worked in parallel on the FEA (finite-element-analysis) process to locate and optimize weight, while taking care to not throw away the style and character of the wheel. While weight is critically important, we also knew that features such as aero cover compatibility, and the modern, mega look that the wheel carries were also important factors and were worth a few extra grams.
Revision after revision the wheel was sculpted into the final version you see here, and before it even existed in real life, it launched on the updated version of the virtual Tesla Model 3 built in Assetto Corsa. This game engine actually lent itself well to development as well – confirming how visually stunning and “MEGA” this wheel really is. The strong chamfers and large flat faces at the outside of the wheel just have so much presence and authority, and that really stood out in the simulator. Here are the final comments from MPP director and lead designer, Sasha Anis after seeing the wheel in person for the first time:
“Of all the products we’ve released, this one has the most emotional impact for me. Most of our parts are hidden under the car, and cannot be seen. I feel what we’ve created here is truly special. Having always been a big fan of mesh-style wheels, it was a no-brainer to use that as a starting point. From there, I was able to combine features from motorsport wheels to take the classic mesh design and modernize it to suit the Tesla. To be honest, I don’t think I have ever loved a wheel so much. Sometimes you create something digitally, and when you see it in real life you’re a little bit disappointed. In this case, it was the exact opposite. I really hope others feel the same way about this wheel and that it inspires the same emotion.”
Technical Details:
We tried to put every feature into this wheel we could, knowing that potential wheel buyers are very picky and are looking to check all of those boxes. But in addition to the common features that everyone is looking for, we’ve also added some features that very few if any wheels on the market have.
Inner Barrel:
For starters, we needed a wheel that was as strong as we could make it. Weight is important, but having wheels that don’t bend after two track days is more important. We put as much structure into the inner barrel as possible, as that is most commonly where we have seen our wheels bend. In addition, the inner barrel has a smoother outer face of the inner barrel, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency as the air passes over the inside of the wheel.
Unpainted Mating Faces:
This is something that Braid takes very seriously. Having paint on the mating surface of the wheel is the best way to have a wheel that does not run true, and which has lug nuts that loosen or back off over time, as the paint heat cycles and compresses. The same goes for the conical lug-nut seats. Motorsport wheels leave these surfaces unpainted to ensure that the lug nuts will not lose their clamping load over time.
Back-Machined Hub Face:
While we’re talking about the hub of the wheel, you can see how much material we’ve carved out of the back of the hub face. This is a ton of dead weight that serves no purpose, and we’re able to significantly reduce the weight of the wheel by machining quite deep in this area, with no downside.
Performance Rotor Step:
We know that those of you with performance rotors are frustrated at needing to use spacers to clear the hub’s secondary, larger rotor-centering hub. Not to worry, we’ve machined that step into our wheels, so you are able to run your OE performance rotors without the need for spacers.
Bead Knurling:
Knurling of the bead surface area is something that gets a lot of attention. While it’s likely not totally necessary and we don’t have much evidence of tire slip on wheels, we thought it wouldn’t be quite right to offer a motorsport-oriented wheel without it. The knurling in the wheel bites into the tire, adding grip and reducing the likelihood that the tire can slip on the wheel. This is useful because if tire slip occurs, it throws off the wheel balancing which requires the tires to be rebalanced.
Aero Cover Mounting Holes:
The wheel has threaded holes around the OD allowing for the use of future MPP aero covers. Partial or full aero covers are useful for a multitude of reasons. From increasing highway range, which is useful if using these wheels on a dual-purpose setup, or for increased heat retention in the wheel area – something which is useful, particularly for rear tires that take time to come up to temperature. And of course, there are also the style points.
Sizing:
Our Mega Mesh wheels are presently available in two sizes:
19×9.5 +37 – 22.7lbs
19×10.5 +33 – 23.4lbs
A note about weight: Be cautious shopping for wheels based solely on weight. We’ve bent a number of forged wheels which were designed for lighter cars. Be sure the wheels are purpose designed for the large mass the Tesla carries. In doing so, you’ll find that wheels rated to carry the Tesla load will be around the same weight range. Lighter wheels are possible by using a different design, but we are confident this is the lightest that a classic “mesh” style wheel can be while having enough strength to resist bending when used on the racetrack, or to survive large pot-hole hits.
Both sizes are aggressive, and designed for enthusiasts who are looking to get the most out of their Tesla. One thing which is really important to keep in mind is that the Model 3 is a heavy car. Heavy cars need big tires. Big tires need big wheels. It’s really that simple. After replacing the suspension, nothing will improve the experience between you and your Tesla the way that properly supported wide tires will. Putting a 275-section tire on a 9″ wheel is no better than having a 255 on the same wheel. An unsupported tire has less grip, feels uncertain, and wears unevenly.
We were perhaps the first to install 9″ and 10″ wheels on a Model 3 way back in 2018. We were then the first to fit 10.5″ wheels at Laguna Seca, and again the first to fit 20×11″ wheels on a stock body Model 3. So we have some experience with fitting different sizes of wheels on this platform. These are our recommendations based on our knowledge:
When To Use The 19×9.5:
This option is a much better compromise for those who want a very sporty setup, but don’t want to be forced to run excessive amounts of camber. This wheel will fit with OEM front upper control arms, and a range of wheel spacers can be used to achieve the fitment you desire based on the amount of camber you run. If the camber is OE, no spacers are required for a great looking fit. If you’re adding a lot of camber, you may prefer the setup with some spacers.
As the wheel is still quite wide, there will be a noticeable loss of highway range. This is common with any large aftermarket wheel and sporty tire, and you likely already know that if you’re reading this. However, using aero covers and efficient tires will greatly reduce the range losses, and we’re currently working on other components to assist in this department.
255-section tires are a great option for these wheels for road use and will result in lightning-fast response as the tire is slightly stretched. Aerodynamic efficiency will also be improved. 265 and 275 section tires will look just fine, but keep in mind that different tires are different actual widths, so a wide 275 may not look quite right and may result in a worse feeling.
When To Use The 19×10.5:
If you’re looking for maximum grip with no compromises, use 19×10.5 wheels all around. To fit these wheels, you will need to use MPP Front Upper Control Arms with no shims, and depending on tire selection, you may need to remove 1-2mm of material from the front upright. This is inconsequential from a strength standpoint. The camber you’ll end up with will be around -3.0 depending on ride height in the front.
Since the wheels will protrude from the front bumper, and you’ll be using wide tires, the aerodynamic losses at highway speeds are significant.
This is the perfect size if you’re using the wheels as a track-wheel setup, or if you don’t drive your car long distances very often and you just want the ultimate setup in terms of looks and grip, and aren’t too concerned about tire wear.
275 or 285 section width tires are optimal for this wheel, however, narrow-fitting 305s also work. We suggest using the tallest tire you can fit!
Other Sizes:
To achieve the price point we’re at, we need to have a certain level of volume of a single size and color. It’s simply economies of scale. If there is a custom size you’d like, that isn’t something that is totally out of the realm of possibility, but understand that this will come at no small increase in price. Of course, you’d also be able to spec your own custom color at the same time.
Of course, if there is enough demand for a different size, we would be more than happy to make it happen.
Colors:
The wheel is available in Gloss Anthracite powder coat, as pictured, or in a classic motorsport Satin Bronze, also powder coated. Custom colors are not available at this time – as mentioned above this is possible, but it increases the pricing to the QTY:1 level, which would be a very big price tag for just a color!
The Gloss Anthracite is a stunning color and will hide brake dust very well. If you don’t like cleaning your car very often, this is the color to go with. It will look amazing on just about any color of car. The color is also subtle – it doesn’t cry out for attention but anyone that knows what they are looking at will be pretty floored by these wheels in combination with proper fitment and ride height.
If you’re looking for something a little more motorsport, and a little more flashy, the Satin Bronze is what you’re looking for. It too will look great on any color of car, but it will really pop particularly on red and white cars. Black cars can also use the bronze to get a little bit more contrast out of the car. A photo of the 9.5″ MPP Mega Mesh wheel in Bronze is pictured below:
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