Why tires can wear out faster on electric cars than on petrol cars – Jalopnik

While electric vehicles offer some advantages over internal combustion vehicles, they also pose unique challenges to some critical components. For example, drivers in Florida discovered the hard truth about electric cars: they eat tires. In fact, as reported by the YouTube channel Technology explainedan EV can wear out the same tire 20% faster than its petrol counterpart.

One reason for this is weight, as EVs are typically much heavier. For example, a Chevy Equinox with a four-cylinder engine has a starting weight of 3,428 pounds, but the electric version weighs 4,923 pounds. More weight puts extra stress on the tires and leads to greater pressure under a heavier EV compared to a lighter internal combustion vehicle.

Another problem stems from one of the benefits of electric vehicles: instant and robust torque. The aforementioned Equinox EV model has a total torque of 236 pound-feet. By comparison, the gasoline version offers just 184 pound-feet, and that’s only at 2,000 rpm. Torque is the turning force that moves the wheels, so higher torque will obviously test their durability more. But EVs also have all this torque available immediately, rather than kicking in at a certain RPM. Essentially, an electric car’s aggressive acceleration capabilities can cause additional wear and tear by causing the tires to spin faster than they normally want to do.

To address the issue of extra weight, EV tires are generally stiffer. This counteracts the tendency of the tires to flex under load, which is partly responsible for accelerated wear from extra heat. Some EV tires achieve this by changing the shape of the sidewalls, further enhancing their response to lateral forces during cornering. In addition, the rubber compound itself has been made stiffer, further combating the increased curb weight.

In terms of price, EV tires will usually cost more than regular tires due to the extra technology involved. Regular tires may cost around $115 each, but a specialized set for electric cars can cost as much as $300 per tire. That said, since cheaper regular tires won’t last as long on your EV, you’ll likely spend less overall by opting for higher quality EV-designed options. Fortunately, there are resources available to help, such as Tire Rack’s comparison tests, which take the guesswork out of tire shopping – including specific advice on EV tires.