Can I equip my gasoline car with tires for electric vehicles?

Are the energy-efficient benefits of tires designed for electric cars applicable to internal combustion engine models? Not so simple.

Without revealing any secrets, the tire is the only point of contact with the road. It therefore ensures grip and, by extension, the active safety of a vehicle. Consequently, the choice of tires must meet very specific criteria regarding contact surface, pressure, diameter, etc. A tire with an exceeded load index will lead to a blowout. A tire that is too wide on a narrow rim can result in unseating…

Factually, it is quite possible to equip your internal combustion engine car with tires referred to as EV, designed for electric vehicles. However, one must first accept a key point: these tires are consistently more expensive! So, what about fuel savings to hope to offset this additional cost?

Let’s talk about offsetting costs. This is another issue with EV tires. These tires are made to support the heavier weight of electric cars due to their heavy batteries. Consequently, their sidewalls are reinforced to better withstand vertical, lateral, and longitudinal forces. Therefore, when mounted on a lighter internal combustion engine car, the tire’s intrinsic damping work is reduced because the carcass is much stiffer. The end result is a significant ride discomfort in everyday driving. Bumps, vibrations, firmness, road imperfections—all these issues are prevalent.

A MISGUIDED GOOD IDEA?

Because the internal combustion engine car is lighter, the footprint of the tire designed for a heavier vehicle becomes modified and therefore no longer relevant. To remedy this, one would need to reduce the tire pressure, which is not without risk for safety… and energy consumption.

Finally, the performance of a tire lies in its optimal thermal operating window. An overworked tire becomes too hot and its rubber too sticky, which negatively affects consumption. An underworked tire becomes too cold and its grip too weak, which reduces friction and thus increases braking distances, for example.

In conclusion, the idea of equipping your car with tires designed for electric vehicles, supposedly more energy-efficient, is a very bad idea. Stick to your manufacturer’s recommendations and seek advice from tire professionals when renewing your tires. Safety is priceless.

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