You have a Tesla with a flat tire in the Phoenix area and you need to know what Tesla covers versus what Arizona DPS will do. The short answer is that DPS will change a tire, but it won’t charge an EV. Here is how the two answers compare.
What Tesla flat tire coverage pays for
Tesla’s published roadside program covers a flat tire in most cases. The specifics depend on the year and the trim:
- Tire change with spare or sealant: covered in most cases when the car has a spare or a sealant kit
- Tow to a service center or tire shop: covered when the car has no spare or the tire is not drivable
- Actual tire repair or replacement: typically not covered. Tesla’s roadside covers the change, not the tire itself.
If your Tesla has run-flat tires, the change may not be needed because the car can drive a short distance at low speed on a run-flat. Tesla does not fit run-flats from the factory on most models; some owners add them. For the wider view, see Do Teslas have run-flat tires? What Valley owners should know.
For the broader view of what Tesla covers, see Tesla roadside coverage for out-of-charge and 12-volt calls and Tesla tire repair on roadside: what they fix and what they don’t.
What Arizona DPS and ADOT will do
Arizona DPS Roadside Motorist Assistance and ADOT’s Incident Response Unit are the two free motorist-help programs in the Valley:
- DPS RMA changes tires, brings gasoline or diesel, jump-starts dead conventional batteries, adds water, and calls tows. Statewide coverage. In 2018 it assisted 75,235 motorists statewide.
- ADOT Incident Response Unit works Phoenix-area freeways, 5am to 8pm weekdays, with a 14-member unit sponsored by State Farm. It clears crashes and debris, changes tires, and helps stranded motorists.
Neither program advertises bringing an EV a charge. That gap is exactly what an independent mobile operator fills.
For the broader view, see the live breakdown at AAA versus mobile EV charging.
What a local Phoenix-area operator covers for a flat
A local mobile EV operator does not typically handle flat tires. That is a tire-shop job or a tow. A local operator is the right call when the stranded situation is the EV itself: a dead 12-volt, an empty pack, or a stuck charge port.
For the broader picture on what mobile Level 2 adds at the car, see roadside Level 2 charging for stranded drivers.
How the two answers differ on a freeway shoulder
If your Tesla has a flat on a Valley freeway:
- Tesla will dispatch a tow or a tire change, depending on the situation.
- DPS RMA may already be on the corridor and can change a tire with your spare or sealant.
- ADOT IRU may already be on the corridor during weekday business hours.
If the tire is not drivable and you have no spare, the car needs a tow to a tire shop. A local operator is not the right call for the tire itself. A tow is.
What to do if your Tesla has a flat right now
Get the car as far off the travel lane as you can. Keep hazards on. ARS 28-871 says to leave the traveled part of a highway when you can. A vehicle that cannot be moved is exempt.
Have a location ready. The nearest exit number or mile marker is the best pin.
If the tire is drivable with a sealant or a spare, drive to the nearest tire shop. If not, call Tesla roadside for a tow, or call DPS for a tire change if you have a spare.
If the stranded situation is the EV (dead 12-volt or empty pack), call (602) 932-0920. The operator quotes before any work starts and bills you directly.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tesla roadside cover a flat tire?
Tesla covers a tire change with spare or sealant in most cases. It covers a tow when the car has no spare or the tire is not drivable. It does not cover the actual tire repair or replacement.
Will Arizona DPS change a flat tire on my Tesla?
Yes, if you have a spare. DPS RMA changes tires as part of its free motorist-help program. ADOT IRU works Phoenix-area freeways during weekday business hours.
Will Arizona DPS bring my Tesla a charge?
No. Neither DPS nor ADOT advertises bringing an EV a charge. An independent mobile operator is the EV-specific option.
Does Charge Pro PHX service Tesla flats?
We do not change tires. We match you with a mobile operator who can help with EV-specific failures: 12-volt jumps, Level 2 charging, and stuck charge ports.