Electric Vehicle (EV) Tyres

Electric vehicle tyres are designed and manufactured specifically for use on electric vehicles. They are designed to carry a heavier load and improve rolling resistance. These design attributes contribute to higher durability and improved power efficiency, allowing EVs to travel further from each charge.

New tyres fitted to electric vehicles have two millimetres less tread than a new tyre fitted to a conventional petrol or diesel engined car. New electric vehicle tyres have six millimetres of tread, the reason being that it reduces the rolling resistance and extends the range of the vehicle.

Batteries in electric vehicles are extremely heavy and because of this electric vehicle tyres need to carry an increased weight load. Batteries in electric vehicles are typically heavier than a conventional engine, therefore regular tyres wouldn’t be able to support the weight of an electric vehicle.

Because of the significantly increased weight of an electric vehicle, they need tyres which can safely accommodate this additional weight. Increased weight means longer braking distance and the instant torque of the electric motor means high tyre wear.

If regular tyres were used on an electric vehicle, they would bulge due to the increased load, leading to the contact point between the tyre and the road becoming larger, increasing tyre wear and reducing tyre performance.

There is no evidence that electric vehicle tyres wear at a different rate than regular road tyres. Many factors can play a part in tyre wear, such as weight, car performance, weather and road surface. If a regular tyre is used on an electric vehicle, it will wear faster than an electric vehicle tyre. This is due to the electric vehicle tyre being able to carry more weight.