Tyres and electric vehicles: how to choose the right ones?

It has not escaped anyone’s notice that the electrification of vehicles is well underway! It is estimated that, by 2050, there will only be electric and hybrid vehicles in circulation. As a “switched-on” motorist, you are perhaps wondering whether you need specific tyres on your electric vehicle. Here is what you need to know for complete peace of mind when buying your tyres.

Tyres have a hard life on electric vehicles

It's a fact that electric powered models place different demands on these components. They wear faster and more heavily. A well-known argument offers an understanding of this: the weight of the battery makes that of the vehicle far greater. The difference for a similar petrol/diesel model, between a Peugeot 208 and an e-208, for example, is often around 200kg. The direct consequence is that braking is necessarily more intense and “burns” more rubber.

However, it’s too simplistic to be wedded to just this information. We need to go back to our physics lessons to identify other reasons for more pronounced wear on the rubber:

• The position of the battery results in a lower centre of gravity than for a petrol/diesel vehicle. The pressure on the tyres is greater.
• An electric motor delivers its maximum torque as soon as you press the accelerator. In other words, the vehicle is immediately at 100% of its power: transfers of weight are more intense and are transmitted directly to the tyres.

Therefore, longevity and grip are two key parameters when making a purchase. But account must be taken of other specific criteria.

What is rolling resistance?

Let's do a bit more physics: to move an object, energy has to be imparted to it. Between the energy it receives and that which it transfers in the form of movement, there is always a loss as there is friction between the object and the ground. This is known as rolling resistance. For a car, it naturally involves the tyres.

A common point for both petrol/diesel and electric vehicles: tyre manufacturers have always worked to reduce the resistance of their models. The focus has always been lower fuel consumption…and an increased range. This has been a burning issue for a long time, when you see the extent to which the distance covered on a single charge is a major preoccupation when making a purchase.

If your vehicle’s range is of paramount important to you, remember to check the labelling in order to choose low rolling resistance with the aid of our article “Reading the marking on Car tyres”.

Quiet please!

Did you known that the main source of noise for an electric car comes from... its tyres? It’s not the roaring engine any more - it’s road noise.

The result of this is that choosing a tyre that is as quiet as possible is an additional buying criterion. Manufacturers are developing technologies to reduce the noise heard inside the vehicle. This is in addition to their efforts to optimise the grip, low energy consumption and durability of tyres. Not a simple equation!

The right tyre depends on what you want

Nevertheless, having the best tyres on your electric car is not a difficult choice. Pneus Online guides you by identifying three major scenarios, in which you will recognise yourself:

You make a lot of long journeys

Your car is your office or living room: for example, you use your Volkswagen ID.4 or Kia Niro to cover long distances. You often use charging stations, thereby spacing these visits out as far as possible: specific tyre models for electric vehicles are for you. As they are technically advanced, they cost quite a lot. This is the price you pay for the best compromise between grip, longevity, noise and energy optimisation.
All in all, they focus on comfort and maximum range.

What you need to know:

Rather than developing 100% brand new models, some parts manufacturer have decided to improve their existing tyre ranges to enable them to be fitted on petrol/diesel, hybrid or electric vehicles. The profile and rubber of these tyres are adapted: a reduced thread depth to minimise resistance and noise, reinforced sidewalls to achieve more robust tyres.
This is why, in the same vein, Bridgestone developed ENLITEN technology. In addition to its ability to adapt to all kinds of vehicles, it offers a significant improvement in environmental characteristics without compromising on performance and safety. This technology is gradually being approved for each of the brand’s new ranges.

Tip

How can I recognise a tyre developed for an electric car? Some manufacturers add the letters “EV” (for Electric Vehicle) to the tyre model’s name.

However, choosing tyres designed specifically for electric vehicles is not a must. Other kinds of tyres work well for different uses of your car.

You drive moderate distances, mainly in an urban cycle

“Eco” tyres, also known as “green” tyres, are good allies. Manufacturers have not developed them specially for electric cars; they largely meet an economic need. Their less sticky rubber increases their lifespan and, at the same time, optimises rolling resistance and noise. Although they don't really go after kWh to improve the range, they offer consistency that fits the profile of electric car use.

Nevertheless, it is preferable to install them on vehicles with moderate power and use, such as, for example, the Dacia Spring city car. In effect, their road performance is below that of premium tyres or tyres designed specially for electric vehicles.

You drive a powerful car (> 150 hp) in a combined cycle

The result of the achievements of hybrid and 100% electric technology is a gradual increase in the average power of vehicles. If you already drive a powerful vehicle for all kinds of journeys, such as a Tesla Model 3, classic premium tyres could also be a good choice.

Without necessarily achieving the performance in terms of noise and range of a specific electric vehicle tyre, what they offer is nevertheless high level and extremely consistent. They are optimised in terms of lane holding and grip and have a long lifespan. They also do justice to the quality of current, increasingly better designed chassis.

Ultimately, everything is a matter of choice and suiting your profile.

AND IN WINTER?

The issue is the same for electric, hybrid or petrol/diesel! As soon as the temperature falls below 7 °C, braking distances become longer, above all for particularly heavy vehicles. The time has come, as for a petrol/diesel car, to fit winter tyres that will guarantee a normal stopping distance.

Please read our article Tyre recycling: an issue that involves you to find out more about the end of life of tyres.