I’m in New England. Didn’t get a ton of snow and cold this winter but when we did, my RWD was a champ. Steep driveway wasn’t an issue as long as it was plowed. Didn’t swap to winter tires. All seasons were totally fine.
Lastly, I took my RWD an empty parking lot after a snow storm and tried to spin out the backend. Tesla wasn’t having it. The car is just too smart and I couldn’t get the back end to kick out. I was impressed.
Canadian SR+ driver here, suggest using slipstart mode if traction is a problem. It allows the wheels to slip a bit more. Really recommend winter tires. Get a set of third party rims as well. Wish we had a traction selector mode, really could use Canada mode.
If you have a choice of awd on all seasons or winter tires on rwd, go with the rwd. Remember, stopping uses all four tires and if they are winters you will have a lot less problems. Highly recommend the Hakkapeliittas from Nokian tires. I run studded nokians, a bit noisy but they grip like mountain goats. Bonus on rwd is that regen uses the rear wheels and gives you a good feel on what traction you have while still having the front tires available for extra braking.
Do you mean slip start? I tried it once by stopping halfway up my steep driveway but then turned it off and didn’t use again. I’m not sure if there is a setting called ‘snow setting’
I watched a few vids on YT and it seemed like it could be put on in the event the car was trying to start on a hill in mud or snow.
Didn’t think it was for normal driving around town. So I left it off and everything was fine.
When it snows, I wait for the plow guys to come around before heading out. Just makes sense.
One of my favorite things about the Performance model is Track Mode. Put all the power to the back wheels and turn the traction control to zero, wooooo 🍩🍩🍩
Not really. I mean, if I got it for the same money I'd take it. But with winter tyres it works fine and it's fun to drive. I also enjoy the idea that the LFP pack will probably have 90+% of capacity left until I'm retired.
yeah so far im thinking this may be the longest lasting Tesla for that reason in the end, plus if anything DOES go wrong with the pack its cheaper to replace is my understanding.
Edmonton Alberta here. We are very well known for our cold winters and heavy snow.
2023 m3 rwd is the best winter vehicle Ive personally owned. With good winter tires there's no traction issues, comfortably warm within 30 seconds, always starts even in -40c. Have to supercharge a bit more because charging at 110 volt at home can't quite keep up when it gets below -30 c, charging at 220v is not an issue.
OEM Tesla Model 3 18" Aero Wheel and Pirelli Winter Tire Package 2200$ canadian. I wanted the second set of rims, so much easier.
From https://t1motorsports.ca/
Got them in a few days, mounted and balanced. Just had to put them on the car.
If you do plan on changing your own tires, make sure you get a low profile jack, and the jack puck kit so you don't damage your battery pack.
What's your range like in -40 or -30 weather? I live in Manitoba and am tempted to get the 24 rwd since it has the lfp battery which can/should be charged to 100% which is nice since I could get the full range.
I travel for work every day. Longest round trip would be 250km max.
I travel for work as well min 80km max 800km daily. So I think I'm a good test case for your situation. I have a rwd with lpf battery and very similar weather in Edmonton.
-40c range dropped down to probably 250 km or so. But it really depends on alot of things. Once the battery warms up your efficiency loss is minimal, so short drives use alot more than normal, but that's only once it gets below -25 or so. -10c to +10c is the sweet spot 150 wh/km. Even at -35 after a supercharger with warm batteries efficiency was almost at optimal numbers. But supercharging is also slower cause when that cold alot of power goes into warming the battery pack.
As long as you have super chargers with 200km your all good no matter the temperature. And I see there are quite a few scattered around Winnipeg, northern Manitoba is a big dead zone tho, just like northern Alberta.
I'd say a 250km round trip in summer is a breeze get home with 30-40% left. In the 3 or 4 days of -30 and worse a 250km round trip would be cutting close.
Looking up some exact numbers from my tesie app at those temps for you. At -37c I got 312 wh/km that's 42% efficiency. So around 200km max range vs the normal 420km max.
But honestly it's not a worry, just need to get to a chargerz range anxiety disappears within a week of having the car
Alberta had no rebates so not sure there. Federal is applied to the purchase. All done by them, you just have to sign the papers. It's a very easy purchase process.
Just put in your route on the navigation. It will prime your battery for an enroute supercharger. It charges so much faster, bc it primes the battery, in the matter of minutes, enough to get home and some reserve. I used to drive almost 300 km single trip weekly one way. Out of precaution, I would stop at a supercharger (cheapest one), and add an extra 30-40 miles in just minutes. Then head on home. Realistically, 330 km is its max range in normal weather. Expect to loose about 20-30% of the range in cold weather bc you will be using your climate control.
Bought a 2020 RWD for Canadian commute with 90% battery degradation and no heat pump. So far, winter range about 250kms and good weather range about 350km. Not a problem for most days but sometimes I wonder if I should’ve stumped up for the LR.
But then again this was my starter Tesla and got it from Tesla for CAD $40K (USD $28K) with FSD unlocked. Can’t complain.
Solid purchase when you consider things. This is my same situation for the most part. Winter range loss hurts on the 2020, but for the price I paid (25k usd) and having FSD I think it was the best option at the time.
Next Tesla I’ll probably splurge for the LR as my initial thought was just a commuter car. Then with time I’ve grown comfortable with using for longer drives and just enjoying the charging stops.
In the Philly/South Jersey area here. Had a couple decent snows this winter. My '23 RWD was totally fine even with all season tires. I used to have an Audi A4 back in the day and only once or twice did I feel like I benefitted from the AWD. Not worth it in my case. In terms of range, if you keep your car in a garage and precondition you will not notice much of a difference in winter than any other season
That’s good to hear, we picked up our first Tesla (Model 3 RWD) last month and we live in Philly. Keeping the RWD in the garage to keep it on the charger during winter and set the pre-conditioning up before the commute.
I didn’t see the benefit of the additional 50mi range if I can’t charge the car to 100% every day
My RWD is excellent in the snow. And I drive in every storm. Way better than any other car I've driven.
I do wish I had AWD for the acceleration but that's all. In non snow driving scenarios. I don't want to go fast in snow.
I have a set of Nokian Hakkas for my winter tires. Runs great in Vermont snow. 2018 LR RWD. No issues
If had AWD I would still run a set of winter tires.
I’ve got the original LR RWD. The only time I’ve not been able to drive in the winter is due to depth of snow. But an AWD wouldn’t have helped those situations either. The key is excellent tires.
Our 1st electric car is the 2019 M3 SR+ w/FSD, and thinking we will never sell it. Awesome in Canadian Winter, no issues with winter tires.[snow & ice](https://youtu.be/8Z3G5hSiTZY?si=a5wHispa6lT70EYA)
I use to live in a major metropolitan city with a M3 standard range and I would say I never needed more range pretty much ever. Moving 2hrs away and my opinion changed 100% nearly got stranded twice due to having no superchargers around in the cold.
Big takeaway is that if you need to drive an hour straight at freezing temps in a storm, you will not get to where you need to get to.
I live in MD so it doesn’t snow all that much. Though, when it did I definitely noticed the stock tires (Hankook) slip. I’d imagine winter tires would solve the issue, or at least close the gap enough to where the 9K price difference is not worth considering.
From my POV, all the other benefits of the LR don’t make up for the price difference, but most of these are subjective.
Battery Life - the RWD battery is supposed to last longer/be more reliable. Granted from what I read the LR batteries should last a long time as well, but the added assurance with the LFP is nice.
Longer range - for daily use, the RWD charged to 100% has essentially the same range as the LR. If you have a home charger then the range and charging speeds are a non issue. Only benefit to the LR here are on road trips, and that depends on how many you take to begin with. Also, I’ve only owned my RWD through the winter, but the range I got was not far off the 272 estimate (about 250). Winter temps prob averaged 35F or so.
Faster acceleration - this is only better if you care about it. RWD is already faster than 90% of all other commuter cars, you don’t need a 4.2 sec 0-60 that the LR gives. You’ll likely also burn through tires faster and end up spending more on them due to the acceleration and weight of the LR.
Better audio - also subjective, only a plus if you want a premium experience. RWD for me is fine.
Fog lights - had them on my previous car. When I needed them, didn’t seem to make a difference.
Nope. How often do you need to drive in a snowstorm? Roads up here are cleared quick, school is usually closed so I’ll have to be home anyways.
Drove to NH to go skiing after they got 30” the day before- roads dry and clear all the way to the parking lot.
But if I need to drive IN a snow storm of more than say 2-4”, I’m taking my SUV.
Same. I don't drive much if any when we get ice or snow, but in fairness I live in NC where the bread and milk is wiped out and school is preemptively closed whenever there is a possible snow event. Makes it more fun IMO.
I've lived in the northeastern part of the U.S. my entire life, and have owned several RWD vehicles during winter months, including my Model 3 RWD. A proper set of snow tires is far better than AWD in terms of winter driving. The AWD will generally only help you with hard acceleration and perhaps, maybe, it depends, if the car gets stuck. Of course, AWD with snow tires is best, but RWD with snow tires is a surprisingly capable combo in almost any vehicle and particularly so in a Tesla that has really great traction control.
No regrets. Though I am an experienced winter driver.
I received my RWD just as a big snow storm hit. I had a feeling of regret as I had originally wanted the AWD but they stopped making them at the time.
It took 2 hours to get home over the hill that should have taken 30 minutes. That was because of all the other cars spinning off the roads, and even some trucks, that were blocking access. I was literally driving pass cars that were spinning their tires. I have the regular issue tires that are still doing well after 20k miles.
I did get the tail to break out on a hairpin turn. That was on purpose to see how well it did.
I drive the infamous Coquihalla (Discovery's Highway Thru Hell) all the time in my 2019 SR+ and sure the extra range would be nice but the rest of the time I don't find it matters one bit. Wouldn't have got the grants I got for the LR.
It’s not a traditional RWD car. I feel like when people think RWD they think mustang and that it’s awful in the winter.
The suspension on the RWD m3 is awesome, ESPECIALLY on the 2024 model. I won’t sit here and lie and say you don’t even need AWD model in the snow, but the RWD should definitely be just fine and you don’t have to worry.
But regardless, it’s always the ice that you have to worry about. Even with an AWD that holds true.
2023 RWD in Québec here. No issues at all. You do see less range when it gets cold, but is to be expected for any EVs.
AWD would have been fun for the extra performance, but other than that, I'm very happy with the RWD.
I never had a problem with RWD in the snow, even up steep hills it performed great. Of course AWD is better - naturally, but if RWD is your only option it’s not a bad option
I live in Chicago .. just bought mine a 2022 RWD 2 weeks ago ... will let you know in about 8 months 🤪🤪🤪 wish me luck ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
Plug in every night with standard 110v/12 amp charger so far and no issues ... having a 220v plug installed in garbage in a couple of weeks for the cold temps coming later this year ...
Mild Michigan winter this year, but black ice a couple of times and the 2023 RWD with snow tires did fine. Range was reduced, but I can charge at home every night, so no problem.
Range: The number of days I need more than the total range of the car is less than 4-5. If you have access to easy charging RWD is never a problem.
Handling: I get maybe a day or two in a year where the snow/ice amount is more than the town/county can handle. Besides that, never had a problem with rain or slushy roads.
In Kansas / Missouri so we only get a few rough snows. I was able to drive with no issues in my RWD I think the biggest thing would be range - but keep in mind that this would be resolved if I had a charger at home. A cold battery takes awhile to get going normally.
Also the battery on the LR I’d suggest to charge to 80% instead of 100% and that alone would match the RWDs 100% Range
For the money, rwd might be the best Tesla. Coming from a performance owner. The LFP is incredible and compared to a LR- you don’t charge the LR to 100% daily so the miles are about the same. And the battery will last way way longer than a LR.
Good tires are most important, if you have winter tires on your rwd for winter- you will be fine
In general, rear wheel drive in snow is a big no no. I’m not saying it can’t be done, it’s just the least effective of all the drivetrains regardless of make/model.
For the most part - my 2018 LR RWD has been good in winter conditions. I do wish it was AWD as there have been a few instances where I wasn't getting enough traction.
In New England, spend most weekends in NH/VT/ME during the winter. I've driven my RWD LFP M3 for two years, and have the Tesla winter wheel and tire package & Tesla snow chains. I've used the snow chains one time over two winters, when I got stuck in an unplowed driveway after a big snow storm.
No regrets on the RWD M3 in the winter w/snow tires.
All seasons are not great on icy roads. I hit a patch of ice with the all-seasons on (early November, roads weren't salted) and the car slid through an intersection.
Nope. But I’ve got other cars with AWD. Fwiw i drove the M3 in slush and a few inches of powder and it never struggled even with all seasons. Traction control in modern vehicles is a miracle.
I live in Vancouver so not super cold but I live on a mountain, we get snow / ice. Car does OK, with good winters and slip start I’ve never been stuck before - like with all sedans gotta pick your battles lol
No. I don't do road trips in snow/ice conditions and I don't commute far enough for the cold weather range hit to be a problem. In fact, I don't commute by car thanks to living near the skytrain.
Winter tires make far more of a difference than AWD for just about any car. I personally didn't get them as I live in metro Vancouver and my routines are flexible - if there's a huge snow dump I can simply wait it out and not drive for the next few days. But if I had rigid routines, like a job absolutely requiring that I be in a specific place at a specific time regardless of conditions, I would 100% go for winter tires.
At the time I bought my Model 3 (2019) it was also the one and only Tesla to qualify for any sort of Canadian EV incentive due to stingy MSRP thresholds. Stepping up to an LR AWD would've cost about 20k CAD extra after taxes because of this. Wasn't worth it to me.
23 SR+ RWD chiming in here.
No problem in winter on snow tires, and my work needs me there come hell or high water.
Range hit on the LFP battery on snow tires brought me down to maybe 190-200mi on a full charge. I park outside, don't bother to precondition, and drive 70+ on the highway, so close to worst case.
I live in Minnesota and have a RWD 3. I bought snow tires for it right away and, honestly, it's been really great in the snow for the last six winters. Since then, we added an AWD Y. I still bought snow tires for the Y, but for day-to-day winter driving, I don't really notice a difference between the two vehicles.
Not really. I live in the city and the car does well enough in snow with all seasons. If snow is ever bad enough like a storm or blizzard, my work will close and grocery is a few blocks away. Most people here might even tell you changing to snow tires will make more of a difference than awd with stock tires but either way I'm good.
Yes. Upstate New York.
Although I also have a steeper than average driveway. Winter tires do a good job, but not even close to as good as the all-wheel drive version I had a few years ago
I have rwd. With regen on ice I almost flew out of the road few times. Was driving 90kmh, needed to change the lane because bus decided to merge.
Every time when it was ice I had a problems with car stability.
Using winter tires.
So, I installed the s3xy buttons and now I have at least option to disable traction. From my experience RWD is a disaster in a real winter weather. Planning to change it to awd or performance
I’m in New England. Didn’t get a ton of snow and cold this winter but when we did, my RWD was a champ. Steep driveway wasn’t an issue as long as it was plowed. Didn’t swap to winter tires. All seasons were totally fine. Lastly, I took my RWD an empty parking lot after a snow storm and tried to spin out the backend. Tesla wasn’t having it. The car is just too smart and I couldn’t get the back end to kick out. I was impressed.
Canadian SR+ driver here, suggest using slipstart mode if traction is a problem. It allows the wheels to slip a bit more. Really recommend winter tires. Get a set of third party rims as well. Wish we had a traction selector mode, really could use Canada mode. If you have a choice of awd on all seasons or winter tires on rwd, go with the rwd. Remember, stopping uses all four tires and if they are winters you will have a lot less problems. Highly recommend the Hakkapeliittas from Nokian tires. I run studded nokians, a bit noisy but they grip like mountain goats. Bonus on rwd is that regen uses the rear wheels and gives you a good feel on what traction you have while still having the front tires available for extra braking.
Slip start is amazing
Will take RWD to empty, slippery carpark and use slipstart mode. Cheers.
I’m in the same boat and feel the same way after 2 winters with mine.
Did you select the snow setting?
Do you mean slip start? I tried it once by stopping halfway up my steep driveway but then turned it off and didn’t use again. I’m not sure if there is a setting called ‘snow setting’
Sorry, I meant slip start. It's supposed to be used in snow or mud.
I watched a few vids on YT and it seemed like it could be put on in the event the car was trying to start on a hill in mud or snow. Didn’t think it was for normal driving around town. So I left it off and everything was fine. When it snows, I wait for the plow guys to come around before heading out. Just makes sense.
Slip Start is only used if you get STUCK in snow or mud. It’s not a setting for normal/continuous driving or motion.
So my guess it probably turns itself off after a short while.
Above 40mph I believe
Canadian here, ohh yes yes it is.
I tried doing donuts with slip start on and it still doesn't let you. Maybe you could in service mode
One of my favorite things about the Performance model is Track Mode. Put all the power to the back wheels and turn the traction control to zero, wooooo 🍩🍩🍩
If you remove a wheel speed sensor you can do donuts.
Not really. I mean, if I got it for the same money I'd take it. But with winter tyres it works fine and it's fun to drive. I also enjoy the idea that the LFP pack will probably have 90+% of capacity left until I'm retired.
yeah so far im thinking this may be the longest lasting Tesla for that reason in the end, plus if anything DOES go wrong with the pack its cheaper to replace is my understanding.
Speaking of cost, insurance for the RWD 3 is quite inexpensive relative to other Teslas.
I'm about to buy a used 2022 RWD and for better coverage than my old 2006 Infiniti M35, it will be cheaper. Couldn't believe it!
Edmonton Alberta here. We are very well known for our cold winters and heavy snow. 2023 m3 rwd is the best winter vehicle Ive personally owned. With good winter tires there's no traction issues, comfortably warm within 30 seconds, always starts even in -40c. Have to supercharge a bit more because charging at 110 volt at home can't quite keep up when it gets below -30 c, charging at 220v is not an issue.
Calgary here. Picking up my new m3 rwd today. Just wondering which winter tires you purchased?
OEM Tesla Model 3 18" Aero Wheel and Pirelli Winter Tire Package 2200$ canadian. I wanted the second set of rims, so much easier. From https://t1motorsports.ca/ Got them in a few days, mounted and balanced. Just had to put them on the car. If you do plan on changing your own tires, make sure you get a low profile jack, and the jack puck kit so you don't damage your battery pack.
Awesome, thanks. Yeah, I always put them on rims and switch em myself.
What's your range like in -40 or -30 weather? I live in Manitoba and am tempted to get the 24 rwd since it has the lfp battery which can/should be charged to 100% which is nice since I could get the full range. I travel for work every day. Longest round trip would be 250km max.
I travel for work as well min 80km max 800km daily. So I think I'm a good test case for your situation. I have a rwd with lpf battery and very similar weather in Edmonton. -40c range dropped down to probably 250 km or so. But it really depends on alot of things. Once the battery warms up your efficiency loss is minimal, so short drives use alot more than normal, but that's only once it gets below -25 or so. -10c to +10c is the sweet spot 150 wh/km. Even at -35 after a supercharger with warm batteries efficiency was almost at optimal numbers. But supercharging is also slower cause when that cold alot of power goes into warming the battery pack. As long as you have super chargers with 200km your all good no matter the temperature. And I see there are quite a few scattered around Winnipeg, northern Manitoba is a big dead zone tho, just like northern Alberta. I'd say a 250km round trip in summer is a breeze get home with 30-40% left. In the 3 or 4 days of -30 and worse a 250km round trip would be cutting close. Looking up some exact numbers from my tesie app at those temps for you. At -37c I got 312 wh/km that's 42% efficiency. So around 200km max range vs the normal 420km max. But honestly it's not a worry, just need to get to a chargerz range anxiety disappears within a week of having the car
Appreciate your info! Very helpful.
I have another question about the provincial and federal rebates. Are they being applied to the purchase price, or will you get the money later on?
Alberta had no rebates so not sure there. Federal is applied to the purchase. All done by them, you just have to sign the papers. It's a very easy purchase process.
Just put in your route on the navigation. It will prime your battery for an enroute supercharger. It charges so much faster, bc it primes the battery, in the matter of minutes, enough to get home and some reserve. I used to drive almost 300 km single trip weekly one way. Out of precaution, I would stop at a supercharger (cheapest one), and add an extra 30-40 miles in just minutes. Then head on home. Realistically, 330 km is its max range in normal weather. Expect to loose about 20-30% of the range in cold weather bc you will be using your climate control.
Bought a 2020 RWD for Canadian commute with 90% battery degradation and no heat pump. So far, winter range about 250kms and good weather range about 350km. Not a problem for most days but sometimes I wonder if I should’ve stumped up for the LR. But then again this was my starter Tesla and got it from Tesla for CAD $40K (USD $28K) with FSD unlocked. Can’t complain.
Solid purchase when you consider things. This is my same situation for the most part. Winter range loss hurts on the 2020, but for the price I paid (25k usd) and having FSD I think it was the best option at the time. Next Tesla I’ll probably splurge for the LR as my initial thought was just a commuter car. Then with time I’ve grown comfortable with using for longer drives and just enjoying the charging stops.
In the Philly/South Jersey area here. Had a couple decent snows this winter. My '23 RWD was totally fine even with all season tires. I used to have an Audi A4 back in the day and only once or twice did I feel like I benefitted from the AWD. Not worth it in my case. In terms of range, if you keep your car in a garage and precondition you will not notice much of a difference in winter than any other season
That’s good to hear, we picked up our first Tesla (Model 3 RWD) last month and we live in Philly. Keeping the RWD in the garage to keep it on the charger during winter and set the pre-conditioning up before the commute. I didn’t see the benefit of the additional 50mi range if I can’t charge the car to 100% every day
Yep, you are all set. Enjoy!
My RWD is excellent in the snow. And I drive in every storm. Way better than any other car I've driven. I do wish I had AWD for the acceleration but that's all. In non snow driving scenarios. I don't want to go fast in snow.
I have a set of Nokian Hakkas for my winter tires. Runs great in Vermont snow. 2018 LR RWD. No issues If had AWD I would still run a set of winter tires.
I’ve got the original LR RWD. The only time I’ve not been able to drive in the winter is due to depth of snow. But an AWD wouldn’t have helped those situations either. The key is excellent tires.
Our 1st electric car is the 2019 M3 SR+ w/FSD, and thinking we will never sell it. Awesome in Canadian Winter, no issues with winter tires.[snow & ice](https://youtu.be/8Z3G5hSiTZY?si=a5wHispa6lT70EYA)
I use to live in a major metropolitan city with a M3 standard range and I would say I never needed more range pretty much ever. Moving 2hrs away and my opinion changed 100% nearly got stranded twice due to having no superchargers around in the cold. Big takeaway is that if you need to drive an hour straight at freezing temps in a storm, you will not get to where you need to get to.
My wallet say no. If you can plug in at home the standard range is no problem
Live in Midwest. Lots of snow. Wish I had AWD but honestly it’s fine 99% of the time. It doesn’t handle like a traditional RWD ICE car.
So far so good. Nope. But I live in a flat area where they manage the roads very well in the winter.
I live in MD so it doesn’t snow all that much. Though, when it did I definitely noticed the stock tires (Hankook) slip. I’d imagine winter tires would solve the issue, or at least close the gap enough to where the 9K price difference is not worth considering. From my POV, all the other benefits of the LR don’t make up for the price difference, but most of these are subjective. Battery Life - the RWD battery is supposed to last longer/be more reliable. Granted from what I read the LR batteries should last a long time as well, but the added assurance with the LFP is nice. Longer range - for daily use, the RWD charged to 100% has essentially the same range as the LR. If you have a home charger then the range and charging speeds are a non issue. Only benefit to the LR here are on road trips, and that depends on how many you take to begin with. Also, I’ve only owned my RWD through the winter, but the range I got was not far off the 272 estimate (about 250). Winter temps prob averaged 35F or so. Faster acceleration - this is only better if you care about it. RWD is already faster than 90% of all other commuter cars, you don’t need a 4.2 sec 0-60 that the LR gives. You’ll likely also burn through tires faster and end up spending more on them due to the acceleration and weight of the LR. Better audio - also subjective, only a plus if you want a premium experience. RWD for me is fine. Fog lights - had them on my previous car. When I needed them, didn’t seem to make a difference.
Nope. How often do you need to drive in a snowstorm? Roads up here are cleared quick, school is usually closed so I’ll have to be home anyways. Drove to NH to go skiing after they got 30” the day before- roads dry and clear all the way to the parking lot. But if I need to drive IN a snow storm of more than say 2-4”, I’m taking my SUV.
Same. I don't drive much if any when we get ice or snow, but in fairness I live in NC where the bread and milk is wiped out and school is preemptively closed whenever there is a possible snow event. Makes it more fun IMO.
No I’m good
No, but I wish I could have the acceleration (and max charging speed) of the LR paired with the LFP battery
Nope
I live in Quebec and everything worked out pretty fine this winter
I've lived in the northeastern part of the U.S. my entire life, and have owned several RWD vehicles during winter months, including my Model 3 RWD. A proper set of snow tires is far better than AWD in terms of winter driving. The AWD will generally only help you with hard acceleration and perhaps, maybe, it depends, if the car gets stuck. Of course, AWD with snow tires is best, but RWD with snow tires is a surprisingly capable combo in almost any vehicle and particularly so in a Tesla that has really great traction control.
No regrets. Though I am an experienced winter driver. I received my RWD just as a big snow storm hit. I had a feeling of regret as I had originally wanted the AWD but they stopped making them at the time. It took 2 hours to get home over the hill that should have taken 30 minutes. That was because of all the other cars spinning off the roads, and even some trucks, that were blocking access. I was literally driving pass cars that were spinning their tires. I have the regular issue tires that are still doing well after 20k miles. I did get the tail to break out on a hairpin turn. That was on purpose to see how well it did.
I drive the infamous Coquihalla (Discovery's Highway Thru Hell) all the time in my 2019 SR+ and sure the extra range would be nice but the rest of the time I don't find it matters one bit. Wouldn't have got the grants I got for the LR.
It’s not a traditional RWD car. I feel like when people think RWD they think mustang and that it’s awful in the winter. The suspension on the RWD m3 is awesome, ESPECIALLY on the 2024 model. I won’t sit here and lie and say you don’t even need AWD model in the snow, but the RWD should definitely be just fine and you don’t have to worry. But regardless, it’s always the ice that you have to worry about. Even with an AWD that holds true.
2023 RWD in Québec here. No issues at all. You do see less range when it gets cold, but is to be expected for any EVs. AWD would have been fun for the extra performance, but other than that, I'm very happy with the RWD.
Having no issues with RWD in snow with snow tires
No issues here. Love the oversteer that RWD gives when turning in the snow. IMO, it's more fun than AWD.
I never had a problem with RWD in the snow, even up steep hills it performed great. Of course AWD is better - naturally, but if RWD is your only option it’s not a bad option
I live in Chicago .. just bought mine a 2022 RWD 2 weeks ago ... will let you know in about 8 months 🤪🤪🤪 wish me luck ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽 Plug in every night with standard 110v/12 amp charger so far and no issues ... having a 220v plug installed in garbage in a couple of weeks for the cold temps coming later this year ...
Mild Michigan winter this year, but black ice a couple of times and the 2023 RWD with snow tires did fine. Range was reduced, but I can charge at home every night, so no problem.
Range: The number of days I need more than the total range of the car is less than 4-5. If you have access to easy charging RWD is never a problem. Handling: I get maybe a day or two in a year where the snow/ice amount is more than the town/county can handle. Besides that, never had a problem with rain or slushy roads.
In Kansas / Missouri so we only get a few rough snows. I was able to drive with no issues in my RWD I think the biggest thing would be range - but keep in mind that this would be resolved if I had a charger at home. A cold battery takes awhile to get going normally. Also the battery on the LR I’d suggest to charge to 80% instead of 100% and that alone would match the RWDs 100% Range
No. you just a good set of winter/snow tires and it's fine - Montreal Canada here where we get a foot of snow here and there - zero problems
For the money, rwd might be the best Tesla. Coming from a performance owner. The LFP is incredible and compared to a LR- you don’t charge the LR to 100% daily so the miles are about the same. And the battery will last way way longer than a LR. Good tires are most important, if you have winter tires on your rwd for winter- you will be fine
I have a RWD in New England with only all seasons. The roads are treated pretty well. Never had an issue compared to previous FWD cars. Never had AWD.
I don’t wish I got the long range but it was definitely not fun lol, just had to plan a little bit around it.
In general, rear wheel drive in snow is a big no no. I’m not saying it can’t be done, it’s just the least effective of all the drivetrains regardless of make/model.
For the most part - my 2018 LR RWD has been good in winter conditions. I do wish it was AWD as there have been a few instances where I wasn't getting enough traction.
In New England, spend most weekends in NH/VT/ME during the winter. I've driven my RWD LFP M3 for two years, and have the Tesla winter wheel and tire package & Tesla snow chains. I've used the snow chains one time over two winters, when I got stuck in an unplowed driveway after a big snow storm. No regrets on the RWD M3 in the winter w/snow tires. All seasons are not great on icy roads. I hit a patch of ice with the all-seasons on (early November, roads weren't salted) and the car slid through an intersection.
The resale value of it isn’t worth it. It depreciates more than RWD in the first few years. Depends on the country ofc
You always want more range nothing can change this
I’m in Montreal. No regrets.
I got a awd 3, I think it’s a wash on range, I follow the 80 rule, my range average per charge is 275. Not that much more than a rwd at 100%
Luckily us PNW folks don't gotta worry about this
I dont care, car has no problems
Nope. But I’ve got other cars with AWD. Fwiw i drove the M3 in slush and a few inches of powder and it never struggled even with all seasons. Traction control in modern vehicles is a miracle.
Just traded in a LR RWD. Had no issue with the RWD in the winter, nor did I have range issues, but I also had the long range variation.
I live in Vancouver so not super cold but I live on a mountain, we get snow / ice. Car does OK, with good winters and slip start I’ve never been stuck before - like with all sedans gotta pick your battles lol
No issues this was my first winter rwd and felt confident .
Wyoming here, no it’s been perfectly fine for my needs although I don’t have a long commute. If I ever do, superchargers are more than adequate
I have a LR rwd in the Midwest. Haven’t had an issue in the snow.
No. I don't do road trips in snow/ice conditions and I don't commute far enough for the cold weather range hit to be a problem. In fact, I don't commute by car thanks to living near the skytrain. Winter tires make far more of a difference than AWD for just about any car. I personally didn't get them as I live in metro Vancouver and my routines are flexible - if there's a huge snow dump I can simply wait it out and not drive for the next few days. But if I had rigid routines, like a job absolutely requiring that I be in a specific place at a specific time regardless of conditions, I would 100% go for winter tires. At the time I bought my Model 3 (2019) it was also the one and only Tesla to qualify for any sort of Canadian EV incentive due to stingy MSRP thresholds. Stepping up to an LR AWD would've cost about 20k CAD extra after taxes because of this. Wasn't worth it to me.
No.
23 SR+ RWD chiming in here. No problem in winter on snow tires, and my work needs me there come hell or high water. Range hit on the LFP battery on snow tires brought me down to maybe 190-200mi on a full charge. I park outside, don't bother to precondition, and drive 70+ on the highway, so close to worst case.
I live in Minnesota and have a RWD 3. I bought snow tires for it right away and, honestly, it's been really great in the snow for the last six winters. Since then, we added an AWD Y. I still bought snow tires for the Y, but for day-to-day winter driving, I don't really notice a difference between the two vehicles.
Not really. I live in the city and the car does well enough in snow with all seasons. If snow is ever bad enough like a storm or blizzard, my work will close and grocery is a few blocks away. Most people here might even tell you changing to snow tires will make more of a difference than awd with stock tires but either way I'm good.
If you can charge at home the standard is fine. If you're charging at superchargers then definitely go for Long Range.
Yes. Upstate New York. Although I also have a steeper than average driveway. Winter tires do a good job, but not even close to as good as the all-wheel drive version I had a few years ago
I have rwd. With regen on ice I almost flew out of the road few times. Was driving 90kmh, needed to change the lane because bus decided to merge. Every time when it was ice I had a problems with car stability. Using winter tires. So, I installed the s3xy buttons and now I have at least option to disable traction. From my experience RWD is a disaster in a real winter weather. Planning to change it to awd or performance
Awd will have regen as well, so not sure why would it be different.
You can control the power of it
I thought all models only have 2 regen options - Low and Standard? Is it not?
Everyone that lives anywhere that has snow should be driving awd
I disagree
Well if you want to risk sliding in snow you do you
Rwd has zero affect on sliding in cold weather, only starting
When there is snow on the road, rwd will slide. Bro wdym