tyres for electric cars must have special talents. This is why more and more manufacturers are marketing tyres specifically designed for electric cars.
in an electric car, the right tyre can help reduce power consumption and thus increase the range. The emphasis is on low rolling resistance, which is why the ‘electrical belts’ often have large diameters and a narrow tread.
rolling resistance can also be reduced through the rubber composition and structure of the tyre. “A lower rolling resistance can result in up to 3 to 4 percent more driving range,” says Burkhard Wies, head of development at Continental. With a Renault ZOE with a range of about 240 kilometers that would be 10 kilometers, while a Tesla Model S with a range of about 500 kilometers would reach about 20 kilometers more.
another point of attention is the relatively high weight of electric cars, mainly caused by the battery pack they carry. The straps simply have more to wear. In addition, there are the special features of electric motors, which result in a lot of traction as soon as you touch the current pedal. Both factors can lead to electric car tyres wearing out faster than petrol or diesel tyres, which is bad news for both the environment and the wallet.
High tyre wear plays a greater role in heavier EVs
” it is important to make a distinction here”, says Stefan Küster of tyre manufacturer Kumho. “This high level of tyre wear plays a greater role in EVs that weigh more than two tonnes and have much more traction than, for example, a compact Renault ZOE. In addition, the driver’s driving style is an important factor when it comes to tyre wear.”How Wear-Resistant a tyre is ultimately depends mainly on the rubber composition used.
” the driver’s driving style is an important factor.’
Stefan Küster, tyre manufacturer Kumho
As mentioned above, the extra weight of electric cars makes demands on the load capacity of the tyres. Therefore, when choosing the right tyre, it is important to pay attention to the so-called load index. This can be determined by dividing the maximum permitted weight of your car, which can be found on the registration certificate, by four. Then you can see in a special table, which you can find online, what the corresponding load index is. Of course, a good tyre supplier or car dealer will also be able to inform you about this.
tyre noise is more audible because the engine is quieter
a completely different aspect is noise. Because the electric motor is quieter than a combustion engine, tyre noise is more audible. Low noise treads therefore have a major impact on overall driving comfort.
vibrations in the tyre cavity play an important role in the sound generation: they are transmitted to the interior. Foam rubber inserts on the inside of the tire tread can absorb these vibrations. There are tyre manufacturers that already use such polyurethane sponges. For example, Pirelli calls this solution Noise Cancelling System and Continental keeps it on ContiSilent. and then there’s safety. Can a tyre optimised for low rolling resistance provide maximum grip and short braking distance at the same time? “From a technical point of view, there is a conflict between the objectives of low rolling resistance and optimal grip,” explains Wies. “The development of tyres requires a good compromise between the two properties, which is very successful thanks to the progress in rubber mixtures.”
Küster agrees with Wies. “An enormous amount has been achieved in the area of rubber compounds in the last two decades. As a result, it is now possible to produce an energy-efficient tire that offers a very good grip.’
however, tyre manufacturers do not always succeed in achieving this balance. The EU tyre label gives some indication of the qualities, but does not say everything. Even more informative are the results of independent tyre tests, as AutoWeek regularly publishes. In it you can compare how the tyres in the different categories really perform.
all the results of the tyre tests that AutoWeek has published in more than ten years can be found in this overview. Also useful is this price comparison for car tyres. The answers to many questions about tyres can be found in this special dossier of the AutoWeek editorial board.
