Tesla Cybercab Patent Reveals Front-Wheel Drive and Unique Wheel Design

The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently published Tesla's design patent (Patent No. USD1130251S) for the Cybercab’s wheel appearance. The design features a flat, gold-colored wheel cover mounted on the outer side of the rim, sealing the gaps between spokes to optimize aerodynamic performance while concealing the wide tire sidewalls and unique wheel assembly. The outer edge of the wheel cover is made of flexible rubber, which tightly conforms to the matching Continental OEM tire sidewall to prevent scraping caused by tire deformation during driving. The Cybercab is equipped with 215/60R18 tires on the front axle, while the rear axle uses 21-inch wheels fitted with 225/60R21 high-profile tires, giving the rear wheels a diameter approaching 32 inches. The vehicle adopts a front-wheel-drive layout, making it the world’s first mass-produced front-wheel-drive model with different front and rear tire widths. This design diverges from Tesla’s previous platform architectures and is better tailored to ride-hailing operational requirements. The entire body adopts a narrowed teardrop-shaped, streamlined profile to reduce aerodynamic drag; the smaller front wheels enhance steering agility, while the larger rear wheels help absorb road bumps, improving ride comfort and extending tire life.