A Former Tesla Model S Owner Says His Lucid Air GT Has Been “Nearly Flawless” for 19,000 Miles, But Admits the Factory Pirellis Are Wearing Out Shockingly Fast

The conversation began with a question that many longtime EV owners eventually face. Howard J. Kaplan, an early adopter whose 2013 Model S carried one of the first five thousand VINs, arrived in the Lucid Owners Club with a post that read like the confession of a driver at a crossroads. 

After 250,000 miles, multiple major battery replacements, and more cold-weather breakdowns than anyone should have to endure, he wanted something better, or at the very least something that would stop being a monthly source of frustration. 

He was considering the Lucid Air Grand Touring but worried about rim sizes, long-term brand stability, and his desire for a car that would simply remain net neutral for once. He ruled out another Tesla because of service difficulties and dismissed the Taycan because its range would never accommodate his needs. His question was simple. Do it or not?

“Do it or not? Longtime Tesla Model S owner. 2013 Vin is within the first 5000 Model S' made. The car is now on life support with 250K Miles. I have endured serious pain over the decade, with just about every major replacement one can have (3-4X on main battery, thankfully only once on my dime).  I can accept some degree of gremlins as long as they don't leave me stranded in a 6-degree snowstorm (been there, done that). I am sure the car will be a big jump from a generation 1 Model S. I would lease, as I suspect technology will move forward, and I am somewhat concerned about Lucid's survival. Another Tesla is out of the question; Tesla's notorious poor service is just intolerable at this point. One point of annoyance is that on an AGT, no OEM all-season option for 20-inch rims. 21-inch rims cannot survive in the northeast (I've done that too), so that eliminates those cars. If Lucid can swap rims for 19-inch options, that would be great; otherwise, another $1500 for tires that will need to be immediately swapped.   At this point, I just want my car to be a net neutral at worst, and not a monthly source of frustration. Other options I considered would be the Taycan, but its pathetic range is a no-go. The new Polestar looks interesting, but likely not available for a year.”

One of the first and most influential voices to answer him did not speak in hypotheticals. Patrick Law responded with a full ownership account that carried the weight of experience. Here is his testimony exactly as written:

 “2017 Model S --> 2024 GT here. One of the best car decisions I have made, and I've driven some classics over the years. The luxury appointments and range were a HUGE part of the decision. We only had 66k miles on the MS and weren't looking to replace it exactly. I live 5 miles from a Lucid Studio in NJ in my go-to mall, and it wouldn't stop speaking to me. Our 19k-mile ownership experience has been nearly flawless. One software bug that needed mobile service to come to me, a blown tire, and a one-year check-up are the only services the vehicle has had so far. The difference in luxury appointments from quality of materials (especially the leather) to soft-close doors and massage seats it's a different world. I leased, and I highly suggest doing so for lots of reasons, from depreciation to UI upgrades. I have the 19s with OEM Pirelli All-season. I really like them. Performance is great... but they wear quickly. I will be replacing my very shortly with only 19k. I do drive hard, but this is not the worst wear for performance cars I've had. For example, my 911 C4S was getting tires every 12-13k miles (summer compound). As said, the performance is astounding, and you get the best range. I have had drives over 470 miles in our GT, regularly achieving 135+ range when focused on the trip and not blasting by everything. I like the look of the wheels too, but not for everyone. I haven't decided on tire replacement yet; I still have 1.5 years left on the 30k lease. I really don't need my Sedan to be this good, but it is.

One of my buddies owns the Taycan Turbo S, and it's absolutely incredible, but... the range is embarrassing... It's a sedan! I have driven it a few times (but not the Sapphire yet), and it's certainly a better driver than our GT, and if all I was doing was track driving, it would be the Porsche, but not for what we use it for. I am a Porsche SUPERfann, but Lucid has taken a big chunk of the fandom market share.”

 

Kaplan’s inquiry had been earnest. Law’s reply was authoritative. It carried none of the abstract speculation often found in online ownership debates. Instead, it provided exactly what he was looking for, a firsthand account from someone who had traveled the same road. The comments section recognized this immediately. The responses fanned out around Law’s post like spokes around a hub, each one addressing the broader concerns that Kaplan and other early Tesla owners often raise when considering a transition.

Lucid Air: Engineering Features 

• The Lucid Air’s compact electric motor design allows the sedan to deliver exceptional power while maintaining a light and efficient drivetrain, giving it a distinctive sense of effortless acceleration.
• Its cabin relies on a sweeping glass canopy and open layout to create a calm, airy atmosphere that sets it apart from more traditional luxury sedans.
• The aerodynamic bodywork plays a central role in the Air’s long-range capability, allowing it to sustain high efficiency during extended highway travel.
• Inside, the curved display and retractable lower touchscreen offer a clean, intuitive interface that complements the minimalist interior design.

Some commenters wondered whether another brand might serve Kaplan better. Kyle McMenamin suggested looking at Rivian instead of Lucid. Jeremy Johnson countered with notes about ride quality and infotainment quirks that might frustrate someone already fatigued by service issues. Jennifer Batra pointed out that comparing a large SUV to a streamlined sedan was not particularly useful for a Northeast commuter who had already destroyed one set of 21-inch wheels. These were not stray remarks. They were attempts to answer Kaplan’s underlying question about whether another long-distance electric sedan could finally deliver a stable, comfortable ownership experience.

Then a short comment from Wang Kuturpekerofv cut to the heart of the matter by saying the Lucid experience would feel like night and day, and that it represented what the Model S should have been. That observation resonated because Kaplan’s decade with his original Tesla had included both admiration and hardship. The idea of a sedan that combined long-range capability with consistent reliability was exactly what he was seeking. Law’s report of 470-mile real-world trips and nearly trouble-free ownership offered evidence that such a sedan now exists.

Law’s reliability account carried particular weight for someone with Kaplan’s history. One software issue, one tire replacement, and one routine annual checkup over 19,000 miles is a narrative that stands in sharp contrast to a decade of major battery swaps and winter breakdowns. The detail about the Pirelli all-season tires wearing out at 19,000 miles did not undermine the story. It clarified it. The Air GT was not being babied. It was being driven with enthusiasm comparable to a 911 C4S owner who understood that tire wear is the cost of performance rather than a flaw.

Kaplan’s concerns about rim sizes and the lack of an OEM all-season option for certain configurations illustrate the practical decisions faced by drivers in harsh climates. Law’s use of 19-inch wheels and his comfort with the current setup provided a real-world counterpoint. Meanwhile, the Air’s efficiency, quiet cabin, and refined interior materials have been recognized across multiple road tests, including Car and Driver’s evaluations of Lucid’s engineering choices. These qualities help explain why Kaplan’s search for a sedan that could simply be dependable from month to month kept circling back to the Air.

By the end of the thread, the picture was clear. Kaplan was not asking whether he should buy an exotic luxury flagship. He was asking whether he could trust a sedan to be a partner rather than a problem. Law’s experience suggested that the answer might finally be yes. What makes this moment significant is not that one owner shared his story, but that the community rallied around it with clarity and purpose. If the Lucid Air continues to produce this kind of response from veteran drivers, it may reshape not only expectations for electric sedans but the confidence owners place in them for the long haul.

Image Sources: Lucid Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.