To ensure that Model X provides you with the
best ownership experience possible in harsh
cold weather conditions, follow these best
practices.
Before Driving
When snow and ice accumulate on your
vehicle, moving parts, such as the door
handles, windows, mirrors, and wipers can
freeze in place. To achieve maximum range
and performance, it is helpful to warm the
cabin and Battery before you leave. There are
several ways to do so:
• Touch
Schedule
, available on both the
charging and climate control screens, to
set a time when you want your vehicle to
be ready to drive (see
Charging and Scheduled Departure on
• On the mobile app, navigate to
Climate
to
customize the temperature at which you
want to heat the cabin. This also warms
the high voltage Battery as needed.
• On the mobile app, navigate to
Climate
>
Defrost Car
to melt snow, ice, and frost on
the windshield, windows, and mirrors. This
also warms the high voltage Battery as
needed.
NOTE:
Tesla recommends activating
climate settings at least 30-45 minutes
before departure (see
). Preconditioning times depend
on outside temperature and other factors.
The Mobile App will notify you once your
vehicle has reached the desired
preconditioning temperature.
• In extremely cold weather or icy
conditions, it is possible that your charge
port latch may freeze in place. In cases
where you cannot remove or insert the
charge cable, or the vehicle is not
Supercharging due to the latch being
frozen in place, use the
Defrost Car
setting in the mobile app. This can help
thaw ice on the charge port latch so the
charge cable can be removed or inserted.
• Warming the Battery using Scheduled
Departure or the mobile app before
driving can also reduce charging time at a
Supercharger or third party fast charger,
especially if the Supercharger or third
party fast charger is close enough that
Trip Planner does not have sufficient time
to precondition the Battery (see
the Battery Before Supercharging on
page 101
).
Windows
• On the mobile app, navigate to
Climate
>
Defrost
as mentioned previously.
• Use the mobile app to schedule a service
appointment for Tesla to provide
hydrophobic coating to your windows for
a nominal fee.
Mirrors
If ice buildup is expected when parking, turn
off
Auto-Fold Mirrors
. Touch
Controls
>
Auto-
Fold
. Ice can prevent exterior side mirrors
from folding or unfolding.
NOTE:
Side mirrors automatically heat as
needed during preconditioning, or when the
rear defroster is turned on.
Wipers
If you expect snow or ice to build up when
parked, touch
Controls
>
Service
>
Wiper
Service Mode
. This raises wipers against the
windshield so they can defrost when the
windshield defrosts (see
). You can also turn on wiper
defrosters (if equipped). See
Tires and Tire Chains
• Use winter tires to increase traction in
snowy or icy conditions. You can
purchase winter tires on
).
• Tire chains provide additional traction
when driving in snowy or icy conditions.
Check local regulations to determine if
tire chains are recommended or required
during winter months. See
for more information.
Your vehicle’s tire pressures will drop in cold
ambient temperatures. If the TPMS indicator
light appears, inflate the tires before driving.
The tires will lose one PSI for every 10° F (6°
C) drop in outside temperature (see
Cold Weather Best Practices
100
MODEL X Owner's Manual
