Tesla Model 3 Driving Fast on a Road in Track Mode

By: Otaiba Ahsan

The Tesla Model 3 and S both support Track Mode, a feature that helps modify the stability and traction control of the vehicle while performing in a closed circuit. Tesla owners who engage Track Mode typically push their car to its extremes, which can put strain on the vehicle. However, Tesla has created the ability to monitor the car’s health to ensure normalcy. Continue reading for steps on how to monitor vehicle health in Track Mode for the Tesla Model 3 and Model S.

Enabling Track Mode

Track Mode is always disabled by default anytime you start the Model 3 or S. To enable it for your current drive, ensure your vehicle is in Park then tap Controls > Dynamics > Track Mode using the touchscreen. Sometimes this also may appear as Controls > Pedals & Steering > Track Mode.

Once enabled, the word TRACK will be visible on the touchscreen or instrument panel, and a Track Mode pop-up window will appear on the map. Additionally, the car will display a color-coded image of your Tesla that provides critical information regarding the Battery, motors, tires, brakes, and more.

NOTE: See our guide on what Track Mode is if you’re looking for more details on the feature itself.

Monitoring Vehicle Health

The vehicle’s health can easily be monitored when using Track Mode. This can be accomplished by glancing at the car status area of the touchscreen, where the colors will indicate the status of different components, allowing the driver to determine the current operating state to make decisions accordingly.

Green is displayed when the component is operating within its ideal temperature range. However, the color will change when:

Battery: Will be blue when it’s cold, and red when it’s too hot.
Brake: A brake icon displays blue when too cold, and red when hot. Red is an early warning for overheating brakes.
Motor: Like the battery and brakes, the motor icon will show as blue when too cold, and red when hot.
Tire Pressures: Lastly, a dynamic reading of the tire pressures is also displayed on the touchscreen. When the tire displays blue it indicates under-use, and when it shows red it signals that the peak grip is exceeded.

NOTE: Tesla recommends that if one of the components is displayed in red, it may be a good idea to stop driving to allow it to cool down.

The Bottom Line

The steps on how to monitor vehicle health in Track Mode for the Tesla Model 3 and Model S are straightforward. After you’ve enabled Track Mode, simply glance at the car status area of the touchscreen. If a symbol is red, it typically means that component is too hot, and blue represents that it’s too cold. The best action is to come to a safe stop and examine everything if you feel that something is off based on the car status area.