An electric car puts a different kind of load on its tyres than a petrol or diesel car. It is heavier, all its torque arrives at once and there is no engine noise. EV tyres are designed with these three things in mind.
More weight
The battery is heavy, and an electric car is usually a few hundred kilos heavier than a comparable car with a combustion engine. The tyres carry that weight through every bend and every stop. That is why EV tyres often come in a reinforced version (XL) with a higher load index, and their construction is designed to keep its shape under greater load.
Full torque, instantly
An electric motor delivers full torque the moment you press the accelerator. That puts the rubber under strain every time you pull away, and a tyre that is not made for it wears faster. EV tyres use a more hard-wearing rubber compound and a tread pattern that keeps its grip under sudden force.
No engine noise to hide the road noise
In a car with a combustion engine, the engine drowns out the sound from the tyres. In an electric car, it is the road noise you hear. That is why many Nokian EV tyres feature SilentDrive™: noise-reducing foam inside the tyre that absorbs road noise. Others use tread designs such as Silent Touch for a smooth, quiet ride.
Less resistance, more range
A tyre’s rolling resistance takes energy from the battery, and the lower it is, the further you get on a charge. Nokian, for example, uses Green Trace, a rubber compound with lower resistance and more range. The energy class on the EU tyre label (A–E) shows the rolling resistance of each size. You can see it on our product page when you choose a size.
What does the EV marking mean?
“EV” in a tyre’s name is the manufacturer’s marking, not a legal standard. It means the tyre is designed for electric and plug-in hybrid cars: for the weight, torque and noise described above. It says nothing about size or load capacity. Those are marked on the tyre itself, as on any other tyre.
So can you fit ordinary tyres on an electric car? Yes, as long as the size, load index and speed rating meet the car’s requirements. EV tyres are simply better built to withstand the load over time. See also what the numbers on a tyre mean.
EV tyres at MAX1
MAX1 is the Nokian Tyres distributor in Iceland and stocks EV tyres in winter, studded and summer versions. Search by registration number or tyre size and we will show you the tyres that fit.
