The Tesla Cybertruck is being mocked on social media for being taken down by a bit of snow. Since its release, the futuristic model has been the focus of ridicule over its angular, uncomfortable-looking aesthetic, stainless steel body panels prone to rust, a bunch of issues related to manufacturing, and a lack of the standard abilities one would expect from a truck.
Now, slight inclement winter weather has been added to the list of shortcomings to bash the Cybertruck over. But the situation may not be what it seems.
A Tesla Cybertruck got snowed down by a couple of inches
Winter weather in Quebec, Canada, recently saw a hulky Tesla Cybertruck get stuck in a parking lot dusted with a couple of inches of snow, nothing to write home about in the country known for extreme winter weather conditions.
A clip of the beast of a truck with 600-plus horsepower trying to manouvre out of the slippery situation rapidly went viral on Reddit, TikTok, and other social media platforms as users shaded the supposedly cutting-edge, $80,000 EV over its inability to cope with a touch of snow that “lesser” cars would manage with ease.
The situation is even more laughable considering that Tesla’s enigmatic, polarizing founder, tech billionaire Elon Musk, touted the Cybertruck as an indestructible, unstoppable, bulletproof vehicle of the future.
All is not as it seems: It’s probably not the Cybertruck’s fault
It appears that the Cybertruck snow debacle is actually not the truck’s fault and that, in fact, the problem was that it was fitted with the wrong tires for the job at hand. Or that they weren’t in good condition. It’s also an illustration of how important it is to fit the correct rubber for the expected conditions and not get caught looking like a fool driver on social media.
Some sources are defending the Cybertruck by pointing to the tires, which appear to be standard factory all-season units, judging from the knobbly tread visible in the clip of the floundering Cybertruck. Under normal circumstances, this type would have enough tread to get the giant Tesla out of the parking spot.
Tire tread is wearing out faster than normal
However, Cybertruck drovers are reporting that the tread on their tires is wearing down much faster than normal, saying that they’re barely getting 6,000 miles out of them before needing replacement due to wearing down of the tread. This doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that the Cybertruck weighs 7,000 pounds and delivers large power and torque output.
It’s more likely that the tires on the Canadian Cybertruck in question were so worn down that they couldn’t find traction. It’s also not clear what the exact temperature was, but it may well have been below what most all-season tires are capable of handling.
In more positive reports about the Cybertruck, Elon Musk had to apologize to a bunch of new Tesla owners for the late delivery of their vehicles, but it was for a good reason. A fleet of futuristic Cybertrucks was dispatched to provide support to areas devastated by the LA fires in January 2025.
Social media is flooded with reports of Cybertruck winter issues
Although this particular situation in the snow could be explained by poor tire performance and not the Cybertruck itself, social media sites have been inundated with other complaints about the Tesla truck giving drivers headaches in icy weather, in which the model is supposed to excel. Below a sample of the kinds of problems being reported.
Drivers are annoyed by the headlights being blocked by snow
Cybertruck owner Joe Fay reported a problem with snow gathering on his truck’s front bumper, which obscures the headlights:
“Now, I can’t believe Tesla just didn’t think about this when they put this giant shelf in front of the lights, but if they did, it’s honestly an awful design. I’ll let you know how driving is in the blizzard.”
It’s not just Fay who struggled with the problem. Another owner complained on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum:
“The lights get clogged with snowfall, then the bits that melt freeze and create a sort of ice wall blocking the lights. This can’t be removed without a hammer (my scraper couldn’t). Super bummed out about it as I was counting on it being a beast in the snow.”
Other owners added their two cents’ worth to the discussion:
“I was looking forward to winter with my Cybertruck, but it is hard to after seeing these photos…”
Some drivers defended their trucks, saying it’s a common problem
Other drivers were more forgiving after the original poster added a disclaimer:
“I didn’t notice any blockage while I was driving those short couple of miles, he said but admitted that if the headlights were to be fully blocked with a lot more snow, it still might become an issue.”
Another commenter added:
“Well I’m not a rocket scientist but I’m pretty sure if it snows, you gotta clean off your car’s headlights anyway. Tesla or anything other vehicle.”
One driver feels that getting Tesla to address this issue that’s not exclusively a Tesla fault is highly unlikely to happen:
“Any vehicle with recessed LED headlights has this problem. Don’t expect a recall here.”
So what’s the moral of the story? Make sure your vehicle is fitted with the right gear for the weather conditions and that your tires are in good condition with enough tread to endure your safety, and don’t believe everything you see on the internet.
There are other things going on with the Cybertruck lately. Elon Musk says that poor sales and a decline in production mean it’s time to say goodbye to one of America’s most talked-about vehicles.