Everything You Need to Know About EV Tyres
Find out why EV tyres are different, and which ones are the best.
Everyone knows that the quality of your tyres makes a huge difference to your driving experience, and this is no different with an EV.
Your electric car needs specialist tyres for several reasons. Here is everything you need to know about EV tyres.
Can I Use Regular Tyres on My EV?
Legally speaking, you don’t have to put EV specific tyres on your car – you can use bog-standard tyres. However, this could lead to issues in the future.
Electric cars are much heavier than ICE vehicles due to the weight of the battery. If your tyres are not made to cope with this additional weight you may find yourself with uneven tread wear, and the need to replace them sooner than typically needed.
What Makes EV Tyres Different?
EV tyres are different from ‘regular’ tyres in a variety of different ways. They are made in a certain way, so they are compatible with electric vehicles and allow the driver to have the most enjoyable and efficient driving experience possible.
Aerodynamics
EV tyres are made with aerodynamics in mind. Often EV tyres are designed with specifically shaped sidewalls and tread patterns to optimise airflow, meaning the car can effortlessly glide through the air at high speeds without any interruptions.
The aerodynamics will also allow you to get the maximum mileage out of your EV, meaning it’ll help alleviate your range anxiety.
Durability
Due to the excess weight, EV tyres need to be durable. The extra power an EV has will also have an affect on the tyre, so it needs to be extra durable so it can handle any kind of journey the driver has planned.
Durability means that you will not have to worry about premature or uneven tread wear.
Noise, Vibration, Harshness (NVH)
Electric cars are notoriously quiet due to their lack of combustion engine. With the incorrect tyres you will be able to hear the rubber on the tarmac, which can be irritating and distracting whilst driving an otherwise silent car.
They reduce noise by ensuring the tyre doesn’t vibrate. This is achieved through the use of intricate tread patterns and innovative materials.
Rolling Resistance
EV tyres have a lower rolling resistance in comparison to regular tyres, so that the vehicle’s range in maximised. This is achieved by minimizing energy loss as the tyres move around.
‘Low drag’ materials are used in the production of electric car tyres to help with the roll resistance. Less rolling resistance will lead to a better range, and a more efficient car.
Size
EV tyres tend to be taller and narrow to reduce the frontal area. This is the area of the vehicles silhouette, and the smaller it is, the more aerodynamic the car is.
Weight
As we’ve mentioned before, electric cars weigh much more than ICE vehicles. This means that the tyre needs to be strong enough to bare the extra weight.
The tyres must do this while keeping their own weight to a minimum to not affect the speed of the car. A regular car tyre would not be able to do this for your EV.
Are EV Tyres More Expensive?
Unfortunately for electric car drivers, EV tyres do tend to be more expensive than their ICE designed counterparts. This is due to the extra care and engineering that goes into creating EV tyres – low drag materials can end up costing more to manufacture, as do the intricate tread patterns.
However, trying to save yourself money by buying cheaper, ICE tyres could end up costing you more in the long run. You will lose out on miles by using poor quality tyres and will have to stop at the charging points more often. You may also find that you have uneven tyre wear due to the excessive weight on the tyres and will have to pay more to replace them much sooner than expected.
Do EV Tyres Wear Down Faster?
With all this talk of the extra weight of your EV, you may be worried that your tyre’s tread will be worn down much faster than the tread on your ICE tyres.
Luckily, this is not the case – specifically designed EV tyres are built to bare the load of your car’s body and are built robustly to avoid premature wear. However, if you choose to fit your electric car with tyres designed for an ICE vehicle, you will find that the tread will wear down much faster.
Which Tyre Brands Do EV Tyres?
The majority of the leading tyre brands have an EV range. Michelin, Bridgestone, Hankook, Goodyear, Continental and Pirelli are all highly trusted by experts, mechanics, and drivers alike.
According to Electric Car Guide, these are the best EV tyres of 2023:
- Michelin Pilot Sport
- Michelin Energy
- Bridgestone Turanza Eco
- Hankook iON
- Goodyear ElectricDrive GT
- Continental EcoContact 6
- Pirelli ELECT
All these tyres boast outstanding features, such as low roll resistance, silence, excellent grip, and extended range qualities.
You can compare and buy tyres at local garages easily on BookMyGarage.
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