Purchasing an electric car offers the advantage of reducing vehicle ownership costs, since the engine requires no maintenance and servicing focuses on alignment, cabin filter, brake fluid, and battery cooling system. However, this saving comes with increased tire wear.
Electric cars have distinct demands for tires; they must have low rolling resistance to maximize autonomy, be quieter, be able to support a higher weight, and withstand higher torque.
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In Brazil, the best-selling compact electric car models use tires with dimensions similar to their combustion counterparts. An example is the BYD Dolphin GS, which uses 205/50 R17 tires, as do certain versions of the Volkswagen Polo and Nissan Versa.
Fabio Magliano, a training and product consultant for Pirelli in Latin America, clarifies that tires developed and certified for electric vehicles must meet specific requirements defined by the manufacturer during the vehicle's development process.
Among these specifications, he points to the need for an appropriate internal structure to support the extra weight of the batteries, a specific chemical compound to manage the immediate torque of these motors, in addition to ensuring low rolling resistance and a reduced noise level.
These characteristics are also beneficial for combustion models, which is why some manufacturers already produce general-purpose tires suitable for electric vehicles. The BYD Dolphin Mini, for example, comes from the factory equipped with the Pirelli Cinturato P6, which is similar to that used on combustion cars.
Continental also certifies general-purpose tires for use in electric cars, citing models such as PowerContact 2, UltraContact, and PremiumContact 6. When purchasing new tires, it is highly recommended to check the rolling resistance index on the Inmetro label.
Although compact electric cars may have a similar size to combustion models, the weight tends to be greater, due to the battery pack, which is still heavy because of the limitations of current technologies.
When replacing an electric car's tire, it is crucial to respect the load index. This is indicated by numbers and accompanies the speed index, represented by a letter, as in the example 91V. The number '91' means it supports up to 615 kg, while 'V' establishes the limit of 240 km/h.
Interestingly, some of the most popular electric hatchbacks in Brazil share dimensions with compact SUVs, such as the BYD Dolphin GS and GAC Aion UT, facilitating the search for a model with the correct load index.
Several brands also offer exclusive tire lines for electric cars, especially high-performance ones. Vehicles like the Porsche Taycan can generate over 1,000 hp and weigh over two tons, demanding even more from the rubber.
Fabio Magliano details that, within Pirelli, this technology is called Elect. It was created for 100% electric or plug-in hybrid cars of high and very high power in the premium and prestige categories.
The specialist explains that 'tires with this technology have compounds and structures specially designed to handle the additional weight of batteries and the extremely high instantaneous torque of electric motors, in addition to offering low rolling resistance, contributing to greater autonomy, and lower noise emission, providing more comfort to occupants.'
