A Tesla Model S Plaid driver crashed on Germany’s unrestricted Autobahn at 286 kph (178 mph), blaming recalled Goodyear rear tires for tread delamination after choosing to drive at that speed while knowing the tires were under recall.
The October 1 video, uploaded by A K8 (@AKR088), runs 3 minutes and 14 seconds and documents the crash involving the 1,020-horsepower electric sedan (via @MatthewDR). A screenshot of the instrument cluster shows the Model S travelling at 286 kph.
According to the video description, the Model S Plaid was fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 265/35ZR21 tires at the front and Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport 305/30ZR21 tires at the rear. Both are Y-rated for speeds up to 300 km/h.
The uploader identifies the rear tires as the issue in the video’s title, writing, “Recalled Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport 305/30ZR21 for Tread Delamination.”
That distinction is important because the uploader’s account attributes the crash to the Goodyear tires fitted at the rear, not the Michelin tires at the front. However, the video does not provide an independent finding establishing the cause of the crash.
The Model S Plaid has previously demonstrated its high-speed capabilities in controlled and unrestricted settings. Tesla’s sedan has set a Nürburgring record with its Track Pack, while the company has also offered a Zero-G wheel and tire package designed for higher-performance driving.
Tesla has also unlocked higher Model S Plaid speeds with its carbon ceramic brake kit. The electric sedan has previously been tested at high speed on the German Autobahn.
The uploader provided an update on his condition in the comments. After another user asked whether he had been paralysed or was able to leave the crash without serious effects, he replied, “Not paralysed, recovering now few months probably.”
The video does not provide additional findings about the crash beyond the uploader’s account, including his claim that the recalled rear tires suffered tread delamination.
The crash highlights the extreme forces involved when a vehicle is travelling close to the maximum speed rating of its tires, particularly when those tires are already subject to a recall.
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