Are EV Tires More Expensive Than Conventional Car Tires?

Last Updated on February 9, 2024

If you’re thinking of buying an electric vehicle (EV), you might be wondering if EV tires are more expensive than conventional car tires?

Tires designed for EVs cost more than standard conventional car tires due in part to the different demands that EVs put on their tires. For example, electric vehicles tend to accelerate quickly requiring a range of rubber compounds to reduce potential slippage. Additionally, since EVs practically make no noise when driven, tread patterns are designed to reduce road noises.

These among other factors, differentiate EV tires from conventional vehicle tires.

In this article, we’ll take a look why EV tires cost more than it’s traditional car tire counterparts. We’ll also discuss some of the benefits of EV tires. So if you find yourself wondering are EV tires more expensive, then let’s dive into the details for answers.

What Makes EV Tires So Different?

Tires can significantly impact the overall performance of an electric vehicle. To that extent, tires specified for EVs are designed to add range, improve handling and reduce road noise. In fact, tires play a much bigger role in the overall performance of an EV than one might think. When compared to conventional car tires, they can either help or hurt overall mileage and ride comfort.

Below are the four most important differences between conventional tires and EV tires.

Reduce Road Noise

One of the great advantages to owning an EV is just how smooth and silent the car is driving down the road. The elimination of the internal combustion engine (ICE) and other mechanical components is a big contributing factor to this. Tires also play a major role in the overall ride quality of an EV.

In fact, EV tires are specifically designed to reduce tire noise and vibrations that’s transferred into the cabin of the vehicle. This is done through advanced design and manufacturing techniques like specialized tread patterns, sound-absorbing foam compounds and rubber compounds.

Tire maker Continental claims their EV specific tires can reduce interior noise up to 9 dB(A). Pretty impressive considering the human ear perceives every reduction of noise of up to 10 dB, as cutting noise in half!

Withstand Greater Amounts of Weight

Another important characteristic of an EV tire is the ability to withstand the weight of an electric vehicle. This is because the tires are made of a special materials that can handle the increased weight. As an example, the carcass of the tire is designed to be stronger to handle the additional weight. In fact, EVs on average weigh 600 to 750 pounds more than it’s gas-powered counterparts.

With more weight means longer braking distances. EV specific tires are designed with rubber compounds and tread patterns to help improve braking performance for heavy vehicles.

Putting a conventional car tire onto an electric vehicle would cause them to wear quickly, and be very damaging to its overall performance.

EV Tires Use Special Compounds to Improve Traction

Step on the go pedal in an electric car, and you’ll be rewarded with instantaneous power. It’s one of the things that makes EVs so fun to drive! Because of this, EV tires utilize stronger sidewalls and more robust rubber compounds. This will ensure that they can withstand the sheer power EV vehicles are capable of.

Making use of different different tread patterns and compounds allows EV tires to compensate for the increased torque of an EV, no matter what the weather conditions may be.

Designed to Reduce Rolling Resistance

Reduced rolling resistance means less energy is lost, which in turn increases the battery life of EVs. In other words, by making your car more efficient, you can go further on a single charge.

Manufacturers go to great lengths to design tires that make use of advanced rubber compounds and tread patterns that reduce rolling resistance.

How Much More Expensive are EV Tires?

The cost of EV specific tires is similar for what you would pay for higher-end luxury or sports car tires. Pricing can range from $150 to $200 dollars per tire according to MotorBiscuit.

Perhaps the biggest downside to electric vehicles is that they go through a set of tires much faster than a conventional car would. The additional weight and torque of an EV wears tires at a much faster rate. So expect to replace the tires more often than you would on a conventional car.

Do EV’s Really Need Special Tires?

No, but you’ll take a hit to your mileage. You’ll also hear more road noise and feel more vibrations. You can put really any tire on an electric vehicle, but it’s overall ride quality and performance will suffer greatly.

Do EV Tires Require Special Maintenance?

One of the perks to owning an electric car is they require much less maintenance than traditional ICE vehicles. However, proper tire rotation is a must for EV tires.

Neglect this, and you will experience uneven tire wear much sooner than you would with a ICE vehicle. In fact, you will need to replace the tires far before their rated service life.

The majority of EV specific tires are good for at least 30,000 miles, if not more.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the market for an EV, be sure to factor in the cost of new tires when budgeting. The good news is that there are many excellent energy-efficient EV tires on the market now. And with proper care, they have the potential to last as long as traditional car tires. Just remember to have the tires rotated often.

Keep in mind that while they may wear out faster, those energy-efficient tires will save you money in the long run on fuel costs.

Have any other questions about electric vehicles? Let us know in the comments below!