Do Electric Cars Cause Tyres to Wear More Quickly?

Do Electric Cars Cause Tyres to Wear More Quickly?

Electric cars can exert more demand on their tyres than petrol or diesel models as a result of their additional weight and performance. This often results in faster wear, when compared to the equivalent petrol or diesel (ICE) car, with EV tyres wearing out an average of 67% more quickly. 

Should I Replace My Electric Car Tyres With the Same Brand?

There are many tyre options with similar qualities and capabilities to the tyres originally fitted that would be perfectly suitable for your vehicle, though it’s often simplest to change the tyres with the ones fitted originally as it’s the easiest way to ensure they’re suitable for the vehicle.

What Tyres Should I Choose for My Electric Car?

Replacing your tyres with the same ones that were fitted to the vehicle originally may be easier but it isn’t compulsory.

The most important consideration is that you ensure the new tyres match the tyre speed ratings, weight index and labels of your car. EV tyres need to have high ratings for wet braking and fuel efficiency, and this information can be found on the EU tyre labels.

Should I Buy Tyres Specifically Designed for Electric Cars?

EV-specific tyres have different rubber compounds and carcass constructions, reduced tread depth and reinforced sidewalls to help alleviate wear issues associated with electric vehicles specifically, giving them the highest chance of lasting longer. They are engineered to reduce rolling resistance and increase efficiency.

Noise from the tyres on the road can be a concern for EV drivers without the sound of an engine to mask it and so EV tyres often contain a layer of polyurethane foam bound to the inner surface of the tread to absorb noise from the tyre cavity.

Can I Fit Standard Tyres to My Electric Car?

You can fit non-EV specific tyres to your electric car, but since they won’t be designed to address EV-specific efficiency and wear challenges, they could reduce your car’s overall range and efficiency by as much as 20 per cent and need to be replaced sooner.

What Can I Do to Help My EV’s Tyres Last Longer?

1. Fit the best match of tyre - choose the optimal tyre possible for your vehicle by considering the vehicle characteristics, the kind of driving you tend to do, as well as your priorities, to help you make your EV’s tyres last longer.
2.  Check tyre pressure regularly - ensuring your tyre pressure is correct will help reduce overall wear, while increasing your car’s efficiency. 
3. Beware of extra weight - because EVs are often heavier than their petrol or diesel equivalents, reducing the weight of the vehicle by not carrying extra load in your vehicle uneccessarily, can also help prevent excessive tyre wear.
4. Monitor driving style - this can have an impact on how long your tyres last, so ensure you don’t accelerate too hard, corner fast or brake quickly as part of your general driving style, since these actions all generate more friction and wear than driving smoothly does.
5. Review wear and rotate tyres - this helps evenly distribute wear across all four tyres. One common rotation is rearward cross where the front tyres are moved to the rear on the same side while the rear tyres are moved forward and cross sides.