Key Points
- Tesla has lifted Model 3 range to 572km in Europe without increasing battery size
- New low-rolling-resistance tyres cut consumption to 12.2kWh/100km.
- Australia could receive the update, but Tesla has not confirmed a local rollout.
Tesla has found a relatively simple way to squeeze more range out of the Model 3 by fitting more efficient tyres.
The company has updated the European Model 3's claimed driving range from 534km to 572km, representing a 38km or roughly 7.1 per cent improvement without increasing battery capacity.
Tesla says the gain comes from new tyres that reduce rolling resistance and, in turn, lower the car's energy consumption.
The change could eventually make its way to Australia, although Tesla has not confirmed whether local Model 3s will receive the same specification.
More range without a bigger battery
Tesla announced the change through its European X account, saying the Model 3 now delivers 572km of range, up from 534km, “thanks to new tires”.
The corresponding energy consumption figure has fallen from around 13kWh/100km to 12.2kWh/100km.
That may not sound like a dramatic reduction, but over hundreds of kilometres it adds up to a sizeable range increase.
European reports suggest Tesla is likely using a new low-rolling-resistance tyre specification from Giti, with the tyres expected to be introduced on Model 3 vehicles in left-hand-drive European markets.
The update is notable because there is no reported change to the battery itself. Instead, Tesla has reduced the amount of energy required to move the car.
For EV owners, tyre choice can have a measurable impact on efficiency because rolling resistance directly affects how much energy the electric motor needs to maintain speed.
What isn't clear yet
The big question is whether Australian Model 3s will receive the same efficiency-focused tyre update.
Tesla has not announced an Australian rollout, and the initial reports indicate the new tyres are being introduced in left-hand-drive European markets.
If Tesla follows its usual pattern of rolling updated specifications into other markets, the more efficient tyres could arrive internationally before the end of 2026. However, that remains speculation rather than a confirmed Australian update.
There is also an important difference between the European and Australian range figures. The newly announced 572km figure is based on European testing, while Australia's Model 3 Premium RWD is currently rated at 520km under WLTP.
So even if the new tyres arrive here, Australian buyers should not assume they will automatically receive a 572km range rating.
Still, the update highlights something increasingly important in the EV market: range improvements don't always require a larger or more expensive battery. Sometimes, a relatively small change to the car's efficiency can deliver a meaningful increase in how far it travels between charges.
What Tesla's range update could mean for Australia
The Model 3 is already one of Australia's more efficient electric cars, and the latest European update could make it even more competitive if the same tyres eventually reach the local market.
In Australia, the Model 3 Premium RWD currently starts at $55,900 before on-road costs and has a claimed 520km WLTP range.
Tesla also introduced the Premium Long Range RWD in the fourth quarter of 2025. It starts at $61,900 before on-road costs and offers more than 750km of WLTP range.
Tesla has not cut the Model 3's Australian price for more than 18 months, although it has periodically used incentives to support sales.
Demand for the Model 3 also increased following higher fuel prices before falling back in recent months.
Tesla has sold 3,326 Model 3s in Australia during 2026, while the Model Y has been substantially stronger, with more than 25,000 sales by the end of July.
Australian buyers also have one advantage that isn't offered in Europe: new Model 3 and Model Y purchases currently come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, replacing the previous four-year/80,000km coverage.
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