Tesla Cybercab Patent Reveals a Unique FWD Wheel Design

AUSTIN, Texas — The purpose-built hardware behind Tesla's robotaxi ambitions is making its way through official channels, and a freshly published patent offers the clearest look yet at the Cybercab's distinctive wheels. The design reinforces just how purpose-engineered the steering-wheel-free two-seater is for low-cost, high-mileage autonomous service.

A Patented Look

The United States Patent and Trademark Office published design patent US-D1130251-S, protecting the ornamental design of the Cybercab's wheels. The defining feature is a flat, gold hubcap that snaps over the rim, closing off air pockets to maximize aerodynamic efficiency while masking the chunky tire profile underneath. The cover's outer edge uses a flexible rubber material that runs flush against the tire sidewall, preventing wear during tire flex, while the central section appears to be a harder automotive-grade plastic.

The wheel design is one of many bespoke traits feeding Tesla's Cybercab production ramp at Giga Texas, alongside larger front-facing cameras, an interior trunk camera, and a cabin free of any steering wheel or pedals.

An Unprecedented Front-Wheel-Drive Layout

The most striking detail is the drivetrain. The Cybercab rides on 215/60 R18 tires up front and a much larger 21-inch wheel wrapped in a tall 225/60 R21 truck-sized tire at the rear — and the vehicle is front-wheel drive. According to a technical analysis cited in the patent reporting, that makes the Cybercab the world's first front-wheel-drive production vehicle with a staggered setup running larger rear tires.

It is a complete departure from Tesla's past rear- and all-wheel-drive platforms, but it aligns neatly with fleet economics. The teardrop body is shaped for minimal drag, the smaller front tires improve steering freedom, and the larger 32-inch-tall rear tires both smooth out the ride and spin fewer times per mile to prolong tread life. As one analyst summarized, aerodynamics and cost-per-mile override traditional performance logic on a vehicle designed to drive itself for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Clearing the Road to Launch

The regulatory path for the Cybercab is also opening up, especially after federal regulators recently dropped brake-pedal requirements for purpose-built autonomous vehicles. Tesla has already begun mass production at Giga Texas, where lines are turning out a mix of steering-wheel-free Cybercabs and units with manual controls.

With the hardware locked in and design protections now on the public record, Tesla is steadily checking the boxes ahead of a commercial Cybercab launch on its robotaxi network. Each patent and production milestone brings the company closer to scaling a fleet purpose-built — right down to its unusual wheels — for the economics of autonomy. More technical detail is available through the USPTO's public patent database.