Latest news with #Unplugged
Motor Trend
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Are These New Tesla Model 3 and Y Wheels Really Indestructible?
Anyone who has had to maintain or operate a taxi knows that upkeep is an important task. Every minute your car or SUV is down, the less you're earning. Keeping it looking clean and presentable is also paramount, as a damaged and unclean vehicle can cause customers to look for another taxi. Other than being the cheapest option, it's why many taxis will use a steel wheel, as curb rash is a bit harder to see than on an aluminum wheel, and steelies can take regular pothole and curb impacts slightly better. That's why there might be a slight reason to believe in the marketing of the new Road Warrior wheel for the Tesla Model 3 and Y from Unplugged Performance, even if the 'indestructible' part is a bit far-fetched. The Unplugged Performance Road Warrior wheel, designed for Tesla Model 3 and Y, claims to be "indestructible" with a replaceable rim guard for curb rash. While appealing for customization, its high cost makes it less practical for robotaxi fleets compared to standard or steel wheels. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article. Read Next No wheel on the road today is 'indestructible.' Hard to damage, sure, but none can take everything you can throw at them and come out unscathed. Just ask anyone who's rock crawled or rally raced for some time. What the Unplugged Performance Road Warrior does have going for it is that it's a forged aluminum wheel. As the word suggests, these wheels are beat into shape, which causes the microscopic grain structure to even out and stretch into shape. This creates a far stronger wheel than a cast aluminum unit you'll find on your average new car, including Tesla models that don't use a forged aluminum wheel. Now, that doesn't mean harder, as the wheel needs to flex a little bit, but forged aluminum wheels are more rigid and better able to return to shape. Make a wheel too hard, and you risk making it brittle, and that brittle wheel could eventually shatter on the next pothole hit you take. So, yeah, the 'indestructible' part is an Unplugged marketing gimmick, but the one other advantage it does advertise doesn't sound so gimmicky. Outside of its forged aluminum construction, the Road Warrior offers a replaceable aluminum rim guard. It's designed to be sacrificial and to be installed and removed without dismounting your tires. It's not the first time we've heard about this type of feature on a wheel. There have been other attempts that have come and gone (remember curb feelers?) and some that have stayed—like tires that feature an extra bit of rubber that goes around the wheel rim to work as curb rash protection. Replaceable rim lips are also ones that just seem to pop up from time to time and usually target the slammed-out crowd. That said, you'll usually find these replaceable lips to be made from plastic or some sort of composite because it's a cheaper way than manufacturing them out of aluminum. And we're not counting beadlocks in this category, as they offer a different use case. You will find some truck wheels that offer non-beadlock wheels with replaceable aluminum rim lips, but they often require the tire be at least partially dismounted, as they do retain the bead or help seal the tire to retain air. What makes Unplugged Performance's marketing unique is that it's targeting those Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners who are looking to join the Robotaxi service. A wheel that will survive most anything a taxi vehicle will encounter and also features a rim lip can be replaced when the old one becomes too rashed up is an easy sell for those just getting into taxi service. The fact that you can change that lip without dismounting the tire means there will be little downtime and that owner can continue to make revenue. That also means there are two unfortunate facts that do make this wheel a poor choice for taxi fleets. One: How often does an automated Tesla curb rash a wheel? Our experience is that, despite its other flaws, a Tesla does a decent job at parking itself—if just a bit on the slow side of doing it. If a human were driving, of course that would be a different story, but robotaxis are supposed to be fully automated. Two: If you're looking to maximize your earnings, a regular Tesla Model 3 or Model Y wheel makes more sense. Yes, the forged Road Warrior wheel is a potentially tougher wheel, but it's also more costly. A set of four 19-inch Road Warrior wheels will cost $2,595, while the 20-inch set will add another $400 to the cost of the quartet ($2,995). A two pack of replacement rim guards will also set you back $79.95 for both the 19-inch and the 20-inch wheels. And this doesn't include the mounting and balancing labor if you want to reuse the tires your Model 3 or Model Y are already using, let alone the additional cost of a new set of tires plus mounting labor. Looking at some of the OE aftermarket options out there, a new 19-inch Model 3 replica wheel from a reputable company can be as little as $200–$300. Tesla will even sell full set of four 19-inch Sport wheels with tires for $2,750—though we will note this is for a set of winter tires. If you're looking to customize your Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, the Road Warrior isn't a bad option and has a rather unique aerodynamic look with a great option for curb rash repair. But if you're looking for a cheap and easy way to keep your Tesla in service for your robotaxi dreams, it's probably best to stick with your standard set of 19-inch wheels. Or try to find a set of steelies.
The Drive
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Tesla Aftermarket Company Claims It Built an 'Indestructible' Wheel for Rideshare Drivers
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Typically, forged wheels exist in the realm of high-performance vehicles that see track abuse. They're stronger than the cast wheels that comprise most OEM and aftermarket equipment, at the penalty of a much higher cost. One Tesla aftermarket specialist is marketing their latest set of forged rims to a different sort of clientele, though: hard-driving Uber drivers and future robotaxi operators who put their vehicles through constant abuse on pothole-strewn roads. They've even gone so far as to call their product 'indestructible.' That's a tall claim, especially considering Unplugged Performance is selling these 'Road Warrior' wheels with a 'lifetime replacement guarantee if owners manage to bend or crack' them. On one hand, that signals faith in the goods, which is always encouraging to see; on the other, if we're even entertaining the possibility that these could crack or bend, then they're not really indestructible, are they? Marketing aside, forged wheels are generally pretty strong, and Unplugged says its Road Warrior design also draws within 0.01 Cd of Tesla's lowest-drag factory wheel, thanks to a 'structurally integrated forged aerodynamic disc' that mitigates turbulence. Looking at a Road Warrior wheel side-on, it does look a little funky, backing a typical aftermarket 10-spoke design with a large plate that's chamfered along the inner edge. Unplugged Performance The outer edge is interesting, too, because Unplugged is shipping these with swappable aluminum guards to protect against curb rash, which you can see in one of the images above. This is a pretty good idea on its surface, because banging into curbs is something rideshare drivers probably do a lot. However, a two-pack of these costs $80, per the company's website, and a particularly careless or sloppy parker is going to be chewing through them like crazy. At which point, I'd be remiss not to mention the tried-and-true champion of cheap durability for anyone truly concerned about potholes: steel wheels and tires with chunky sidewalls. It's true that they look good on everything—even Teslas, no matter what your passengers say. They may increase unsprung weight and drag, but if you're ultimately concerned with your bottom line, like road warriors tend to be, they'll endure just about anything. Going back to Unplugged's 'indestructible' wheels, they run $2,595 for a 19×8.5 set, or $2,995 for a 20×8.5 set. That's actually quite cheap as far as forged wheels go, though we can't attest to their quality. The fitment is geared for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, with the latter also serving as the automaker's first 'Robotaxi' autonomous vehicles now popping up in cities like San Francisco. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
Top Gear
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Help your Cybertruck, erm, 'stand out' with Unplugged's new 24in wheels
Help your Cybertruck, erm, 'stand out' with Unplugged's new 24in wheels Tesla Truck a little too plain for you? How about sticking some massive gold forged wheels on it? Skip 11 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 11 Gold wheels on a Subaru Impreza? Yep. Massive, 24in forged gold wheels on the Tesla Cybertruck? Erm, we'll let you make your own minds up on that one. These are the new $7,145 CYBRSPOKE wheels from California-based Tesla tuner Unplugged Performance, and they're designed for those who think the standard Cybertruck is a little shy and retiring. Advertisement - Page continues below 'We engineered CYBRSPOKE to carry a sporting presence while maximising strength and staying loyal to the Cybertruck's brutalist form,' said Ben Schaffer, boss of Unplugged. Despite being a monster 24in wheel, we're told they weigh around the same as the standard Tesla 20in wheel when that design is fitted with aero covers. They're also available in a satin black or titanium finish if you'd like to be a little more… discreet. Advertisement - Page continues below Looking for more from the USA? READ THE LATEST USA NEWS Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Epoch Times
08-07-2025
- Epoch Times
‘Unplug: How To Break Up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life'
Who would have thought that Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, considered his newly created invention a distraction. He did. Bell refused to have one in his private study because he needed to remain focused on his work. This is one in a long line of telephone and cellphone users we read about who've distanced themselves from their phone to get back quality time with their family and friends. While doing this, they gain a renewed appreciation of deeper relationships and success. 'Unplugged' by Richard Simon is a small book with a big idea. Its subtitle says it all: 'How to break up with your phone and reclaim your life.' Simon provides examples of people around the world who have turned off their smartphone, eliminated it entirely from their lives, or downsized to a simpler version.
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
MTV veteran Van Toffler returns to produce VMAs for Paramount
Who says you can't go home again? MTV's influential architect, Van Toffler, is returning to Paramount Global in a multi-year deal to help produce the Video Music Awards, which has long been a signature pop-culture event for the network and music industry. Paramount said Tuesday that it had struck a multi-year arrangement with Toffler, through his Gunpowder & Sky content studio, to 'supercharge' the VMA's 'into a week-long, multiplatform celebration of music and music videos.' The show is set for Sept. 7 at the UBS Arena on Long Island in New York. During his 28 years at the company, then known as Viacom, Toffler built MTV into a ratings and youth culture juggernaut, overseeing such touchstones as 'The Osbournes,' 'Beavis and Butthead,' 'Jackass,' 'Unplugged,' and the VMA's. Toffler exited a decade ago to launch Gunpowder & Sky, which has produced documentaries about Sheryl Crow, Lil Peep and others. It also has experimented with podcasts, digital series and augmented reality. The reunion comes as Paramount struggles to retain the cachet of some of its biggest franchises, including the VMA's, as the cable television landscape shrinks because of the shift to streaming. This year marks the first time the MTV stalwart will be simulcast on Paramount's broadcast network CBS in a bid to expand the audience and give CBS more live programming to help kick off the fall television season. The show also will stream on Paramount+. 'The VMAs have always been where music and spectacle collide, and no one embodies that spirit more than Van Toffler,' Paramount co-CEOs Chris McCarthy and George Cheeks said in a joint statement. 'Bringing Van back to the VMAs, along with Gunpowder & Sky, is about reigniting the rebellious soul of the show with a week-long music immersion and delivering global moments that are impossible to ignore.' MTV plans a week of music videos to try to resurrect the magic of the era when 20-somethings turned to MTV for music and entertainment. The approach will be tailored for today's audiences with current videos. Past VMA winners and former MTV personalities will return to curate their favorite videos. 'We're launching a celebration of music that spans one week, every screen and every generation,' Toffler said. He will produce the show in conjunction with the firm, Den of Thieves. This year's show comes as Paramount is in the process of being sold to David Ellison's Skydance Media. For that $8 billion deal, approved last July, to move forward, Paramount needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Paramount needs the FCC to approve the transfer of CBS' station licenses to the Ellison family. But the deal hit a snag over amid negotiations to settle President Trump's $20-billion lawsuit over '60 Minutes' edits to a Kamala Harris interview last fall. The delay in the deal's approval has cast a shadow over Paramount, complicating business decisions, including nabbing the streaming rights to Comedy Central's long-running cartoon, 'South Park.'
