When Tesla first unveiled its extraordinary Model S Plaid high-performance car in 2021, the company made some eye-popping promises. Among them, it promised a 0-60 mph time of 2 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.
The car has never quite lived up to those expectations. According to Car and Driver, Tesla used software to limit the Plaid’s top speed to 162 mph. The issue has never been power. It’s always been tires and brakes.
In June, buyers will finally be able to buy a 200 mph Model S. New tires. New brakes.
In a post to the Model S order page, Tesla explains that a new Model S Track Package will debut in June.
“The Track Package includes aluminum forged wheels, track-ready tires and brake fluid, new carbon-silicon carbide rotors, and one-piece forged calipers with high-performance pads,” Tesla says. It also includes a software update that unlocks the higher top speed.
It will be priced between $15,000 and $20,000 (the website lists a range). That sounds high if you’re not used to the world of limited-edition high-performance cars. But similar track tire and brake packages from high-end manufacturers like Porsche routinely cost as much as a small car.
A note on the order page says customers can order the brakes “as a standalone product.” So the price range listed may account for both the brake package alone and the brake and tire package together.
The tires are Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R models suitable only for use above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Many owners of extreme performance cars save tires like those for track use and put a multi-use set on for daily driving.
Buyers can order the track pack on a new Model S or have it added to any Model S produced since 2021.
