Piston Slap: The Best Way To Spot An EV Tire
Jay writes:
Have tire companies began manufacturing tires specifically for heavier electric vehicles? If not, why not?
Sajeev answers:
Tire companies are indeed making EV-specific tires, but they aren’t marketed terribly well. You will see “EV” on some tires, or Elect on Pirelli tires. Not bad I guess, but the ever-growing EV community should get treated to an iconic tire name with the staying power of names like Firestone Wide Ovals, BF Goodrich Radial T/As, Goodyear Gatorbacks, etc.
Long story short, off-the-rack designs for EVs stand out because of the load range and load index numbers (befitting their extra heft) that are stamped on their sidewalls. By definition, load range is the weight a tire can handle based on the number plies in its construction, while load index is a specific number of pounds the tire can handle. Discount Tire goes into load range and load index in detail on their site, but we’ve discussed enough here to get to the important part. Let’s use the Rivian R1T as our test vehicle.
And Tire Rack gives us a handy chart, helping us spot an EV tire when stacked up against its brothers from the same family. The fourth row, max load, lists the load index number. The Pirelli Scorpion that’s factory-fitted on the Rivian holds 2,760 lbs per tire, while the ones next to it will hold 2,094, 2,403, and 2,535 lbs, accordingly. Notice anything different about that last tire with the 2,535 weight rating?
That one is an LT (light truck) tire, and it is designed for vehicles carrying heavier than anticipated loads. I have recommended them to minivan owners in a Piston Slap from over a decade ago. The same advice is relevant for EV truck/SUV owners who are stranded somewhere with a blown tire, as getting an LT-spec tire will work if you’re in a bind.
Light truck tires have some merit in the discussion, but let’s look at the even bigger EV truck to see just how far you can extend the limits of an EV tire. Because the Hummer EV comes in at a robust 9,063 lbs, it’s gonna need even more capability from its tires than the Rivian.
Oh my goodness, the Hummer EV has a 122 load index? That’s 3305 lbs per tire, or a full 549 lbs more than the Rivian. These tires are no joke, as the “E” load range means the tires have ten plies in its construction. The Rivian’s factory tires have six fewer plies!
So yes, there are unique EV tires. But you need to look at the load index to see if they are actually designed for the electron-powered vehicle in question. Maybe one day there will be an iconic EV tire on par with that of the iconic Wide Oval? It’s only a matter of time!
Something I hope to never need to know about…
My F350 has E rated skins. It rides like a board except when loaded. Then it is a slightly cushier board.
Am surprised all EV’s of any size are not on an E rated tire.
The F-350 ride is less tire stiffness and more your suspension. I’ve rarely been in a 1-ton of any make that rode well when empty.
The weights of these EVs are beyond ridiculous
It’s not just the EV’s. Have you seen the new BMW M5. That is a fat pig.
You mean some EV’s. My Model 3 Performance weighs the same as an M3.
It is not just weight but rolling resistance. Non EV tires cost range. The are made to roll easier but still have grip.
Tire companies also do these for gas cars too like the Goodyear Fuel Max.
Most EV cars often have tires designed for their specific needs.
This reads like a soccer mom read a Wikipedia article about tires and decided to write a news story about it.
Soccer moms do love vintage Firestone Wide Ovals!
Better than 500’s.
Ain’t that the truth!
word.
Speaking of iconic tire models, I went and did a prelisting evaluation of a house. The owner had lived there since 1992 and is a car guy. Went into the garage and found a set of 4 of the original tread pattern Radial T/A in size GR50-14. They weren’t mounted on wheels, but appear to have been used for a few miles at one point. The cool thing about the typical 70’s split entry is that he extended the 2 car garage out the back and into a 4 car. One of the new bays includes a pit and there is some additional shop space off to the side.
I have been tempted to knock out spaces in my house to extend the garage…but I keep on telling myself that’s a bad idea.
Not a great investment at least from the point of the home’s value. Even mostly DIY it is unlikely to add as much to the home’s value as it does to do the addition.
Unless your potential buyer is like a friend of mine, who recently searched for two years for a “large garage/shop with a house attached to it”. Finally found the right place this last spring and has been sending out pictures – of the shop, but nary a single shot of the living quarters!
Great question and as always, a well-thought-out response!
Thank you very kindly!