Tires remain a critical element to any vehicle, but electric cars have their own challenges. Without an engine humming along, cabin noise often increases and the instant torque from electric motors is often far too much for typical tires to handle.
Goodyear thinks it has a solution to better meet electric cars’ needs and introduced the “EfficientGrip Performance prototype tire with Electric Drive Technology” at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
The tire makes a lot of promises. Goodyear said the tread’s smaller sipes allows more rubber to contact the road, which handles the large amounts of torque better. The smaller channels don’t compromise wet-weather performance, either. The tread design should also quiet down exterior and interior road noise.
Yet another challenge for electric-car tires is extra weight. Electric cars’ battery packs put more strain on tires, and Goodyear said tires often wear out 30 percent quicker due to the extra weight onboard. The EfficientGrip Performance tires will support additional vehicle weight.
Finally, the tires have been tuned for ultra-low rolling resistance, which will equate to better range. Goodyear also said the sidewall has been designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and the profile yields less rotating mass. Translation: less energy consumed as the tires work.
The company plans to roll the tire out for production in 2019 with Europe as its initial launch market. Hopefully, the U.S. isn’t too far behind because the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV could really use a new pair of shoes.
Comments
Yes tires for EV cars is very difficult to make. The Fuel Max tires Goodyear made were better than most but still faced many issue.
Weight, grip, higher pressure hard rubber for less rolling résistance yet grip are all issues. Yes tires noise is a big problem as they have little to mask the noise like in a normal car.
Compounding is really changing things. Goodyear on many tires are now targeting the tread with up to 3 compounds to improve wear and grip. They can make the rubber harder and more silica to provide more bite but not add more rolling resistance.
It will be interesting to see what they have fully done here. I have not seen the details on this one yet.
Automakers also are watching as better tires can really benefit them in many ways.
Ok so lower rolling resistance, less noise, stronger sidewalls, and higher grip without compromising wet weather performance? Sounds like an all around better tire, not just an electric vehicle tire.
It is and much of the same technology is used in other tires too. But the higher pressure and there is still a little compromise for the lower rolling resistance.
The divide between types of tires is getting narrower but they are still often engineered more for the application.
Also sizes are in play as many MFG limit the width of the tire as tires can be a major hindrance to aerodynamics. Even on Indy cars most of the drag is the tires. This is why they try to hide them behind flairs.
It’s kind of disturbing to learn that this wasn’t considered/addressed before release of the vehicle.
It was not unsafe but the tires have always been a compromise. Most times they lacked traction that was as good as normal tires but it was not like they were going to blow out.
There really was only one car that had much battery weight and it is the Tesla. Even then they were not a failure issue.
Most EV models were not even that powerful till recently.
It always has been a consideration but like many things on the EV models the technology is being developed to improve the shortcomings or as the technology progresses.
Like batteries. The first EV models went no where now 300 miles in a year or two 350 to 400.
It is not disturbing it is just the advancement of the EV and the areas technology has had to react to it.
If you think this disturbing you should have been here 100 years ago in a Stanley Steamer.
“It was not unsafe but the tires have always been a compromise.”
That’s dancing around the fact that proper tires were not developed for the vehicle. What ELSE in this car is improper or compromised?
Perhaps Goodyear is trying to trick spendy Bolt owners with ‘proper’ tires. Or they’ve realized the tires are inadequate and see an opening.
You probably think the Wright Brothers left us short because they did not use a J57 jet on their 1903 flyer too?
The truth is even the batteries in al, electric cars are inadequate. None can charge as fast as a fill of gas but yet owners compromise to make it fit their life style. This is why many have not bought into electric cars because they are not willing to compromise.
The reality is all the things in this world are all in a state of development as time goes on it keeps improving and gets better. The term is refinement or even discovery of new and better technology.
There will always be compromise.
John life itself is a compromise get use to it.
if you are so smart why did you not take the lead here on this if you have it all figured out?
Low rolling resistance tires sacrifice on traction, still they are well promoted and OEM equipped on many vehicles. It doesn’t present as a concern but lowers traction related performance metrics.
Another conspiracist …
I have a 2017 Bolt the tires I have that came with the car from factory, the same tire is on my 2018 Volt, their is no problem with the stock tires, ride is perfect, handle is perfect, I see no problem with what Chevy put on the cars, some people just don’t get it, Some people just want to wine about anything.