Why Do Tires Wear out Faster on Electric Vehicles?
The automotive industry constantly evolves, bringing us new models, technologies, and improvements. For the past decade or so, we’ve seen many trends emerging, including the rise of the popularity of electric vehicles.
Contrary to popular belief, the idea isn’t something new. The concept is almost as old as cars with an internal combustion engine. Unfortunately, at that time, the technology wasn’t as advanced as today’s, so EVs didn’t take over the market.
It’s a different story today. Almost all car manufacturers have at least one electric model, meaning the market is pushing for electrification. I’m not a fan, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about.
People consider EVs superior to ICE vehicles, which is partially true. There are some advantages, but there are also some disadvantages. A common one people start to notice after a few years of ownership is increased wear, and in this guide, I’ll explain why that happens.
Why Do Tires Wear?
Before I answer the big question, let me explain quickly why we see wear on our tires. The “culprit” here is the rubber compound. As you roll, the tire relies on friction to move your vehicle. During that process, all kinds of forces and heat act on the tire, and microscopic particles are left behind on the road.
The process is invisible to the naked eye, which is why you won’t see your tires worn down after a single drive. It takes thousands of miles to notice this. Keep in mind that not all tires are equal, meaning there will be a difference in the wear rate depending on multiple factors. This also includes situations where you have uneven wear. Today, I’m taking the vehicle as a factor, in this case, an EV, where everything works properly and the wear is normal.
Why Do Tires Wear out Faster on Electric Vehicles?
There are two main reasons why EVs “eat” tires faster than an ICE vehicle, so let me dive into both.
EVs offer Instant Torque
One of the first reasons behind the increased wear with tires on EVs is the instant torque. Unlike an ICE vehicle, where you’ll need to be in the higher revs to get the most out of it, with EVs, it can be like flipping a switch.
The best way to describe this is by comparing a regular light switch and a dimmer. You’ll need to turn the dimmer all the way to get the light to its brightest setting. With a regular light switch, the process is instant. It’s the same with EVs.
Having instant torque is fun when the light turns green, and you can see all the ICE vehicles in your rearview mirror. One part that isn’t having too much fun is the tires. The shock may cause a bit of slip, which is essentially a mini burnout. Considering that we don’t drive our cars on glass, the abrasive surface shaves parts of the tread.
Launching your EV once or twice probably won’t cut the lifespan of your tires by half, but doing it constantly probably will. To be fair, the smaller EVs won’t hurt the longevity as much as the more powerful options, so it’s another thing to keep in mind.
EVs are Heavier
Weight can play a crucial role in how fast tires wear. There were times when the weight difference was more pronounced, but in recent years, the gap has been closed. Despite that, EVs are heavier than their conventional rivals. In most cases, you’re looking at a couple of hundred pounds of difference, which isn’t negligible.
EVs don’t have heavy engines under the hood, but they do have massive batteries that weigh a lot. The extra weight exerts more force on the tires, even when the car is parked. When driving, the forces are higher, especially when you’re cornering.
Any car that drives on straight roads won’t wear the tires too much because the friction levels are lower. Going into a corner is problematic because the tire is trying to grip the road while the forces are moving the vehicle outward.
With a lighter car, the wear isn’t massive because the forces it needs to overcome aren’t too high. On the other hand, a heavy vehicle like an EV will cause problems. It’s the same story when you’re braking. Stopping a vehicle is something where the weight can have an impact. The tire will work harder to stop the vehicle, meaning that the wear rate will be increased.
How to Combat Accelerated Wear?
Let’s say you have an EV and notice that your tires aren’t lasting as long as they should. The main question you ask yourself is: what can I do? There are several things, so let me explain.
Change your Driving Habits
Having all that power and torque at your command is addicting, especially with the more performance-oriented EVs. It’s natural to want to do some hard launches or pulls whenever you get a chance. The problem is that it doesn’t come without some drawbacks; in this case, that’s the rate at which the tires will wear.
To combat this issue, the best thing you can do is try to be a bit gentler. Your EV will accelerate one way or another, but if you can refrain from flooring it, you’ll save yourself the headache of changing your tires too often.
You can also do the same thing with the cornering, and don’t drive your EV too hard. I know it’s fun, but it will wear down your tires faster. Like before, getting carried away occasionally won’t be an issue, so keep that in mind.
As an additional benefit, you also won’t be getting poor range from your EV using this technique. They take a while to charge, so owners should be mindful when driving their cars hard.
Get EV Tires
EVs are becoming increasingly popular, and even though you can fit most of the “common” tires, there are some dedicated options as well. Tire manufacturers work on combating the problem and offer special tires for these kinds of vehicles.
There are multiple options from different categories, meaning you can get touring or performance tires. In both cases, you’re looking at models designed with EVs in mind, meaning that one of the main features is the low rolling resistance. This is to help you get more range, but it also means that the tires should last longer when compared to the traditional options.
To get even more, you can combine this with a gentler driving technique to further increase longevity. This can also work in your favor, as tires with lower rolling resistance tend to give you improved range. It’s not a lot, but you can get a few extra miles out of them.
Care for Your Tires Properly
This one applies to all vehicles when it comes to getting the most out of your tires. Proper tire care is crucial, and it covers multiple aspects. I already mentioned that aggressive driving can be a problem, so let’s talk about the others.
The most important thing is tire rotation. Manufacturers recommend rotating the tires at certain intervals to ensure they last as long as possible. This is often combined with wheel alignment, one of the main causes of uneven wear.
Another reason why tires don’t last as long is the pressure. Running the tires on your EV at improper pressure is one of the leading causes of uneven wear. Depending on the type, you can have under or overinflation, which can wear the tires unevenly in different areas.
Properly caring for your tires is an excellent way to get the most out of them. I spoke about this in my guide about making tires last long, so check it out if you want to learn more.
Conclusion
The automotive industry is constantly moving from one era to another, and the one we’re living in now is the electric one. EVs are taking over the market, and it’s only natural for you to see more and more of them on the streets.
Nothing is perfect, and the same can be said about EVs. The thing that most owners struggle with is accelerated tire wear. In today’s guide, I outlined the reasons behind this and the things you can do to eliminate or, in a worst-case scenario, minimize the damage.