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As points of contact with the ground, tyres play a significant role in a vehicle’s performance and driving dynamics. And when it comes to electric vehicles, the need for better tyres to match their technological superiority over regular cars for the future has also risen.
To meet this requirement, tyre manufacturers are working on electric vehicle tyres which are more suitable for the performance and longevity gains in electric vehicles. Here, we will be discussing all things which make electric vehicle tyres feel different and better than conventional tyres:
How are electric vehicle tyres different from regular tyres?
Following are some prime areas where electric vehicles tend to have different characteristics over regular tyres:
- Tread pattern – Electric vehicle tyres are designed to reduce rolling resistance while on the go to keep the maximum driving range of the electric vehicle as high as possible.
- The material used – For better stability and grip, especially on wetter surfaces, electric vehicle tyres have a different type of rubber in their composition.
- Different rib sections – To cope with the instant availability of torque and avoid the loss of traction, electric vehicle tyres have stiffer and wider rib sections than regular tyres.
- Addition of sound-absorbing foam – Electric vehicles are quieter in comparison to regular cars. So, to reduce the tyre noises, which become more audible in electric vehicles, the tyres designed for EVs have sound-absorbing foams and specialized rubber compounds.
Impact of variations in aspects of a tyre in an electric vehicle:
Like in a conventional vehicle, the tyres for electric vehicles also have the same aspects like rim size, aspect ratio and section width. If there is any variation in any of these aspects of a tyre, it directly impacts the performance of a tyre. The following are such variations:
- Variation in section width – An increase in the section width of the tyre enhances the handling due to an increase in the contact patch, resulting in better grip levels. However, it also adversely increases the vehicle’s frontal area, thus increasing aerodynamic drag. It directly reduces the range of the electric car.
- Variation in wheel size – If the wheel size of an electric vehicle is increased, it eventually causes a drop in the maximum range of that vehicle. Usually, electric cars come with low-rolling-resistance tyres, with more emphasis on wheel size and sidewalls. For electric vehicles, brands focus on tyres with thicker sidewalls, with minimal fluctuations in tyre pressure and rolling resistance.
Comparison of electric vehicle tyres and regular tyres: The Pros & Cons
Following is the set of advantages offered by electric vehicle tyres over the regular tyres for conventional vehicles:
- Better load handling – Due to heavier battery packs, electric vehicles generally weigh more than conventional vehicles. An electric vehicle tyre is designed to handle this additional load, but not at the cost of performance, making it more susceptible to additional strain.
- Longer life span – The lack of engine wear and tear gives electric vehicles a higher mileage than regular vehicles. To match their longevity, electric vehicle tyres feature more durable materials, which make them live longer than regular tyres.
- Higher wear resistance – Compared to regular tyres used in conventional fuel-driven vehicles, the tread material of electric vehicle tyres offers more than 30 per cent higher wear resistance.
All of these advantages come at the cost of, well, higher cost. Due to the additional characteristics they offer, electric vehicle tyres are more expensive to buy. Also, due to the silent driving experience of an electric vehicle, the tyre noises are felt more while on the go. However, considering their advantages, especially their longer life span, electric vehicle tyres hold more value.
Conclusion
While electric vehicle tyres offer some unignorable advantages, they come at the cost of noise and higher prices. However, considering that you might not always get the best of all the worlds in tyres, the advantages of electric vehicle tyres hold a stronger case for them. And with developments in the EV and tyre industries, electric vehicle tyres will only get comparatively more affordable with time.
