Are These Really Unreleased Tesla Model 3 Plaid Wheels on Craigslist?

Tesla hasn't even publicly announced the development of a Model 3 Plaid yet but you might already be able to buy a set of its wheels. Despite Tesla being surprisingly tight-lipped about the highest-performance version of its most popular car, someone in Sacramento, California just listed a set of 2024 Tesla Model 3 Plaid wheels on Craigslist. Could they be real?

Without any public information about the Model 3 Plaid, we can't confirm that these wheels truly belonged to one. However, some clues found in the listing might shine some light on the mystery.

Let's start with the fact that HRE Wheels might have made them. On the inside of the rim, it says "HRE Wheels Made in USA 6061-T6." That last bit refers to the 6061-T6 aerospace-grade aluminum HRE uses for its forged wheels. Could someone have slapped a Tesla center cap on a different set of wheels? Sure, but these don't match any of the wheels you can find on HRE's site. Plus they look like Tesla wheels, with a design that's very similar to the brand's usual wheel style.

The listing's claimed 5x114.3 bolt pattern matches, too, as it's shared by the Tesla Model 3 Performance. However, they're staggered wheel and tire sizes—235/35R20 in the front and 275/30R20 at the rear—and the Model 3 Performance has a square setup. The ET34 front offset listed for these Plaid wheels matches that of the Model 3 Performance but the ET45 rear offset is different, due to the staggered setup.