With electric cars it is important that any resistance is reduced. With more and more cars you see the installation of a special tire for electric cars. What makes these electric car tires special?
A good tire can contribute to a greater range. Rolling resistance in particular is an important factor. Wheels for an electric car often have a large diameter. With tires for electric cars, however, you quickly notice that the tread is narrow. That’s where you get a part of the profit.
Reduce rolling resistance
Rolling resistance can also be reduced through the rubber compound and tire structure. A lower rolling resistance can easily result in a few percent more driving range. That yields roughly 10 kilometers with a smaller battery that you will not notice so quickly, but with a large battery you are at 50 extra kilometers. And that is interesting. Just like SUVs, electric cars are also relatively heavy. That’s because of the batteries. For example, a Peugeot 208 Active 1.2 PureTech 75 with a petrol engine weighs 955 kg, while its electric brother Peugeot e-208 Active EV 50kWh brings 136 1,430 kg: almost half the weight. As a result, the tires have more to wear. Add to this the higher torque of the electric motors compared to a combustion engine, which gives you faster pulling power and you immediately see that the tires have to process more.
And speaking of rolling resistance: with good tire pressure, it is also less. Therefore, regularly check the tire pressure of your car!
Driving style important with tires for electric cars
Driving style has a major influence on the life of the tires, perhaps more than with a car with a fuel engine. If you regularly use a ludicrous mode to sprint away from a traffic light at lightning speed, your tires will have a hard time. This also applies if you often switch to sport mode for a quick overtaking action on a back road or if you always put on the brakes, while you could also use the engine’s regeneration mode. Such promotions are in any case disastrous for the range, especially when it gets colder.
Sound plays a role
In addition, the sound is a factor that plays a role. After all, an electric car runs quieter because you miss the roar of the engine. Tire noise can be heard more clearly because the engine is quieter. If the rubber is harder for less rolling resistance, then at the same time you want the braking effect and driving comfort in general not to suffer. A harder tire can cause more ‘own’ noise (rolling noise) in the hollow spaces. That’s why tire manufacturers often place spongy pieces on the inside of electric car tires to reduce these internal noises and vibrations.
Even more informative are the results of independent tire tests, such as AutoWeek regularly publishes. In it you can compare how the tires in the different categories really perform.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl