Borrowing a friend’s vehicle comes with a certain level of responsibility, especially when you’re expected to return it in the same condition you received it. However, one Tesla driver recently left a tire shop employee speechless after arriving with severely damaged wheels and revealing that the electric vehicle didn’t even belong to them.
The employee took to Reddit’s r/Justrolledintotheshop community on October 23 to share photographs of the unusual situation, showing extensive damage to the Tesla’s wheels and tires. According to the post, the customer initially requested a single replacement tire, although the vehicle appeared to need much more attention.
What made the situation particularly concerning was the condition of the wheels, several of which appeared to have sustained significant damage around their outer edges. Despite the severity of the problem, the customer ultimately declined the recommended tire replacement and drove away with a shredded tire still on the vehicle.
Interestingly, the employee later revealed that the customer had borrowed the Tesla from a friend and simply wanted enough air in the tires to return it. The revelation immediately attracted attention from Reddit users, many of whom questioned how someone could return a borrowed vehicle in such terrible condition without addressing the obvious safety concerns.
Tesla Driver Refuses Tire Replacement Despite Extensive Wheel Damage
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Customer request 1 tire
by
u/jabson333 in
Justrolledintotheshop
According to the original Reddit post, the customer arrived at the tire shop requesting assistance with one damaged tire, even though the photographs showed problems affecting multiple wheels. Commenters identified the vehicle as a Tesla Model Y, pointing to the design of its 19-inch alloy wheels and plastic wheel covers.
The extent of the damage surprised several automotive enthusiasts, particularly because some of the affected tires appeared to be holding air despite the condition of the surrounding rims. While commenters speculated that the driver might have struck multiple curbs, the employee didn’t establish what caused the damage or whether it occurred while the customer was borrowing the vehicle.
Rather than approving the necessary repairs, the driver declined the replacement and left the shop with the damaged tire still installed. The employee explained that the customer only wanted enough air to return the Tesla to its owner, leaving unanswered questions about whether the friend knew about the damage or what happened to the vehicle afterward.
Comments and Reactions to Tesla Driver’s Destroyed Tires
Several Reddit users were stunned by the tires’ condition, with one commenter asking, “What the hell is keeping the air in those tires?” Another responded with “Hope and prayer,” while others joked that the driver must have been using curbs to guide the vehicle along the road.
Others were more concerned that the Tesla belonged to someone else, questioning how the customer intended to explain the damage when returning it. One commenter wrote, “I hope he borrowed it like that,” while another suggested that the situation could be enough to end the friendship entirely.
Interestingly, some participants focused on the potential dangers of continuing to drive with severely damaged wheels and tires, suggesting the shop should have documented the vehicle’s condition before letting the customer leave.
Although the employee hasn’t provided an update on the Tesla’s eventual fate, the discussion highlights how a seemingly ordinary tire replacement request can become a much more troubling situation when the customer refuses repairs.