How It Works
The traction control system constantly
monitors the speed of the front and rear
wheels. If Model S experiences a loss of
traction, the system minimizes wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure and motor power.
By default, the traction control system is on.
Under normal conditions, it should remain on
to ensure maximum safety.
This yellow indicator
flashes on the instrument
panel whenever the
traction control system is
actively controlling brake
pressure and motor power
to minimize wheel spin. If
the indicator stays on, a
fault is detected with the
traction control system.
Contact Tesla Service.
WARNING:
Traction control cannot
prevent collisions caused by driving
dangerously or turning too sharply at
high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed,
you can enable Slip Start. Slip Start can be
enabled only when Model S is moving
48 km/h or slower. Slip Start automatically
disables when the speed exceeds 80 km/h.
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should
not be enabled. Enable it only in
circumstances where you deliberately want
the wheels to spin, such as:
• Starting on a loose surface, such as gravel
or snow.
• Driving in deep snow, sand or mud.
• Rocking out of a hole or deep rut.
To allow the wheels to spin, touch
Controls
>
Driving
>
Traction Control
>
Slip Start
.
The instrument panel
displays an alert message
when Slip Start is enabled.
Although Slip Start is automatically disabled
the next time you start Model S, it is strongly
recommended that you disable it immediately
after the circumstances that required you to
enable it have passed.
NOTE:
Slip Start cannot be enabled when you
are actively using Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control.
Traction Control
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MODEL S OWNER'S MANUAL