EV Owners May Have Bigger Cool Factor, But Their Tires Are Literally Tiring Them Out More Than Gas Car Drivers

A J.D. Power report released on Monday revealed a widening satisfaction gap between electric vehicle (EV) and gas-powered vehicle owners regarding tires. This gap stems from EV owners experiencing faster tire wear despite having similar expectations for tire life.

The report highlights that EV tires wear out faster due to greater vehicle weight and higher torque. However, EV owners are often unaware of these performance differences.

“Because of the inherent conflict of maximizing vehicle range and optimizing tire wear for EVs, tire manufacturers, and automakers need to work together to overcome the challenge without completely sacrificing tire performance in other areas, especially as the EV market continues to increase,” said Ashley Edgar, senior director of benchmarking and alternative mobility at J.D. Power.

Michelin & Falken Lead In Tire Customer Satisfaction

The study, based on responses from 31,414 owners of 2022 and 2023 model-year vehicles, ranked Michelin MGDDF the highest in tire customer satisfaction for luxury, passenger car, and performance sports segments. Falken secured the top spot in the truck/utility segment. Notably, Michelin is the only tire company to perform above the segment average in the performance sports vehicle category.

Proactive Players

Goodyear GT has been a leading force in the EV tire market. In 2022, they launched the ElectricDrive tire and expanded their ultra-high-performance tire offerings for EVs. These tires boast a 60,000-mile warranty, increased load capacity, and noise-reduction technology. Notably, the ElectricDrive tires now fit a wider range of EVs, including the Nissan Leaf, Kia Niro, and Chevrolet Bolt/Volt.

Even earlier, in 2021, Tesla released a software update to inform drivers about low or uneven tire treads and recommend tire rotations.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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