More Australians than ever are making the switch to electric vehicles, and plenty of Geelong drivers are among them. EVs are quieter, cheaper to run and need far less servicing than petrol cars. But there's one part of the car that actually works harder in an EV: the tyres. If you've noticed your electric car chewing through tyres quicker than your old petrol vehicle did, you're not imagining it.
Why EVs are harder on tyres
There are three main reasons electric vehicles tend to wear tyres faster than comparable petrol or diesel cars.
1. Extra weight
Battery packs are heavy. A typical EV weighs several hundred kilograms more than a similar-sized petrol car, and all of that extra mass presses down on four small patches of rubber. More load means more friction, more heat and more wear with every kilometre you drive.
2. Instant torque
Electric motors deliver their full pulling power the moment you touch the accelerator. That instant response feels fantastic, but it also puts sudden stress on the tread every time you pull away briskly from the lights. Petrol engines build power more gradually, which is gentler on the rubber.
3. Regenerative braking
When you lift off the accelerator in an EV, the motor slows the car and feeds energy back into the battery. This regenerative braking saves your brake pads, but the slowing force still passes through the tyres, adding another source of tread wear that drivers often don't think about.
How to make EV tyres last longer
The good news is that a few simple habits can noticeably extend the life of your tyres, whether you drive an EV or not.
- Check pressures monthly. Underinflated tyres wear faster on the shoulders and cost you driving range. Use the pressure listed on your car's tyre placard, usually inside the driver's door frame.
- Rotate regularly. EVs often wear the driven axle noticeably faster. Rotating your tyres roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometres helps all four wear evenly.
- Ease off the instant acceleration. Enjoy the torque now and then, but gentle take-offs in everyday driving make a real difference to tread life.
- Keep your wheels aligned. The extra weight of an EV means even a slight misalignment scrubs off tread quickly. If your car pulls to one side or you spot uneven wear, book an alignment check.
Do you need special EV tyres?
Many manufacturers now make tyres designed specifically for electric vehicles, with stiffer construction for the extra weight, low rolling resistance to protect your driving range, and foam liners to keep road noise down in a quiet cabin. They're worth considering when it's time to replace, but they're not compulsory. What matters most is that any tyre fitted to your EV has a load rating that suits the vehicle's weight, which you'll find on the placard or in your owner's manual.
Replacing tyres in pairs or full sets, rather than one at a time, also keeps grip balanced from side to side, which matters even more on a heavier car.
Watch your tread, not just your range
Because EVs are so quiet, worn tyres don't always announce themselves with the roar you'd notice in a petrol car. Make a habit of checking your tread depth every month or so. Anything approaching the legal minimum of 1.5 mm needs replacing, and for confident wet-weather grip on winter roads around Geelong, it's wise to act well before that.
If you're not sure how your EV's tyres are holding up, the team at Global Tyres Geelong in North Geelong can check your tread, pressures and alignment, and help you choose tyres suited to your electric car when the time comes.