The right tires bring more miles, comfort and safety to electric driving

More range with the right tire choice

The lower the rolling resistance of a tire, the less energy it requires to rotate, leading to a longer range and less impact on the environment.  However, range is most affected by driving speed, outdoor temperature and road conditions, so the most important thing is to choose a tire that is as safe as possible for the driving conditions.

"Especially winter tires should be chosen according to the conditions you typically drive in. EV drivers who often drive on icy roads and in challenging winter conditions should choose studded tires. For example, Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 10 EV studded tires designed for EVs have excellent ice and snow grip," says Mikko Liukkula, Development Manager at Nokian Tyres.

In winter tires, the balance of rolling resistance and wet grip is controlled with the raw materials used in the tire.

"If a winter tire contains a lot of natural rubber, its rolling resistance is clearly lower compared to a tire made of synthetic rubber, which on the other hand has good wet grip. Natural rubber provides first-class grip on ice and snow,” Liukkula says.

Regular maintenance reduces tire wear 

Since EVs are heavier than internal combustion engine cars, one would expect them to wear tires out faster than normal. However, traction control in electric cars is better than in internal combustion engine cars, which in turn reduces tire wear. Typical tire wear during calm driving is one millimeter per 10,000 kilometers. The higher power of an EV may also wear out the chassis faster than that of internal combustion engine cars, so it is advisable to periodically check the car for the condition of joints and bushings. 

" I recommend that the chassis of an electric car be inspected every 100 000 kilometers. This way you can easily save on the price of one set of tires. Maintaining tire pressure is also essential for safety and tire durability. It is not advisable to reduce tire pressure, for example, in order to reduce tire noise, as too little pressure inevitably leads to problems related to the durability of the tire frame, driving behavior or even grip," Liukkula says. 

Innovative foam reduces tire noise  

For many EV owners, silence is a significant factor in driving comfort. Many owners of electric or hybrid cars prefer quieter non-studded tires to studded tires, although studded tires are also a good choice for electric cars when driving in conditions that require them. Nokian Tyres Silent Drive™ tires use innovative noise-cancelling foam that reduces tire noise up to seven decibels. 

"The effect of the noise reduction foam is on the overall tire noise inside the car. For example, in the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 10 EV studded tire, noise reduction foam is important because it also reduces the sound of studs. However, the noise reduction foam is also a significant comfort factor in summer tires, not just studded tires," Liukkula points out.

Safety is the most important thing also for EV tires 

Nokian Tyres has been designing for and testing tires with EVs for more than ten years. All new Nokian Tyres branded tires are suitable for both internal combustion engine and electric cars in terms of safety features and performance. In addition, Nokian Tyres offers EV tires designed especially for electric and hybrid cars. In addition to safety, the design of these emphasizes low rolling resistance and low tire noise. 

Safety is key also for tires for EVs. When designing summer tires, wet grip is always considered, and in winter tires snow and ice grip and the vehicle's handling in winter conditions are important features. 

"For example, when it comes to winter tires, we at Nokian Tyres have a clear starting point: the driver must have enough time to notice and react to lateral skidding,” says Liukkula.