If we’re talking about electric vehicles, I’ll give it about five minutes before we hit the ol’ “range” topic. Typically, the conversation swings into range anxiety territory, and this makes talking about easy ways to extend the driver’s range so much fun. Instead of focusing on “range anxiety,” we can shift our focus to “range serenity.”
To this end, many drivers may be surprised at the effect their choice of tires has on their maximum expected range. The good news is that tire manufacturers have been focusing on low-rolling-resistance tires – which naturally enhance a vehicle’s range – for decades now.
“I did a study and I compared roughly 50 tires on the same vehicle, a very popular electric vehicle. We saw a difference in range from the best tire to the worst tire of about 14%,” says Russell Shepherd, technical communications director at Michelin. “Typically, in particular with Michelin, the best range you’re going to get is the tire that was originally on the vehicle. But, going from there, there are offers outside of the OE fitment that can provide different balances of performances, differences in terms of longevity, differences in terms of maybe you’ve got a summer fitment and you want to go to an all-season or winter fitment, and those choices can impact your range because of the tires.”
On this episode of The Amped EV Podcast, Shepherd gets into the nitty-gritty on how much a driver’s tire choice affects an EV’s range, what kind of mileage drivers can expect out of EV tires, and the different high-tech ways that tire manufacturers employ to dampen road noise in the cabin.
This is an audio-only version of our episode with Russell Shepherd, technical communications director at Michelin. Go ahead, you’re already here – take a listen! But, if you’re looking for moving pictures, click here.
