Why Do Tires Wear Out Faster On Electric Cars?

Electric cars have been taking over the market. Over the last few years, many large automobile manufacturers like Tesla, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been making electric vehicles with larger batteries and faster speeds. Moreover, they're getting more reliable than ever. So the future of electric cars looks very promising. But even with all the technological improvements, we still haven't solved a fundamental problem: tires wear out faster on electric cars. So why is that?

I've heard too many Tesla owners report that their tires are wearing out too quickly. At first, I wondered if they were doing something wrong. But research has shown that: the results were surprising! Not only Tesla but also the tires of other electric vehicles have the same problem.

One of the downsides of all-electric vehicles is that their tires wear out too quickly. However, what causes tire wear and tear? Is it just a coincidence? And how can it be mitigated?

There are several factors to consider when it comes to electric vehicles' tire wear:

Generally, electric vehicles are heavier than similarly sized gasoline-powered cars. For example, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic electric car weighs 2539 kg; the petrol version of the S500 4Matic weighs 2091 kg.

Why Do Tires Wear Out Faster On Electric Cars?

These cars come from different build platforms but share the same size class and are in the same market segment. However, the electric version is 454kg heavier due to its battery pack, so the tires are under extra pressure to support such a heavy load.

In addition, Electric motors are capable of delivering huge amounts of torque much more quickly than internal combustion engines, which means they can give the tires more of a hit than most internal combustion engine cars of similar design. For example, many compact hatchbacks/wagons/SUVs in the same market as the Tesla Model Y have few internal combustion engine models that can produce the same instant acceleration capability. This has led to higher requirements for electric cars' tire performance.

Increased weight means longer braking distance, while high instant torque puts more stress on tires. These are one of the main reasons why the tires of electric cars wear out more quickly than those of gasoline-powered cars.

How can I extend the life of my electric car tires?

Use EV-specific tires

While there are numerous differences between electric vehicles and fuel vehicles, the division between tires is not so clear-cut. In fact, many of the original tires used in electric vehicles are not special tires for electric vehicles. As environmentally-friendly vehicles, electric cars present a catalyst for change. One key place that can improve is in their tires.

Why Do Tires Wear Out Faster On Electric Cars?

It's obvious that regular vehicle tires aren't fully compatible with all-electric cars. Electric cars should use EV-specific tires for a number of reasons. These tires are much different from regular tires and offer better performance and lifespan. In recent years, electric vehicle technology has been advancing rapidly, with major tire manufacturers paying attention to the unique requirements of electric vehicles on tires and launching some special tires for electric vehicles on the market.

But you may not know, Electric-car tires have different requirements than regular car tires; their design is much more complex than most people realize. As a result, EV specialty tires are typically 20–30% more expensive than regular tires. This difference can be attributed to the emphasis on lower rolling resistance and noise reduction, which requires manufacturers' use of unique materials.

Final Thought

The normal tires on electric vehicles must bear more weight, dynamic load, instantaneous high torque, and traction than those on normal cars—These factors have accelerated tire wear. In addition, these requirements mean that EV specialty tires must be manufactured using advanced technology, making them more expensive.

Future studies may be able to answer questions about EV batteries and tires better as more people adopt electric cars in the future and we have more data from real-world driving conditions. In the meantime, though, EV owners need to drive responsibly (drive smoothly) to preserve their battery life and tires.

Also, remember to check your tire pressure and get rid of unnecessary items in your car!