Do Electric Cars Need Special Tires?
This page is translated from the original post "Faut-il des pneus spéciaux pour les voitures électriques ?" in French.
- 18/10/2023 16:45
While tire manufacturers are expanding their ranges of sporty, eco-friendly, and other niche tires, what about the rapidly developing electric vehicle market?
The main characteristic of an electric car is that it does not operate with an internal combustion engine powered by gasoline or diesel, but with an electric motor. Having stated this obvious fact, let’s focus on the dynamic specificities of this electric propulsion.
Tires subjected to specific constraints
First of all, to power the motor, energy is needed, supplied by batteries that are still quite heavy despite the tremendous progress made in recent years. When cornering, this extra weight results in greater lateral stresses on the tires.
An electric car does away with a gear box because power is transmitted immediately once the motor is powered. Therefore, a significant torque is available at the slightest press on the right pedal, resulting in extremely rapid acceleration figures even in entry-level models. This time, the tire endures stresses in the longitudinal direction.
Thus, for equivalent thermal/electric models, tires must meet different constraints. Yet, no 100% electric tire range currently stands out among manufacturers.
An emerging market
Vredestein introduced the Quatrac Pro EV in 2022, Europe’s first all-season tire specifically designed for battery electric and hybrid vehicles. The product was developed to handle the increased torque and weight associated with modern electric vehicles.
Michelin also offers specific treads with the Pilot Sport EV for sporty applications and the E-Primacy for general public use. However, this range remains limited to summer tires at Bibendum, as for winter conditions, they refer to the Alpin 5 and 6 ranges.
All major players in the market are undoubtedly working on this topic. Even in original equipment, the market is now large enough to absorb the R&D costs of these new products, and the future holds endless perspectives.
READ ALSO > The puncture-proof bike tire is a reality
We also suggestthese articles:
Also read
