A tale of two tires proves that electric vehicles are not rubber eaters

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One thing I keep seeing in EV FUD machines online lately is how terrible EV tires are. Because they are heavier and produce higher torque, they say, electric car tires wear out much faster than internal combustion engine cars. As the story unfolds, the tire’s lifespan continues to shorten. The last one I looked at said they only last 15,000 miles. This latest hype makes a potential electric car buyer wonder if buying an electric car is a good idea, as such things clearly affect sales.

In this article I’d like to share a few stories about my experiences with electric vehicles and tires, starting with my new set of tires.

A tale of two frames (so far).

When my Bolt EUV hit about 4,000 miles, I thought about getting something better for off-road use. I love running on forest trails, but that often means there’s a sharp rock underneath the gravel that can ruin a normal tire on the road. I’m not trying to do Baja laps or anything like that, but the Michelin Eco tires fitted to the car were definitely not up to it, even at low speeds if you take it easy.

First, I decided to ask them if they could allow me to test some Tweel prototypes. Because no air means no pop! Although some journalists had the opportunity to test drive the twills, a Michelin representative said the company was unwilling to let anyone take a set home. Instead, he offered me a set of truck tires to test: the Defender LTX M/S. I happily accepted, but still had to pay for the fitting, balancing and road hazard warranty, as well as a full size spare wheel.

Although LTX tires are not designed for electric vehicles, they are designed to handle the increased torque levels introduced in pickup trucks and SUVs in recent years. Even though electricity doesn’t flow as fast as an electric car, a newer model truck’s turbo engine can still take a toll on the rubber. If you’re into it, there’s often a slight delay in building air pressure, followed by a sudden burst of power after the turbo kicks in. It can be just as hard as an electric car, even if the effect is delayed.

Fortunately, I recently completed my first tire change, so I can now share a very pleasant experience!

Here’s the thing: the rear tires (Bolt EUV front wheel drive) were clean. Even though it had been driven about 12,000 miles in the last year and a half, it looked like new. The tread was almost full and the little rubber bristles in the grooves were still there! But the front tires lost about half way. I readily admit that I was a pioneer, which is easily explained. But if weight is a real factor, you’d think the rear tires would show noticeable wear.

At this speed I’ll probably keep rolling for another 12,000 miles or so when the profile settles again. After that, I’ll have another 12,000 miles before the walk is over. At this point I could do another cycle and wear all these parts on the wear strips, which would give a total life of about 48,000 miles. It is more than 15,000 or even 30,000!

But electric cars are easy to drive

When you drive an electric vehicle, there are many psychological factors that affect the lifespan of your tires.

First, sudden torque can be a lot of fun! The Bolt EUV and other cheap electric vehicles I’ve owned don’t have much torque and horsepower compared to the Tesla, but just saying it has 266 pound-feet of torque doesn’t really give you a good idea of ​​what driving a car really means. From 0-30 mph the Bolt closely resembles the old V8, from 45 mph it closely resembles a 4-cylinder.

But around town it goes from 0 to 30 mph very quickly, so you get a lot of torque, a lot of fun, and pay for it later at the tire shop.

Another downside to your tires is that you don’t have to worry about your complex combustion engine and transmission failing. Without all the moving parts, the chances of premature wear and tear and your car breaking down after 100,000 miles are significantly less. So the inhibitions about having some fun are very low.

Finally, there is fuel consumption. With an electric car you won’t get fined at the gas station for driving too hard. In the city, your electric bill can go up by about $5, so it’s hard to even notice when the power company sends you an unsolicited envelope in the mail. Here too, the hesitation to step on the thin pedal is not as great as in petrol powered cars.

The truth is: If everyone drove an electric car the way they drive an internal combustion engine car, most electric cars wouldn’t experience abnormal tire wear compared to the cars you had before. More weight and torque means more wear, but not the kind of wear most people put on themselves.

Electric cars have more torque, but only produce as much as the driver wants with the accelerator pedal.

Conditions will also improve

Another thing that is changing is tire technology. As the LTX tires I tested show, the tire compounds are capable of withstanding the added torque of most new vehicles, whether ICEVs or EVs. And it will continue. And as tire manufacturers continue to improve the range of torque produced by electric cars, things will only get better.

However, in the long run it is very likely that run-flat tires will become the norm. The demand for Tweels is too great for the market to ignore. Since they do not have to be compressed and deformed millions of times like normal tires, continuing to renew the tread of these tires is not a big problem. It may also be possible to use a 3D printing process that adds a bespoke profile or gives you a custom tread pattern that adapts to changing requirements.

So those of us who need a bit more speed may do better in the long run.

Featured image by Jennifer Sensiba.