Tesla PPF VS Ceramic Coating?

Paint on Tesla Cars is notorious for being VERY thin. Typically, the paint on a vehicle is comprised of 4 layers. Primer, Base Coat and the Clear Coat for a total of roughly 5 mils of “paint” or 100 Microns. We use a tool called a Paint Depth Gauge. It lets us as a professional detail shop measure the amount of material on your vehicle.

The clear coat usually makes up about 1-2 mils of that total volume of material. You typically want to see 5 mils or more on a new vehicle. The more you drive a vehicle and the more you take it through a car wash and don’t protect it, the more the paint wears down, gets dull, and then it requires polishing.

The polish action on the paint removes the clear coat because you are essentially leveling the clear coat beyond the imperfections in the paint to make it clear again. When you get to around 4 mils on the paint depth gauge, the risk of “burning” the clear coat or removing so much clear coat that the base coat is exposed is extremely elevated. That means that the painted surface in that area will now be exposed, will dull, and ultimately cause complete clear coat failure across the entire panel. 

Tesla vehicles often arrive at the dealership with Less than 4.25 mils of material on the car. This is enough to lightly polish the vehicle twice, maybe 3 times. If you take your Tesla through a touch carwash (the kind with spinning brushes) you significantly accelerate the need to polish your vehicle. This is why using PPF or Ceramic Coating is extremely important for your Tesla.

The photo below shows the amount of material left after a single VERY light prep polish on a brand new 2021 Model 3 Long Range Tesla. This vehicle cannot be safely polished again which is why it was a good thing that the owner entrusted Total Detailing to install PPF and Ceramic Pro Ceramic Coating on the vehicle. 

PPF on a Tesla

What is paint protection film and why should I use it?

Paint Protection Film is also known as PPF or Clear Bra is a clear, flexible but durable urethane film that is stretched over the vehicle. This film is usually applied after a surface has been polished (also known as paint correction) to a perfect shine. The film consists of 2 sides. An adhesive side and an optically clear side. The optically clear side is the side that you see on the vehicle.

It is applied with a solution of soap and water that it can slide easily across the paint. Once the film has been placed and stretched into the correct areas, the slip solution is then squeegeed.

The majority of paint protection film in use today have a long-term warranty against cracking, peeling, fading, and yellowing. In addition to the long warranty, the PPF also has self-healing properties.

PPF protects your Tesla from rock chips and other impact-related damage that can occur with everyday driving. It is the ultimate way to protect your vehicle and preserve the look & finish for years to come.

Total Detailing offers Ceramic Pro KAVACA Instant Healing & KAVACA Ceramic Coated Self-Healing Paint Protection Films. Tesla Paint Protection is best when applied when your vehicle is brand new. 

Tesla Paint Protection is a great investment for your Tesla if you can answer any of these questions:

• Are you doing lots of commuting?
• Do you life an area where the use of de-icing salt is common?
• Do you care about rock chips?
• Does the look of your vehicle matter?
• Do you want the most resale value for your Tesla possible?

What makes a PPF good quality?

There are many brands of quality PPF on the market today that it can be confusing for you as a consumer to make an informed decision.

A good quality PPF brand should have these properties:

• 10 Year or Longer Warranty
• A thickness level of 8ml or larger
• Self Healing or Instant Healing properties (protects from permanent light scratches and abrasions)
• Can be used along with a PPF specific ceramic coating (Like Ceramic Pro)

A quality PPF film will last at a bare minimum of 10 years. You want long-term protection to avoid extremely costly services like reapplication of PPF and removal of existing, faulty PPF. it’s extremely important to purchase a good brand of PPF the first time.

Total Detailing installs Ceramic Pro KAVACA Paint Protection Films – their warranty and quality are industry-leading.

more importantly, you should be working with an installer that is willing to spend the time to educate you on what Tesla Paint Protection does and what to expect from it. 

Pros & cons of Tesla Paint Protection

Installing PPF on your Tesla is a great option if you want to protect your vehicle but there are some added steps you will need to take to care of your Tesla.

PROS

• Protects Vehicle Paint from Light Scratches, Scuffs & abrasions
• Can save you from costly repainting costs
• Prevents oxidization of painted surfaces
• Blocks chemicals from etching the clear coat
• Easier to clean
• Boosts gloss & shine

CONS

• Requires slightly more careful handling of your Tesla after installing
• PPF has the ability to pull paint off of the vehicle if removed incorrectly