Tesla has quietly given the Model 3 a noticeable range boost in Europe, and it didn’t require a larger battery or any changes to the electric powertrain.
Tesla announced on Friday that the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) can now travel up to 572 km (355 miles) on a single charge, an increase of 38 kilometres compared to its previous 534 km (332 mile) WLTP rating.
According to Tesla, the efficiency improvement didn’t come from an update to the software or any other “under the hood” change, but simply from a new set of tires.
Model 3 now comes with 572km of range (up from 534km previously), thanks to new tires pic.twitter.com/n1WiqXytsM
— Tesla Europe, Middle East & Africa (@teslaeurope) August 28, 2026
The updated figure is an improvement of just over 7%, a significant boost considering there are no changes to the battery pack. Tesla did not identify the new tire model or provide details on exactly how they improve efficiency.
According to Tesla, the change applies to all left-hand-drive European markets, meaning customers across much of the continent will benefit from the additional range. The change is already visible on the online configurator.
Tires can have a surprisingly large impact on an EV’s efficiency. Rolling resistance, tire compound, tread design, weight and aerodynamics can all affect how much energy is required to keep a vehicle moving. With automakers wanting to squeeze out every ounce of efficiency when it comes to EVs, relatively small improvements in some areas can translate into notable range gains.
Tesla has long focused on these incremental efficiency improvements rather than simply installing larger battery packs like many of its competitors do (looking at you Ram 1500 REV). Changes to wheels, tires, motors, aerodynamics and software have helped the automaker squeeze additional range out of its vehicles many times over the years.
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