EV Tires: Everything You Need to Know

EV tires are designed for “low rolling resistance” (LRR) first and foremost. Tire physics is a complicated subject, but simply: the less force (“rolling resistance”) working against your tire, the further it can move on a single charge. LRR is the most consistent characteristic shared by these tires – so typically what separates an “EV Tire” from a traditional ICE vehicle tire is a focus on LRR, noise comfort and the additional weight of the vehicle.

The short answer is "yes." EV tires tend to carry a higher cost due to the greater demands on them to balance treadwear, grip, and rolling resistance for heavier vehicles with the expectation of a smooth quiet ride. Although it’s worth considering that the lower cost-of-maintenance, fuel prices, and overall vehicle ownership factors may help balance this out.

You can! There are trade-offs, of course: you may experience less range than you expect, or more noise compared to Original Equipment (O.E.) or specially designed EV tires, but testing is ongoing and suggests the difference may be less severe as manufacturers develop newer technologies. Thankfully, there’s an EV tire for nearly every driving style and situation. Check out our Tire Decision Guide or speak with one of our Tire Rack sales experts for more information.