I Got Two Nails In My Cybertruck's Tire Side By Side And While Discount Tire Can't Fix It Tesla Quoted Me $554, Which Seems High

Let me tell you something about the kind of pothole you don’t see coming. Not a crater in the road, but one in your wallet. The kind that shows up when you least expect it. Like, say, on a Saturday morning when you notice not one but two nails embedded side by side in your Cybertruck's tire. You start thinking it’s patchable. Maybe even fixable for a couple bucks. But suddenly, you’re staring at a quote from Tesla for $554.19 for a single tire. That’s exactly what happened to Doug White, and it caught the attention of a lot of Cybertruck owners.

Doug shared the following on Facebook in the Cybertruck Owners group:

“I got two nails in my Cybertruck’s tire pretty much side by side. Discount Tire said they can’t fix it and I need a new tire. It’s the Goodyear LT285/65R20. Tesla quoted me $554.19 to replace. Seems very high.”

Now, most owners probably expect to spend more on tires for a 6,800-pound electric pickup, but $554 for one tire still feels like a gut punch, especially if you just rolled off the lot with your truck a few weeks ago. That tire doesn’t have sentimental value. It didn’t carry your kids to school. It barely got broken in. But now it’s toast because of two nails that looked like they were holding hands. And the kicker is, the damage is just barely in that grey area of repairability.

Here’s where things get unexpectedly tricky. Several experienced members chimed in with conflicting advice. Wayne Smedile said it should be fixable.

“Totally patchable. They will cut out a small section of foam, and apply a patch, if it’s a decent shop. Plugs can work. Patches are better.”

But Hun Kim raised a safety red flag.

“Not patchable due to nail placement between the threads. Potential safety risk. For me I would replace and never risk my kiddos driving around on a patched tire especially in between the threads.”

And that’s where the real tension lies, right? Safety versus cost. What’s more important — peace of mind or a few hundred bucks saved?

Tesla’s price, it turns out, isn’t wildly inflated when you consider what goes into these tires. As Hun pointed out, EV tires like the Goodyear LT285/65R20 are designed to handle massive weight loads and also have internal foam layers to reduce road noise. That combination makes patching them more complicated and potentially riskier than it would be with a conventional tire. If you're wondering whether Tesla is overpricing tire replacements, you might want to read this breakdown of Tesla tire insurance pricing, where one Cybertruck owner found out their policy was significantly more expensive than their Model X's — and it wasn’t even clear what was covered.

William Murray echoed that safety concern with his own input:

“Two holes that close together means the rubber in between is a weak spot. You're potentially looking at one much bigger hole if the two combine and a blowout on the highway. I'd replace the tire. Discount is usually honest when it comes to replace or repair. They aren't going to do anything unsafe.”

Still, not everyone was ready to give up on the tire so easily. James Mackey had a practical response.

“I swapped all four tires for $1000. Went with a 10 ply all terrain tire. I think I get a little more road noise. I know I get a lot more tread.”

And Ash Krishna, a seasoned Tesla owner, brought in a fresh perspective on rethinking how we approach EV tires entirely.

“I’ve been a Tesla owner since 2017 and been through the going back to Tesla to get new sets of tires early on at super great expense (thinking foam, etc)… I then migrated to the notion of patching them/plugging them… worked just fine at an exponentially cheaper cost. Now when I need ‘new’ tires I just go to the local tire guy and he always has a set of almost new tires to slap on at a fraction of the cost.”

Ash’s point raises an important ethical question about EV maintenance. Are automakers like Tesla building vehicles that require exclusive, expensive service options that put unnecessary pressure on everyday owners? Or are they protecting drivers from the risks of cutting corners? There’s a line between innovation and ecosystem lock-in, and this tire story illustrates how unchecked dependency on one brand’s service center can leave even seasoned owners feeling stuck.

Interestingly, many owners like Don Bentley now prefer to DIY their tire repairs with plug kits and small compressors.

“Plug kit, plug each hole with a separate plug. I've done it many times with 100% success. DIY every puncture from now on, 10 minutes and add air as needed. Buy a Dewalt compressor and a Black Jack plug kit.”

What’s so valuable here is the underlying mindset shift — taking ownership of repairs and becoming a more self-reliant EV owner. It’s not just about saving money. It’s about knowing your vehicle, your limits, and your options. Tire problems on a Cybertruck are not rare, and this isn’t the first time we’ve heard from frustrated owners. One driver shared what happened when he got a flat and made a costly mistake that he regrets to this day. You can read that full story here.

And if you’re considering alternatives, take a look at what happened when a Cybertruck owner swapped out tires for BFGoodrich ones. His range dropped dramatically, even though the ride stayed surprisingly pleasant. That story is here. It’s a reminder that not all changes are upgrades.

If you’re still debating where to even go for tire service on a Tesla, this guide lays out the best places to take your Tesla for tires, and it might surprise you which ones offer the best value.

Now, let’s talk about the real product at the heart of this issue. It isn’t the tire itself, or the plug kit, or even the air compressor. It’s knowledge. It’s the idea that in 2025, information might be the most powerful tool you carry in your glove box. Whether it’s understanding what tire foam does, how tread placement affects patching safety, or knowing your vehicle’s torque stress on rubber, the more you know, the less you overpay.

The takeaway? Your best protection isn’t a warranty. It’s awareness. Learn your options. Don’t let sticker shock guide your decision. Don’t let fear shut down a solution either. And above all, remember this — the people in that Facebook group weren’t just sharing tire advice. They were helping a fellow driver make a smarter, safer choice.

And that’s the moral worth remembering. Sometimes it’s not just about fixing your own problem. It’s about sharing enough of what you know so the next person doesn’t get stuck with a $554 mistake.

Are Cybertruck Tires Really That Different From Regular Truck Tires?

If you’ve looked closely at your Cybertruck’s tires, you’ll notice something: they’re not just bigger, they’re built differently. Tesla equips the Cybertruck with Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT tires, specifically designed for heavy electric vehicle loads and off-road use. These tires are LT285/65R20, classified as Load Range E, meaning they’re 10-ply rated and capable of carrying a significant amount of weight. But what makes them even more unique is the sound-dampening foam layer inside, which contributes to that unexpectedly quiet ride Cybertruck drivers rave about. The downside? That same foam complicates patching and makes repairs harder or sometimes impossible, depending on puncture location.

Many owners don’t realize this when they leave the showroom. These tires are heavier, more expensive, and wear faster due to EV torque. Compared to tires on an F-150 or RAM 1500, Cybertruck tires cost more and have fewer third-party options right now. That scarcity of alternatives contributes to the premium pricing Tesla charges. So while $554 may seem steep, it’s partly a reflection of EV-specific tire tech and partly a result of a still-developing aftermarket ecosystem. It’s worth reading this cost comparison for Tesla Model 3 RWD tires to understand how tire pricing scales across Tesla models.

The Hidden Costs of Driving a Heavy Electric Truck

There’s a growing realization among new Cybertruck owners that the truck’s weight isn’t just a bragging right. It’s a cost multiplier. At roughly 6,800 pounds, the Cybertruck is heavier than almost any half-ton pickup in its class. And that added weight doesn’t just affect efficiency and range, it dramatically increases tire wear. EV torque combined with that much mass grinds down treads faster than you might expect, especially for owners doing city driving or frequent acceleration. Even cautious drivers are seeing unexpectedly short tire life spans, which makes every nail or screw in the road a potential $500 problem.

Then there’s the question of tire insurance and coverage gaps. Many owners assume their regular insurance or warranty covers tire damage, only to find out it doesn’t apply to nail punctures or curb damage. That’s why some owners are turning to independent tire service plans or all-terrain upgrades as a form of cost control. If you want to avoid the same surprise Doug White experienced, it’s worth reviewing what one owner discovered about Tesla’s hidden tire warranty and why understanding the fine print might save you hundreds.

Have you ever been quoted an unexpectedly high price for tire replacement or repair? How did you handle it? Share your story in the comments below and let’s help each other navigate these roadblocks better.

Also see:

Tesla owners are reporting that Tesla service is not a practical solution for help with damaged tires. https://t.co/U4CZML2khk pic.twitter.com/5rYCPWAYVl

— John Goreham (@JohnGoreham) June 24, 2025

Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.

Image source: Doug White in the group, and Grok.