Tyres for electric vehicles need to be different. After all, they will be fitted onto high-tech vehicles that are emission free, and the tyres need to live up to that standard as well. In doing so, a lot of research has gone into making EV tyres deliver such optimal performance.
Heavy Lifters
Electric vehicles are heavy vehicles thanks to the massive battery pack on board. Most modern electric vehicle platforms install the battery as part of the chassis structure and a small electric vehicle can weigh anywhere between 1.3-1.5 tons. Compared to a standard ICE car of the same size, the weight increase is anywhere between 50-60 percent. What this means is that EV tyres need to deal with more weight, which increases braking distance as well as tyre wear. To overcome this, EV tyres are made from stronger compounds and have robust side walls.
Torque Challenge
When it comes to driving electric vehicles, the one big joy that the driver gets is instant torque. Just step on the accelerator and feel the vehicle surge forward. For the tyres though, this is a big challenge. Instant torque means that there is a higher chance of wheel spin and that results in fast tyre wear. A special emphasis is placed on optimal grip and this is delivered through a combination of compound use and tread patterns.
Roll Easy
On one hand, EV tyres need to offer exemplary grip, while on the other hand, they need to have a low rolling resistance in order to assist the overall mileage and range that an electric vehicle can offer. Most manufacturers use a combination of tyre size and component distribution (within the tyre) to overcome this hurdle.
Stay Silent
With the absence of any engine noise, the tyre noise is more pronounced and while manufacturers are packaging their EVs to have better sound deadening materials that do no allow noise to transfer to the cabin, EV tyre manufacturers are also looking at ways to reduce tyre noise, as this helps bring down the reliance on heavy sound deadening materials and also helps lower overall production costs. To achieve this, EV tyres have varied tread patterns that lower the sound of road noise and the compounds used to construct the tyre also play a vital role.
Overall, EV tyres might look like your standard car tyre, however they are very different as they use the latest generation of polymers, traction resin and other vital raw materials. EV tyres offer close to 30 percent lower resistance than conventional tyres and are also built to be lighter than regular tyres so that their contribution to overall vehicle weight is reduced and this also helps with improving the maximum range of an electric car.
