Do Electric Cars Wear Tyres Faster?

Why do electric cars wear tyres faster?

Two reasons, according to TyreSafe: weight and torque.

Battery packs are heavy, and the tyres carry that weight. Without adaptation, TyreSafe says, tyres would be susceptible to premature wear, making replacement far more frequent.

An electric motor also gives full torque from a standstill, which puts more demand on the tyres under hard acceleration. How much faster your tyres wear depends on the car, the tyre and how you drive.

Do electric cars need special tyres?

TyreSafe’s answer is that EV tyres are typically different from standard ones. They are built to carry higher loads, are reinforced, and may carry HL loading markings.

They are also developed with low noise in mind, since electric cars are quiet and road noise is more noticeable. Some have a reinforced sidewall and may run at higher pressures than non-EV equivalents.

So it matters which tyre you choose. Pay attention to markings beyond the size.

Can I fit normal tyres on an electric car?

That depends on the load index and the vehicle’s requirements. The tyre must be rated to carry the car’s weight. A tyre with too low a load index is unsafe regardless of its size.

Read the vehicle handbook for the specification, and match or exceed it. Michelin says a tyre’s load rating must meet or exceed the vehicle maker’s value, and notes an EV’s load includes the battery. Source: www.michelinman.com/auto/auto-tips-and-advice/tires-101/tire A tyre that fits physically is not necessarily right.

What do the numbers and letters on an EV tyre mean?

A tyre size reads like 205/55 R16 91V. The two digits near the end are the load index, then the speed rating letter. TyreSafe says a higher load index carries more weight. Michelin explains 205 as width in millimetres, 55 as aspect ratio, R as radial construction, 16 as wheel diameter in inches, 91 as the load rating and V as the speed rating. Source: www.michelinman.com/auto/auto-tips-and-advice/tires-101/tire

Always check the load index first on an EV.

How should I look after tyres on an electric car?

Treat pressure as a priority. TyreSafe explains that correct pressure is determined by the weight carried, and that an overloaded or under-inflated tyre bulges at the sidewall and stresses the shoulder.

TyreSafe’s general advice applies: check pressure at least monthly or before a long journey, and when the tyres are cold, meaning travelled less than 2 miles. Source: www.tyresafe.org/tyre-advice/tyre-types/winter-tyre-safety/

Check tread depth too. Wear can arrive sooner than you expect. TyreSafe suggests considering replacement below 3mm, well above the 1.6mm legal minimum. Source: www.tyresafe.org/the-checks/

Standard tyres versus EV-rated tyres: the contrast

Always follow the vehicle handbook for the correct pressure and load rating.

Does an electric car need alignment checks?

Alignment matters for any car, and tyre wear is the reason. If an EV pulls or wears one edge faster, get it checked. The signs are the same as on any car.

Fast wear can also be alignment: see signs your wheels need aligning.

What should an EV driver in Gorton and Manchester know?

City driving brings frequent stopping and starting, which adds to the wear a heavy car already causes. Cold weather adds to the need to check pressures.

Hyde Road Wheels & Tyres in Gorton, M12 5FH, is open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30 and Saturday 9:00 to 16:30, closed on Sunday. Whoever you buy from, give your registration and tyre size and say it is an electric car, so the load rating can be checked against your handbook. See the tyres in Manchester page for the range.

What does fitting cost on an EV?

Fitting is a separate question from the tyre: see how much tyre fitting costs.